Boosting Curb Appeal: A DIY Yard Makeover for a Stunning Home Exterior

The Curbly House has undergone significant transformations in the two years since we acquired it. We’ve poured love and effort into the interior, from comprehensive major construction projects to a rapid and stylish makeover, thanks to Emily Henderson’s exceptional talent. However, the exterior has been somewhat neglected.

This spring, we dedicated ourselves to enhancing our home’s exterior, focusing on creating much-needed curb appeal. While a comprehensive renovation, including painting the house, installing a new sidewalk, and upgrading the lighting, is planned, we decided to begin with the yard. It had suffered from decades of neglect and was the most pressing area to address.

This is a snapshot of our front yard several months after purchasing the house. Aside from a basic shrub trimming, little had been done. In reality, the situation had likely deteriorated. The lawn was thinning rapidly, weeds were thriving, and flowers were nowhere to be seen. It was a landscaping disaster!

After careful consideration and planning, we embarked on a DIY mini-yard makeover with specific objectives in mind:

Revitalize the lawn for a thicker, healthier appearance.
Expand the garden on the left side of the house to introduce visual interest, texture, and vibrant color.
Replant the garden on the right side of the house to create a cohesive and appealing landscape.
Establish a planted border along the walkway to define the space and add beauty.
Plant a window box (which had previously been concealed by shingles) to add a touch of charm.
Replace the existing concrete planters (which lacked proper drainage) with more colorful and functional alternatives.

Although this was a “mini” makeover in our eyes, the goals felt quite ambitious, given our limited gardening experience (we struggle to keep even succulents alive!). We knew we would require specialized equipment to accomplish the task efficiently. We opted to rent a slit seeder for reseeding the lawn. Additionally, we rented a sod kicker and rototiller to prepare the new garden area, as well as a power edger to refine the lawn’s edges. Renting equipment is a cost-effective strategy, and the incredible part is that you can rent virtually any tool you need. For a directory of rental companies in your region, visit RentalHQ. This allowed us to complete the project without a massive upfront investment in tools we might only use occasionally.

Operating machinery of this type requires practice and skill. We obtained valuable advice and guidance from our local Reddy Rents store. Consulting the slit seeder tutorial and the rototiller how-to guide was incredibly helpful in understanding the equipment’s functionality and expected performance. These resources ensured we were prepared and confident in using the machinery safely and effectively. Proper planning is crucial for a successful DIY project.

Slit Seeding: Revitalizing the Lawn

The slit seeder proved to be a challenging machine to operate, primarily because of its weight and lack of self-propulsion. Pushing it and maneuvering it between passes required considerable effort. To ensure thorough coverage, it is vital to make two complete passes across your lawn when slit seeding. Despite the physical exertion involved, our lawn’s appearance improved significantly within a week of using the machine. The new grass growth was already noticeable and encouraging, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method.

Sod Kicking and Rototilling: Preparing the Garden Beds

When it was time to expand the garden area to the left of our entrance, we used the sod kicker to define the garden bed’s perimeter. We then ran the sod kicker in strips until all the grass was removed. Subsequently, we used the rototiller to till the soil, preparing it for planting. This process created a loose, fertile foundation for the new plants to thrive in. Careful preparation of the soil is essential for healthy plant growth.

Planting: Bringing the Garden to Life

After rototilling the area, we edged it with composite plastic edging and covered the garden area with landscape fabric. We then planted a variety of perennials. Living in a USDA Hardiness Zone 4 area, we researched the best plants to place in our part-sun, part-shade front lawn. We discovered a great resource on Zone 4-friendly perennials through the University of MN’s Extension program. This resource proved invaluable in selecting plants that would thrive in our specific climate and conditions. Understanding your hardiness zone is critical for successful gardening.

We also visited the University’s test garden and took photos for our idea book. Visiting an arboretum or garden site is beneficial when planning your garden because all plants are labeled. This allows you to be inspired to combine plants in beautiful ways. We took note of the arrangements that appealed to us, ensuring our garden design was harmonious and visually pleasing.

We prioritized planting perennials that would provide visual interest throughout the seasons. We carefully selected the following plants:

Flanking the walk:

Catmint
Sedum

Shrubs:

Honeysuckle
Forsythia

Side Gardens:

Peonies
Foamy Bells
Coralbells
Sedum
Ornamental Grass
Japanese Painted Ferns
Bleeding Hearts
Daylilies

Flower Box and Planters:

Snapdragons
Lobularias
Dusty Miller
Geraniums
Verbena
Asparagus
Ornamental Grass

As previously mentioned, our concrete planters had drainage issues, and their gray color wasn’t enhancing our entrance. We addressed the drainage in one of them and relocated it to our garden. We replaced the set with vibrant, deep blue ceramic planters. This simple change added a pop of color and improved the overall aesthetic of the entryway.

Besides planting, we repurposed limestone slabs leftover from our house remodel as stepping stones in the garden. We replaced the haphazard and damaged concrete slabs that flanked our boulevard steps with smaller limestone slabs and sedum. These additions created a more cohesive and elegant look.

Even though it’s early in the season, and the yard needs time to mature, this project has significantly improved our house’s curb appeal. The difference is already noticeable and makes us proud of our efforts. A well-maintained yard dramatically enhances the overall appearance of a home.

We plan to continue adding new plants but want to observe the new landscaping for a while before making further changes. We will update this post with photos later in the season to showcase our garden’s growth.

What’s the best tool you’ve rented for your DIY landscaping projects? What are your favorite landscaping plants? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.

Looking for More Curb Appeal Projects and Inspiration?

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