Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever I do, I hear my husband sigh (he knows by now I’m going to jump in feet first and work on it till it’s done)…. and then I lay out my ideas…. My favorite DIY projects involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features.
Whether it’s as simple as installing some lighting or a little more time-consuming like redesigning an entire lanscaped bed and moving a few ton of rock, a fresh look for the lawn always gives your home a fresh look as well. Here are our top five easy landscaping projects!
Create a pathway.
To guide you and visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pathway. You can use materials from a variety of materials, including reclaimed pallet wood, flagstones, gravel, and more to add texture and color. And in keeping re-sale in mind, if someone pulls up to your house or in the driveway and there is not a clear path to a door….. INSTALL ONE! I’m amazed at how many homes there are like this. We make our way through wet grass and mud (this is PA after all and it rains alot) and search from door to door trying to find the one we are supposed to enter. The idea is to get buyers to feel welcome to what may be their next home.
Add a wall or border.
Installing a flagstone, rock, or brick wall around flower beds or trees adds a sleek, clean look to your landscaping and helps separate different sections of your yard. Some can even be built to help REDUCE the amount of trimming needed! I love a “lawn mower only” design.
Install a water feature.
Nothing says zen quite like the sound of trickling water as you relax in your backyard. You can start simple with by purchasing and installing a small feature powered by a solar panel or create a larger focal point in your yard by installing a waterfall wall or small pond. After a walk around one of the local garden centers today, I’m thinking this will be my next big project.
Light your way.
An easy way to transform your yard is to strategically use lighting. Place cool-colored lights high in trees to recreate a moonlight feel, use pathway lights to naturally guide the eye, or highlight objects or plants.
Plant upwards.
Expand your yard space by drawing the eye to the sky with a trellis fence or screen made of wood or metal. Once you install your trellis, select your climbing plants and vines and get to planting! Clematis and wysteria are 2 of my favorite climbers.