Curb Appeal

Add some needed curb appeal to your home’s landscape by following a few simple tips and breaking some rules. The curb is the first impression of your home and speaks a whole lot about you, too. A crowded garden with a lot of stuff will lead people to assume the inside might look the same way. So, be critical. How would you rate the attractiveness of your house exterior? How it is rated will also depend on the prospective plans for the home – is it a rental, newly bought, summer home, a re-sell project? 
Define the areas that need some work and keep them in proportion to the property size and the house. Some serious renovations might be in place if shrubs are overgrown, beds have lost their shape or there are no beds at all! It sounds like a daunting task, but it is a rewarding, daunting task. Figure out what should stay or be removed. Some plants might need to be pruned back hard. They might look disfigured in the meantime, and might not flower for a year or two. For example, lilacs and hydrangeas are typically plants that get pruned after they flower, but this is a rule that may have to be broken if it’s for the health of the plant. Some plants will benefit from a good pruning, even if it sets them back a year or two from flowering. A Cape Shore Gardens garden staff member can help you differentiate between what needs to be moved or pruned, taken out or given some TLC. Focus on the large items first, as their removal can alleviate some garden space.
Before taking the plunge to the garden center, think about your needs, interests and most importantly, time. Your garden will reflect the time you put in it. The gardens of Sissinghurst and something as simple as a meadow at Longwood Gardens are meticulously maintained. If time is an issue, stick with tough, low maintenance shrubs such as spirea that comes in a menagerie of foliar and flower colors and a variety of sizes. Oakleaf hydrangeas are another easy shrub, but give it enough space to do its thing! Right plant, right place! This is one of the most important principles to follow in design and planting! If you follow this rule, spacing, maintenance and plant health will be breeze. If you’re not plant savvy, stop in and we’ll guide you.
Be creative – let plants spill over walkways; combine various shapes and leaf textures; mix different heights for a dynamic, layered look. Keep a simple plant and color palette. Masses are more effective in design than scattering them around. May is the time of year where Cape Shore Gardens is fully stocked and getting trucks in every week. Don’t miss out on new stock that can add drama and pizazz to your home! Visit us at 1028 Rt. 9 S., Cape May Court House. Call (609) 465-5161 for more information.
Written by Lauren Popper, horticulturist at Cape Shore Gardens and graduate of Temple University’s School of Environmental Design.