Brilliant borders and pathways

If you’re looking for a way to provide a border between your front yard and your neighbor’s, consider planting ornamental grasses such as miscanthus or feather reed grass. They help to define your yard and are an elegant, less obtrusive alternative to a fence.

There’s nothing more inviting than a well-landscaped front yard pathway. It practically beckons visitors. There are plenty of different ways to create a pretty pathway, whether you do it with wide flagstone or opt for a more rustic path of bricks or pebbles, flanked by flowers. Be sure the pebbles are small enough to walk on comfortably.

Sitting pretty

Another easy and relatively low-maintenance way to make your front yard more inviting is by incorporating seating. A simple wooden bench, a pair of Adirondack chairs or a tastefully painted, delicate metal table set offers a homey feel that can be accented by potted plants or seasonal decor.

Gorgeous greenery

Grass doesn’t have to be boring. As mentioned above, using ornamental grasses is a great way to provide a border for your yard, in lieu of a fence. You could also make grass the focus of your front yard, by mixing and matching different heights and textures. The idea is to create a more relaxed environment that avoids the impression of being overly landscaped.

Before getting started on your landscaping project, familiarize yourself with the plants that tend to thrive in your particular climate. It’s also a good idea to have a decent understanding of how much sun and shade the different areas of your yard receive. Don’t feel as though you have to do everything at once, either. Start small with borders, perhaps, and then work your way inward. Another option is to choose your impact element (a fruit tree or elegant seating) and build out from there. You want your front yard to look great, but you also want to have fun in the process.