After power washing the siding on your home, it probably gleams in the sunlight. You can improve upon the appearance of your reinvigorated siding with a few landscaping touches that make your entire home sparkle with curb appeal. With the help of a landscaping business, try the following techniques to spruce up your home’s exterior.
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Prune Existing Vegetation
Trim the vegetation around the home, including vines, trees, and bushes to stop them from rubbing against the siding and causing damage. It also prevents moisture entrapment, which can lead to mildew and mold growth. The third benefit, seeing the siding unobscured, can reveal damaged siding and missing pieces. Many cladding options receive wind ratings of up to 110 mph, but that doesn’t make it indestructible.
Install Trellises Along the Siding
Vines growing on your siding can damage it, so install plant trellises to achieve that lovely climbing ivy look. Choose vinyl or metal trellises for the best weather-proof materials. Climbing plants on trellises can soften a home’s appearance.
Install Window Boxes
Window boxes full of vivid, vibrant flowers or greenery create Old World charm. Instead of wood, which can deteriorate after many watering sessions, use window boxes made from resin, PVC, or fiberglass. Use the appropriate hangers and installation screws to avoid damaging the siding.
Create Depth with Foundation Plantings
Plantings around the home’s base add depth to the landscape. This may require adding nutrients to the existing soil. Mixed and granular soils consisting of 10% to 15% or less of cohesive soil prove easier to compact using rammers and vibrating plates, according to For Construction Pros.
Once you’ve added the right mix of blood meal, nitrogen, and loamy soil to your yard around the base of the home, it can handle plantings. Add dimension to the area around the foundation by planting shrubs, trees, and flowers. Match the plants to the siding or trim of the house. Plant these items at least 12 to 24 inches from the foundation to prevent moisture buildup issues.
Use Plants to Create Pathway Borders
The overall yard contributes to curb appeal, so bring the hardscapes dotting the lawn in line with the home’s cladding. Plant the same flowers along the pathways in the yard as in the window boxes. These plantings build cohesiveness and add structure using natural materials.
Use Group Plantings/Garden Beds
Use plants of varying heights to develop visual interest in each garden bed and add depth. Think of it like layering clothing during fall. Start with ornamental grasses as a base, then add flowers, tall grasses, and shrubs.
Choose these plants according to the home’s scale, too. Avoid placing a large planting next to a tiny house or miniature flowers next to a vast mansion. Scale matters, and small plants work best with a small home, large plants work best with a large home.
Add Mulch for Garden Bed Ground Cover
Scattering mulch provides an orderly protective ground cover for the garden beds. It helps the ground retain moisture for strong root growth and suppresses weed growth. Use bark dust with 15% or less interior xylem wood content, says the Mulch and Soil Council. When adding rocks or pebbles for ground cover or pathways, choose stones that match the home’s trim color for the best results.
Light the Home Exterior and Yard
Outdoor lighting augments well-cared-for siding, trim, and plantings. Use spotlights to light the home’s architectural features or display large, impressive trees at night. Light the steps, porch, and deck with task lighting that makes navigating the outdoor portions of the home easier.
Use Landscaping to Improve the Appearance of Your Home’s Siding
Implementing plantings throughout the home’s exterior and maintaining the landscaping year-round provides an improved appearance for siding. Choose plants that look good all year, so that when the seasons change, the home continues to look fabulous. Remove dead plants and trim overgrown ones to keep your home looking its best.
