Imitation Turf and More Simple Ways to Improve Front Yard Curb Appeal

You don’t have to be in real estate to understand the power of curb appeal.

Curb appeal is what grabs your attention.

The outside look includes the space between the curb and the actual structure of your home. Front and back yards go a long way to protecting the value of your home. Your home could be renovated inside from attic to basement, but it will not get a second look if it looks bad on the outside.

Here are tips to help you improve your front yard curb appeal.

Imitation Turf

Having a lush lawn in Southern California is not easy.

Zoysia grass is slow growing and tolerates some drought, but it will turn brown when deprived of water for too long.

No brown lawn looks good, which is why imitation turf has become popular. It does not require a drop of water to maintain its beauty year round. Artificial grass is not like the cheap grass carpeting you can buy at your local home improvement store. It was originally designed to last for years in major sports stadiums but now comes in a variety of styles for residential landscaping.

Today, imitation turf stays green and looks so real that your neighbors may accuse you of watering your lawn.

Plant Low-Maintenance Plants

Not all landscaping is done right.

It should be appropriate for the climate and not require lots of upkeep.

Most homeowners and home buyers want landscape plants that require little maintenance. Here in Southern California, there is also the ongoing issue of watering restrictions. Ornamental plants that are drought-tolerant yet visually striking should be part of the landscape.

Using plants and materials that do not require watering in landscaping is called xeriscaping, and it does not have to lack color or texture either. This is one of the best ways to improve your front yard curb appeal, as it creates a welcoming setting

Easy to Maintain Landscaping Plants

• Coral Fountain
• Red Pencil Tree
• Desert Museum Palo Verde
• Sea Lavender
• Spurge
• Mugwort
• Golden Barrel Cactus

Take a look at some of these colorful water-wise plants if you’re interested in adding a splash of personality.

Decorative Concrete and Stone

If you are installing a new driveway or sidewalk, consider decorative concrete rather than the plain grayish-white type.

Paving bricks and stones look great, but they do require maintenance. Weeds often sprout between the joints, and natural ground heaving and subsiding may displace their alignment.

Decorative concrete comes in various colors and textures. Epoxied stone coverings can be used for driveways, sidewalks, porches, pool decks, patios and even indoors.

Landscape Lighting

There is an artistry to landscape lighting.

Anyone can stick a few low-voltage lights in the ground, but arranging them to accentuate landscape features and provide walking safety at night takes planning. Solar-powered landscape lights do not usually hold up for years of trouble-free use.

The best landscape lights are of the low-voltage variety and made of metal. They also maintain their brightness throughout the entire night and year round. Solar lights use small batteries that grow weaker with each recharge cycle. Landscape lights can be spot or flood design. Different varieties let you light pathways or uplight ornamental plants or other features, making your home glow with warmth at night.

Protecting your home’s value starts with how it looks from the outside. The first thing potential home buyers see when searching for a home is a picture of the exterior. In preserving the value of your home, you need to see it how a potential buyer would see it, even if you never plan on selling.

Read more about Imitation Turf in these blog posts.

Imitation Turf vs Water, Maintenance, and Natural Lawn