5 Ways to Enhance Curb Appeal with Landscaping

Considering the current state of the world, the housing market seems tenuous, to put it lightly. Whether your area’s economy has felt the weight of the pandemic or you are remaining strong in spite of it, there are a number of reasons to feel uneasy about buying or selling a home right now. 

It is more crucial than ever that you do everything in your power to highlight the better features of your home and ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward when you put your property on the market. One effective way to do that is to highlight the unique Nashville landscape in your home exterior decor.

How to Enhance Curb Appeal With Landscaping

Careful interior decorating is a must, but it may all be for nought if the exterior of your home turns away potential buyers. While it may be the last thing on your mind, curb appeal should be at the forefront of your to-do list when selling a home. 

If you’re looking for creative ways to make your home stand out, look no further. Let’s explore five ways to enhance your curb appeal with landscaping. 

Here’s everything you need to know. 

  1. Colors 

There are a number of ways to make your house stand out, but painting your siding a bright color that sticks out for all the wrong reasons, might not be the best one. 

It’s no secret that color draws eyes and helps to differentiate your home from your neighbor’s. A brightly-colored door is a nice change, but some adjustments with landscaping can help add a touch of the rainbow without a single coat of paint.

Colorful flower beds and shrubbery are great ways to feature your front yard and contrast from lush green grass. Especially if you live in a more urban area where lawns are more limited, potted flowers are a lovely substitute. They can also complement the pops of color on your home without being too abrasive to the passerby’s eye. 

  1. Levels

When you think about what people see when they look at your home, most property owners focus on clean siding and trim lawns. What you may not have considered, however, is the importance of incorporating different levels to your visual landscape.

By installing plants and shrubs of different heights, you force the eyes of prospective buyers to travel to different places around your property. This can give your house the appearance of being larger and draw attention to features like large windows, all of which are selling features.  

  1. Shapes 

Another way to add interest and boost curb appeal is through shapes. Most houses are relegated to shapes like rectangles and squares, leaving their appearance fairly two-dimensional and rather traditional.  

Shrubs and other plants are great ways to incorporate curves and rounded shapes into the visual aesthetic of your property and add interest that is otherwise impossible through your home’s architecture alone. 

  1. Uniqueness

When you purchase a home, your options for adding your own personal stamp on the home itself can be fairly limited unless you’re prepared to do some serious construction. 

By changing up your landscaping, you have the opportunity to incorporate as much or as little greenery and flowers as you’d like. Landscaping is one of the few things you can do to your property that gives you almost full agency through projects that can be completed in an afternoon, or for larger projects, within a few days or weeks. Your personality can shine through when a yard is meticulously tailored or offers an easygoing serenity. Anything is possible if you are willing to fully invest in a new look.

  1. Hardscapes

For those property owners looking to go a bit further, hardscapes aren’t just for backyards. 

While you may not install a large fountain or pond in your frontyard, you do have a number of options for incorporating hardscapes to boost curb appeal. 

Paved walkways and smaller fountains are special features that can help your house stand out from the crowd and tip the scales in your favor in the mind of a potential buyer.

Whether you’re looking to sell soon or just want a way to improve the appearance of your home from the street view, curb appeal can always be improved, but it may require some help from professional landscaping services. 

Hiring Landscaping Services

Our landscaping experts have the experience and skills necessary to help you devise the best ways to protect and beautify your landscape. Our technicians know just how to get you the biggest bang for your buck and add value to your home’s aesthetic to put your property ahead of the rest.

From lawn mowing to tree removal, the landscaping professionals at The Parke Company have the experience and the skills to handle lawn problems and answer your landscaping services questions. Let us meet the unique needs of your property and bring your design dreams to life. 

For landscaping, Nashville, TN, trusts The Parke Company. Give us a call (615-350-6033) or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you.

6 Shrubs Ideal for Nashville’s Climate

With plenty of culture, food and music, it’s easy to enjoy living in Nashville. But how well do you know the climate? Nashville is actually part of a humid subtropical climate, which means that it generates hot, humid summers and cool to moderately cold winters. This climate is a preferred growing area, especially for beautiful shrubs. When choosing your plants this year, consider these shrub types, which will flourish in our specific environment.

  • Strawberry Bush: This native Tennessee perennial is a great addition to any yard, if only for the conveniently available fruit it produces.
  • Song of India: This evergreen shrub grows white blooms in the summertime. It is drought-tolerant so that you don’t have to spend your time constantly watering.
  • Red Chinese Hat Bush: The Hat Bush is another evergreen that grows in an attractive umbrella shape. Bright orange flowers grow year-round. It can be used as a hedge or border in the yard.
  • Bird of Paradise: The Bird of Paradise shrub produces striking orange and blue blossoms but can take several years to bloom. However, there are methods available for speeding up the process.
  • Forsythia: Part of the olive family, this popular shrub produces bright yellow blossoms.
  • Weigela: These are popular, medium-sized, ornamental shrubs with blooms that are typically white, pink or red.

