When you’re trying to increase the curb appeal of your home, one of the first things you should tackle is your lawn. That’s why the team at Ben Buys Indy Houses has compiled a list of some of the top plants for great curb appeal. Especially if you’ve never had a green thumb, selecting plants and trees can be tough – how do you know which ones will work well for your needs?

Basic Landscaping Tips for Curb Appeal

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re selecting, arranging and planting your new blooms or shrubs:

  • How much light does your yard get during the day? Some plants need full sun for a certain number of hours, while others are able to thrive in shady or partial sun environments.
  • What kind of soil do you have? Is it primarily clay? Sand? More acidic? These kinds of things will impact how much some plants will thrive. If you have poor soil, you may want to consider replacing it with bagged soil from the garden store.
  • When you plant bushes or trees, pay attention to what their fully-grown height will be. You’ll want to have taller plants at the back and those that stay lower to the ground at the front.

With these things in mind, let’s look at some great plants to boost your home’s curb appeal.

Top Plants for Great Curb Appeal

We’ve tried to offer a variety of options for plants – shrubs, flowering bushes, taller bushes, even a tree or two. A lot of these are perennials and a few are fast-growing. Depending on your goals for your landscaping, you can mix-and-match any of these to fit your home.

Azaleas

There are a lot of varieties of this beautiful flowering bush – most prefer dappled shade, but a few are fine in full sun areas. They’re hardy plants that tend to like mild weather and long summers and produce lots of bright blooms. Read more about azaleas here, and check with your nursery to find out the best options for your yard.

Hydrangeas

The hydrangea is a chameleon flower – in acidic soil, the blooms will be deep blue, while in neutral soil they’ll be pink and light purple. This plant grows up and out and during its peak is covered in rounded flowers. These are a great option for hiding the lower part of boring siding and external walls.

Rhododendron

Some varieties can grow up to 10 feet tall, so they’re a great option to add height to your landscaping and/or provide privacy for a porch. They need partial sun, but reward you with gorgeous flowers. Because of their thick foliage and height, it’s important to keep them trimmed away from doors and windows so that they don’t offer potential burglars a place to hide.

Hostas

Though these plants do flower, they are known for their variegated leaves. They are a great option to plant around trees and to provide year-round greenery closer to the ground. Hostas also tend to grow well and large, allowing the homeowner to divide them every couple of years into new plants! They’re hardy and rugged and a popular way to add some depth of color to your landscaping.

Thuja “Green Giant”

This evergreen tree is rapidly-growing (it can sprout three to five feet per year!) and a perfect option as a privacy screen or a way to add evergreen trees to landscaping quickly. Deep, thick green foliage all year plus a species that is disease resistant make these fantastic low-maintenance trees.

Butterfly Bushes

Butterfly bushes are beautiful ground cover, as the plants grow bushy but low to the ground. They also grow quickly, so they can be used to fill in flowerbeds. They aren’t picky about soil or light and attract hummingbirds and butterflies to their plentiful, pleasantly-scented flowers all through the summer. Consider picking up a few of these to add some color and wildlife to your landscaping!

Whether you’re selling your home or simply want to upgrade your lawn, we hope that these plants and landscaping tips have been helpful! Ben Buys Indy Houses is made up of local people just like you who want to see our city become more beautiful than ever before.

If you are selling and would like to know more about how we can make you cash offer and close within a week, buying your house in as-is condition, then contact us today. We’d love to hear from you and see how we can help you sell your home, condo or any other real estate in the Indianapolis area!