Curb Appeal

By Katie Roiger | Submitted photos

What makes a house attractive, warm, and welcoming? What indefinable elements transform sheetrock and shingles into the perfect spot for cozy nights in with the kids, or a crazy bash with 30 of your friends, or a property that will sell like hotcakes if or when it’s time to move? What designs and styles will elevate a home from ho-hum to happy place?

This kind of question has a million different answers: Vibrant wall colors. Farmhouse greige. Puffy blankets. Lights with dimmer switches. Candles everywhere. Each of these options are good, but they overlook a basic starting place that many people forget. Some don’t even realize that it’s the first “room” of their houses. That’s right – the front yard.

Whether we remember it or not, the outsides of our houses make as big a statement as the insides. Other than regular lawn trimming as per neighborhood regulations and maybe a seasonal wreath or two, the yard and façade often get less love than the dining room, kitchen or nursery, even though it’s the house’s first chance to make a great impression on visitors or potential buyers.

“The outside [of a house] should be looked at as an extension of a home,” said Sara Stinson of The Zoet Group – True Real Estate. “When listing a home, sellers should make the outdoor Sara Stinson

space as inviting as possible. A great question for sellers to ask themselves is ‘Would I want to spend time in my yard?’”

Curb appeal, or a property’s outer attractiveness, is a great asset to a house whether you’re prepping it for sale or just hoping to get the most possible enjoyment out of your forever home. Some owners might think that a beautiful landscape is beyond them if they don’t have a green thumb. Fortunately, having a beautiful, intentional outdoor landscape is easier – and cheaper! – than you might think.

Fred Struck, owner of the Traverse de Sioux Garden Center in Saint Peter, suggests a design method very similar to one that homeowners are often familiar with from decorating the insides of their homes: Start with the big pieces, then fill in the gaps.

Struck recommends beginning with shade trees.

“Get them in first, because shrubs and stuff will grow really fast,” he said. “You don’t have to wait to have a nice shrub, whereas shade trees will take 15 years to get going.”

The number of trees you can plant will vary depending on the size of your

“The outside [of a house] should be looked at as an extension of a home,” said Sara Stinson of The Zoet Group – True Real Estate.

lot, but many homeowners find that well-placed shade trees add interest and hominess to their yards. Planting certain varieties has a practical element as well.

“Planting them in the right spot to shade the house in the summer will cut way back on your air conditioning bills,” Struck said.

Shade trees can also have beautiful interest value. Oaks and elms are popular choices, as are maples and other types that change color in the fall. The Autumn Blaze maple is especially popular with the Traverse de Sioux Garden Center customers thanks to its brilliant orange-red color it turns in cool weather. Linden varieties are other good choices for their color and hardiness.

Besides providing some welcome cool spots in your yard, trees can act as a natural fence.

“If you have some unsightly views in a certain direction, you may want to plant evergreens trees to block some of those views year-round,” said Struck.

Once the shade sources are planted, the next item of business is adding decorative touches. One perennially popular detail is the rock or mulch bed around the front of a house. Maria Vasquez, co-owner of Genesis Outdoor Construction Services, said that she always checks with her clients to make sure that their yards are prepped before they spread any bedding.

“A lot of people have drainage problems,” she said. “If the dirt around their house is sloping inward, water can get into their basement. We have to slope it out for them first.”

When choosing between rock or mulch, property owners have to consider more than just the appearance. While rock has the advantage of easy upkeep, because it doesn’t degrade and won’t require frequent replacement, mulch tends to hold water much better. This can be a bonus during dry seasons and may even lessen the need to water.

Both rock and mulch come in a variety of fun colors. Vasquez said that river rock is currently the most popular rock variety since it comes in a multicolored assortment that complements most siding hues. Mulch colors range from light brown, to maroon, to black, but Struck said that most of his clients have lately been leaning toward the natural look of cedar cypress.

Regardless of which bedding material you choose, Vasquez recommends adding edging, which is a barrier that keeps the bedding from getting dispersed by weather, lawnmowers, and more. Edging can be as simple as black plastic or as unique as stone or corrugated metal.

One common mistake do-it-yourselfers make is installing the edging too shallowly.

“Sometimes they [clients] try to the work themselves and they leave the edgers kind of outside of the ground,” said Vasquez. “You have to dig them halfway or all the way into the dirt.”

One of the best features of accent plant beds is how customizable they are. Depending on factors such as how much sunlight the bed will get, homeowners have a large range of options for what they can plant. In Minnesota, daylilies and coneflowers are surefire choices for flowers that are hardy enough to survive a brutal winter. Hostas are also smart picks and come in several varieties and shades.

In certain areas of Mankato and North Mankato, homeowners are trending toward a more natural gardening

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“Native grasses are really popular lately,” Struck said. “Until they get really established, they can look like a weed patch, but eventually a nicelooking prairie will come out of it.”

Like any other plant, prairie grass needs the right setting.

“In a suburban-type area, it doesn’t always look right,” Struck said. “It depends on the size of your lot and the style of your house.” Although the payoff can be beautiful, homeowners may want to consider whether the prairie grass look is right for them.

Landscaping and gardening are fun ways to touch up a property, but for homeowners in a hurry, sometimes the best ways to add visual interest are the simplest. Whether you have a huge property or a small front yard, porch decorations are good choices creating a cheerful, welcoming atmosphere.

“The easiest way to obtain some color is to plant a mixed pot of various blooming annuals and have that by the front door,” said Stark. “You can do a pot on each side or a grouping of three. It’s entirely up to you.”

Investing in a large, attractive accent pot allows you to change up your porch’s appearance several times a year. After the flowers have stopped thriving around early fall, you can switch the spring flowers for coldblooming chrysanthemums. In the winter, evergreen boughs, cut birch branches, or red berries provide a festive touch.

Homeowners looking for minimal maintenance ideas can also consider purchasing some pre-planted arrangements to enjoy all spring and summer long.

“Think about adding some colorful flower pots or hanging baskets to accentuate your entry,” Stinson said. “These are relatively inexpensive to do.”

No matter how you want to enhance your house’s curb appeal, it never hurts to consult the experts. A landscaper will happily direct you toward the plants that will grow best in your particular lot or give you tips for lowmaintenance yard improvements. If you don’t have time to implement the changes themselves, they can take the task off of your plate. The results will be a home that is attractive inside and out.

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