5 Landscaping Tips for Summer Outdoor Living

Tired of looking at the same old yard, but realize that you don't have a green thumb? If you're not interested in starting a major outdoor renovation but want an upgrade to your home's exterior - you've come to the right place. Dressing up the outdoors is a common project, so we've done the homework for you. Try any of these five easy "Landscape Magic" tips and make your neighbors green with envy.

1. Light it up. Outdoor and landscape lighting can turn a drab exterior into a
sparkling garden. Besides the obvious safety and security functions, cleverly placed lighting will bring your yard to life when the sun sets. Try submersible lights in your pool, rock lights on the patio, potlights under the roof overhang, spotlights on trees or garden groupings, or accent lights on your walkways and garden paths. Landscape lighting brings a new, colorful, three-dimensional ambiance to your property. If you're energy conscious, purchase some solar lights that can be implanted anywhere and require no power source.

2. Go retro. If you like bargain hunting, scour the local second-hand shops and yard sales for retro furniture and pots. Retro furniture, like wire tables and chairs, range in price but are trendy and fashionable. Because they're lightweight and have fine, transparent lines, they fit almost anywhere. Today's pots are made out of almost every material, in any size and shape, so the classic concrete pots of the past are back in favor.

3. Bring in the birds. For many people, having a regular flow of birds flocking to their yard is a special experience. Of course, bird feeders and birdbaths help the cause, but if you'd really like to make birds feel welcome, why not help them build their nests? You can provide them with the materials they need just by getting a mesh bag (like an onion bag) and filling it with a mixture of any of the following: hair, dryer lint, short strands of string, dried grass, feathers or rootlets. Then mount the bag on a post or fence where the birds can come to furnish their new homes.

4. Build a hideaway. Yards can actually be too spacious, lacking in privacy and intimate areas. Sometimes, you need to get away and relax, meditate or read by yourself (or with a significant other). You can create a haven by adding a variety of nooks within the yard. The most involved method is to build or purchase a gazebo, pergola or arbor. Try to design a picturesque effect by exploring pictures online and imitating what pleases you. If possible, position the structure on a small rise. If this is more than you'd like to undertake, adding a garden bench under some sheltering branches might do just as well.

5. Get an edge. A simple way to beautify your flowerbeds or even your entire lawn is to add a border. Not only is landscape curbing popular and versatile, it also is the best way to keep weeds and grass out of your flowers. If you use wood, concrete bricks or inexpensive stamped pavers, rather than the standard plastic edging, you’ll have a durable and beautiful accent that will make your lawn stand out.

These are some simple changes you can make to spruce up your yard. If you're undertaking a much larger project, however, make sure your home insurance covers your new additions! Shopping with NetQuote can allow you to receive multiple, competitive quotes so you can get the policy you need at the price you want.

Back to Newsletter Home

Recent Home Topics:

• Small Projects for Big Change
• Helpful Hints to Lower Home Energy Costs
• Real or Fake: Pros and Cons of Holiday Tree Choices