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Time to Evaluate

What constitutes true "curb appeal"? While the term embraces everything between your front door and the street, it doesn't take much to make dramatic style improvements, whether by adding flower boxes, sprucing up the mailbox, or constructing an elegant driveway.

With a little faith in your vision, and a few tips from the pros, you can transform a dowdy exterior to an inviting, welcoming entranceway.

Choosing and Using Containers

When your garden needs some punch, containers can be the answer. Place them in strategic locations to draw attention to a specific area, such as the front entrance.

At the home shown at left, we set a large concrete pot in the middle of the flower border. When you stand directly in front of the house, the pot is centered on the door. Containers placed on both sides of the landing frame the steps.

In spring, red geraniums look great with yellow pansies and daffodils. Variegated ivy is trained to grow up a metal obelisk set on axis with the front door. As the summer's landscape changes, so does the look of the containers. The ivy has filled out, and ferns surround the base.

Mailbox Makeover

Oddly enough, it is the humble mailbox that often creates that first impression of a suburban home. It can extend guests a welcoming visual invitation or give them the cold shoulder. Even the mail carrier was tempted to drive by the nondescript mailbox at left without stopping. It was time for a makeover.

To spruce up a plain mailbox, begin by clearing out any surrounding weeds. Ornamental grass makes a nice backdrop, and we like the maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus') in particular.

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