With spring in full swing and summer fast approaching, we’ve all begun to spend a little more time in the garden. It’s that time of year when weeds seem to grow in mere hours and the sunshine highlights the dirt and dust left behind from a damp and grey winter.
The exterior and front garden are the first things people notice about a property, so ensuring they’re tidy and presentable is vital, especially if your house is currently on the market.
Giving your home’s exterior a facelift doesn’t have to be a long-term project, and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, either. If you’re short on time but need to enhance your curb appeal, try the following tips to breathe some new life into your front garden:
Get out the paint brush
It’s always amazing what difference a lick of paint can make. While you certainly can’t paint your whole house in a day, there are a few key features on the front of your home that you can tackle in just a few hours and will make a substantial impact for little cost.
Your front door is a key focal point and can significantly add to the curb appeal of your home. Choosing a warm and inviting colour that stands out against, yet compliments, the existing colour scheme of your house is a terrific way to add contrast.
While you’re at it, why not paint your garage door and trim to match? A nice, consistent colour scheme will give your house a tidy and well-coordinated look.
Add some personality
Try adding some character and charm to your front garden by adding personal touches. If you’re drawn to whimsy, garden gnomes have made a comeback in recent years, or you could try a calming water feature to add that serene feel to your front walk. Sundials, glass globes and sculptures are some traditional options to consider.
Something that will add real character to your home is selecting a personalised house sign to mount next to that freshly painted front door. You can opt for a traditional plaque boasting your house’s name or number, or a more modern option to make a real statement.
Pressure wash
Moss and dirt tend to build up over the damp winter months, and can leave your pathways and drive looking like a woodland trail. Hiring a pressure washer for the day will make a massive difference, and will easily blast away moss and encrusted dirt, leaving everything looking clean and new.
The added bonus of a pressure washer is that you won’t have to spend hours on your hands and knees pulling up weeds from the cracks between your bricks, pavers or concrete: even the most stubborn weed can’t withstand the high pressure emitted from these machines.
Get your hands in the dirt
At the moment, garden centres are a flower lover’s heaven. Heady scents and bright colours are everywhere this time of year, so it’s best to select a few different plants that bloom throughout the spring and summer to create a staggered bloom effect.
Tulips and irises make a cheerful boarder while wisteria grows beautifully on a trellis. Peonies offer a short blooming period, but their gorgeous scent and assorted colours offer something to look forward to every year, while dahlias and hydrangea bloom later in the summer.
Trying planting smaller flowers, like pansies, marigolds and begonias, in hanging baskets for a classic English garden feel.