Besides a bit of pruning, these plants are a low-maintenance way to spruce up your garden while keeping in mind what works in the Nashville area. If you have shrubs that need to be replaced in order include one or more of the ones listed above, contact the Parke Company for shrub removal or any other type of landscape service.

8 Low-Maintenance Landscape Designs

With so many items on your to-do list, you may not have much time for intricate lawn projects. Most likely, you still want a well-manicured and beautiful yard. Listed are some ways to help you get the appropriate look without all of the extra hassle of a complicated landscape.

  • Remove Existing Lawn Problems. Eliminate any water features or demanding plants that aren’t providing enough benefit to continue maintaining. Shrub removal or tree removal can be a quick fix that makes a large difference.
  • Select Perennials. Perennials save you time because you don’t have to pick new plants annually. Drought-tolerant perennials are also effortless because they require less water.
  • Choose Flowering or Coniferous Shrubs. These shrubs emit a pleasant aroma and give color to your yard without having to be watered frequently.
  • Think Groundcover. Groundcover plants cut down on weed development so you don’t have to spend your Saturday yanking out those pesky weeds. It also provides protection from drought and erosion.
  • Plant in Groups. Group plants together with similar light and water requirements. This will make them easier to care for and easier to mow around.
  • Avoid Over-Planting. Not only will you have fewer plants to take care of, each plant will have the space to grow full-size.
  • Pile on the Mulch. Mulch reduces your amount of watering and weeding while releasing nutrients into the soil.
  • Consider Automatic Irrigation Systems. Once installed, an irrigation system can do most of the work for you.

With these suggestions, you can tackle home projects or finally finish that lengthy book rather than weeding, watering or completing other landscape maintenance tasks. For irrigation system installation, tree removal or any landscape services, contact The Parke Company for a free estimate.

Proper Lawn Maintenance Can Save the Environment

If you maintain a somewhat healthy lawn, you may be more environmentally-friendly than you think. Lawn maintenance, though
often overlooked as such, has an incredibly positive impact on the earth. Listed below are some environmental benefits to healthy grass.

  • Creates oxygen. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Lawn like yours is one of the best oxygen producers available and is about three times more effective than trees.
  • Reduces pollution. Current turfgrass varieties are very effective in reducing pollution. Turfgrass acts as a filter, reducing pollution by purifying the water passing through its roots.
  • Decreases soil erosion. Strong turfgrass controls wind and water erosion. A healthy, average suburban yard absorbs approximately 6,000 gallons of rainwater without problematic runoff. Lawns absorb rainfall up to six times more effectively than most agricultural fields, returning water to the water table for reuse.
  • Cleans the air. Grass traps and removes significant amounts of dust and dirt from the air and purifies contaminants.
  • Regulates temperatures. A well-maintained landscape can cool down your home on sweltering summer days. Your lawn can reduce surface temperatures by 30 to 40 degrees compared to soil and 50 to 70 degrees compared to pavement. Thus, lush grass can save you energy and money.

Healthy lawns look beautiful, boost curb appeal and help the environment. If you would like to experience some of these benefits, contact the Parke Company at (615) 350-6033 or feel free to read more about their services. The Parke Company is experienced in all kinds of landscape and lawn maintenance, from tree removal to pruning.

How to Make a Big Impact with a Small Landscape in Nashville, Tennessee

A small yard may seem like a challenge at first, but can be just as inviting as a larger yard without the extra lawn maintenance. Here are a few suggestions to help create the appearance of a larger lot while appreciating the shorter amount of lawn mowing required.

  • Get Vertical. Making different levels with tall, narrow plants or structures can give small lots an extra boost. Bamboo, crepe myrtle, trellises or raised beds can all help add height.
  • Incorporate Color. Darker colors give the appearance of shadows while bolder colors draw the eye and make the rest of the yard recede, creating the illusion of depth.
  • Establish Divisions. Although it may seem hard to believe, divisions actually help limited areas. Use hedges, walls or fences to section off your yard. Diagonal paving stones will also make your yard appear more spacious.
  • Contain it. Flower pots, window boxes or other containers are great space-savers. You can still grow what you like without taking over the lawn. Pots are easy to move around for versatility and testing the best shade or sun spots.
  • Create Proportions. With minimal space, it’s best to use trees sparingly. You can also plant dwarf versions of trees the for correct proportions. If large trees are already taking up a lot of room, consider tree removal.
  • Use Accents. Accents typically draw the eye to a focal point and distract from lot size. Installing a small water fountain or seating area can also increase value. Make sure not to create too many focal points, which could clutter the area.

Landscaping a cramped yard doesn’t have to be a hassle. If you make the most of the space, you might find that you don’t miss the extra room. Talking to a local landscape company before starting any major lawn project is a great way to transform your design into reality. If you live in the Nashville area, contact the Parke Company for a free estimate.