flowers – Mel Foster Co Blog

Create a color splash in your yard by following a few easy steps that add curb appeal to your home. As summer winds down, reintroducing rich hues to your yard design will draw attention to your home and make it a stand-out candidate for a fast sale.

Replace your tired annuals with a pop of fall color. The most popular autumn flowers are chrysanthemums (mums) or marigolds. Both of these are available in yellow, which is the number one home selling color, or burgundy and will add interest to the entrance of your home. Plant them in pots and place the pots on steps and along the sidewalk leading up to your front door.

Can’t maintain plant watering? That’s okay! You can brighten your porch by accenting with several types of squash and gourds or make a grouping of three large pumpkins. Want this fall look to last even longer? Don’t carve your pumpkins for Halloween. You can keep an uncarved pumpkin on your porch through Thanksgiving and get two holidays out of one purchase!

Accessorize your porch chair or swing with bright red, orange or golden yellow pillows. Place a new rug filled with color at the entrance to introduce a fresh look. Add a vibrant pumpkin lawn ornament or flag to your tidy landscape for a whimsical feel.

Find more tips on how to make your home stand out.

If you want your yard to look its best, mulch is a great way to highlight various parts of your landscaping. These basics will help you get started.

When to Mulch

When the weather starts to warm up it’s tempting to get started right away on landscaping. But don’t put mulch down too early in the spring. Give the soil a chance to warm up. Mulching too early will slow down the warming process and may cover up perennials that have not popped up from the ground. Normally, mid to late spring is the best time to put down mulch.

How Much Mulch

The exact amount of mulch to place depends on the type you’re using, but generally you want about one or two inches of mulch. The main reason to apply mulch is to prevent weed growth, but too much mulch may stunt your plant growth. If you’re trying to keep a particular area free from any plant life, you can use as much mulch as you like.

Choosing the Right Mulch

Choosing the right mulch material is your choice. Mulch’s purpose is to prevent weed growth, retain water, keep temperatures consistent and beautify the landscape. The color of the mulch is usually personal preference, but recycled mulch will break down more quickly and add nutrients to the soil. Rubber mulch is more expensive initially, but does not decompose.

Want more tips for caring for the outside of your home? The Mel Foster Co. blog has hundreds of articles for homeowners.

Tag: flowers

Create a Color Splash In Your Yard

Mulching Tips to Make Your Yard Look Great