Front yard landscaping, also known as curb appeal, has become more and more popular over the past decade. There is even an HGTV show titled "Curb Appeal". I love that show, but they tend to chronicle homeowners who have set aside quite a budget and work with a professional landscaper to improve their front yard landscape. This article is for those of you who do not want to spend thousands of dollars sprucing up your front yard. As a landscaping professional, I have compiled a variety of tips that will improve your curb appeal, but will not require you to deplete your life savings.

First and foremost, stand back and take in all of your front yard and house. Look at the front door, the sidewalk, railings, etc. Asses whether or not your home has the following problems:

• Crumbling or rotted steps

• Wobbly railing

• Dented or deteriorating awning

• Chipping front door

• Uneven or crumbling sidewalk

These are all potential health hazards. If you have any of the above problems, start here: REPLACE IT! Having a wobbly railing, uneven sidewalk, or crumbling steps not only detracts from your curb appeal, it leads to potential trips and falls. Why allow yourself or your visitors this option? Fix these first, then move on to any of the tips below.

With the most important fixes out of the way, we can move on to more simple and less expensive upgrades. Always be sure that any upgrades blend in with the style of your house.

• Line your front pathway with little solar lights. These need to be close enough together that the light overlaps.

• Replace your old mailbox with a new, eye-catching one.

• Incorporate a few planters and urns with pretty flowers or grasses that blend in with your house.

• If you have a front porch, purchase some basic quality outdoor furniture, such as a small patio set, or even just a pair of outdoor chairs.

• Paint - use outdoor paint on any visible cement or stucco areas of your home to give it a fresh, new look.

Next, you will want to focus on the garden area.

• Amplify your flowerbed by giving it a nice, simple curve or two. Curves are more appealing than straight lines.

• Layer your plants. This means planting the shorter plants and flowers in the front, and working toward the taller ones in the back of the bed.

• Create a pathway out of stepping stones which lead to a simple seating area among your flowers.

• Incorporate a focal-point such as a birdbath or another type of garden accessory.

Hopefully, these simple, do-it-yourself tips have given you some inspiration for kicking up your curb appeal. With just a little bit of imagination and research, general landscaping and curb appeal can be easily implemented. Have fun working on your front yard landscape project!