We’ve been focused on improving our curb appeal lately—planning planting beds, carving crisp edges, and spreading a fresh layer of mulch. With Clara’s birthday party this weekend, we wanted the front yard to look tidy. Mother Nature has already done the heavy lifting by getting everything super green, so we concentrated on defining beds and freshening up the view from the porch. The photos tell most of the story.
Rewinding to last summer, many of the beds looked rough—more weeds and bare dirt than anything else. The grass filled in better over the fall and spring (we overseeded this spring and plan to aerate and seed again in the fall), but we still hadn’t mulched, so the beds retained a tired, unfinished look.
We searched for free mulch options other people mentioned but didn’t find any locally. After asking neighbors and doing some quick cost comparisons, we chose to have a 10 cubic yard delivery of hardwood mulch dropped at the house. The local supplier quoted $280, which worked out cheaper than buying and hauling bags from the big box store—and saved us the effort of moving 135 bags ourselves.
Delivery didn’t eliminate the work—it only changed the method. Instead of carrying bags, it was wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow. I did get a little helper for part of the job, though she preferred a tiny trowel over a full-size shovel.
It took about two and a half afternoons to spread the mulch and tidy up. We still have more to do—planting in the beds and addressing some patchy grass—but the yard already looks noticeably better. We’re also debating whether to extend the bed along the path so we can plant on both sides of the walkway in the future.
Part of the improvement was defining the bed edges. Many neighbors have crisp grass-to-mulch lines that look great, so I tried to emulate that. I outlined the bed with a garden hose, intentionally angling the line into the grass to keep a thick border, then used a small edging spade to cut a neat edge and remove a shallow strip of turf.
After cutting the edge, I dug out the turf inside the bed area. Removing the grass prevents it from reestablishing in the mulch and lowers the bed slightly below the lawn level so the mulch stays contained.
Here’s one bed fully dug out and ready for mulch. I’m not completely happy with the final shape yet, but adding shrubs or flowers will help settle the design. For now, we worked with the existing layout and plants.
And here’s that same bed after mulching. It cleaned everything up instantly—aside from one azalea that looks like a deer favorite.
I won’t go bed-by-bed, but the overall change over nine months is pretty dramatic. From patchy grass and bare beds to a much more presentable front yard, the difference is encouraging.
This next photo is a nice reminder that winter has passed and everything has greened up.
We overestimated how much mulch we needed—10 cubic yards was more than necessary based on the actual bed depths—so next time we’ll aim for 7 or 8 cubic yards. The extra got used to top off a backyard bed and add extra depth to a large bed by the driveway.
With the mulching finished, the property has reached what I jokingly call “Landscape Zero”—it no longer looks neglected, though we still have weeds in the driveway and empty beds to fill. Overall, the progress makes the house feel cared for and closer to the curb appeal we want.
We’re considering hiring the landscaper who worked on our showhouse for a consultation. We’d do the planting and labor, but a pro’s input about deer-resistant plants and what thrives in our light conditions seems worth it. A previous professional consultation helped jump-start the landscape at our last house, so we hope it will do the same here.
Is anyone else getting their hands dirty this spring?
PS – Sherry created a Teddy’s Photo Project page this weekend and added a sidebar button to it. We’ll post his weekly photos and outtakes there, similar to how we documented Clara’s weekly photos.