If you want privacy, wide open space, and character, then a farmhouse is a great choice. If you’re from the city and haven’t yet had the experience of managing the large property that comes with most farmhouses, however, there’s a good chance you’ll struggle. This isn’t because you’re incapable but rather because you don’t have the tools in question. More often than not, you may not even be thrilled with the landscaping going on either.
The good news is that all those problems can be solved. This guide will help you understand just where you need to focus to improve the curb (and yard) appeal of your farmhouse:
- Sketch Out Your Ideas
The first step is, of course, to sketch out your ideas. This works best if you have a sketch of the full plot. If not, go on to a map app and get the satellite image of your property. This way, you have a realistic depiction of where your house is and how much space you have to scale.
From there, just create a rough outline of what you want and where. You can also collect inspiration ideas and clip them together.
- Work with Experts
Once you have an outline and a collection of ideas you’ll next want to go to the experts. Even if you intend to DIY most of it, you will want to have an expert come in to weigh in on your proposed design and give you insights in terms of things like drainage, plant choice, and even how the type of soil under the ground will impact what you can do with it.
- Choose Hardy, Native Plants
Once you have an expert’s insight into your property and design, you can then go to a plant nursery. Work with the experts there to pick out the hardiest plants since these are the least likely to die off and are also far easier to maintain. Often, this means choosing the native plants, since they’re best suited to surviving in your climate.
- Pick Long-Lasting Materials
If you plan on adding focal points like a deck or perhaps a patio, then you’ll inevitably need to decide on materials. There is a balance here, of course. Spend a little bit more early on and you can reduce the maintenance time and costs later on. You can do this by choosing long-lasting materials that can hold up to the wear and tear of the seasons. Brick, treated metal, and even plastic then can be a great choice.
- Make Maintenance Easy
Having excellent curb appeal is not a once-done activity. You need to continually improve it and fix it up as it grows and needs trimming. The good news is that you can make that maintenance easy. For example, if you have acres of grass you need to keep short, you can invest in a zero turn lawn mower to get every corner in a snap.
- Let Things Grow
You need to let the plants you choose grow in. Letting them grow to full size, instead of trying to buy everything the right size, is not only easier, but also far cheaper. You can even adapt each one to best suit your individual design ideas, rather than let them grow wild.
Keep an eye for more latest news & updates on Forbeszine!
