Since the front of the house is symmetric, a straight walk going up the center, with similar plantings on each side would be more consistent with the style of the house facade.

Overall I think it just needs a little cleaning up. Cut the grass, edge it, clean up the flower bed and I'd probably get rid of the vine on the left column........especially when you're ready to show the house.

The link to a previous thread may be of help. Personally, I like the curved walkway.

Here is a link that might be useful: front yard

The topic of landscaping in preparation for a sale comes up often, so you might want to scan through old posts looking for information. I have had my house on the market for 4 months and it has not sold yet, so maybe I am not the one to give advice. ;-)

In my opinion, you should not be shooting for "gorgeous". I would say that "well maintained" and "attractive" are much better goals. Clean up what you have, maybe shift a couple plants around and/or fill in obvious bare spots, and I would remove the vines. I would not add another garden bed...grass is more appealing to the majority of home buyers.

- Brent

I agree with Brent; don't go through the work of making another garden bed. That can actually be a liability when you list the house.

I speak from experience, as I learned that my extensive perennial garden at our last house intimidated some buyers. If they don't garden, they'll either tear it out and replace the sod, or they'll let it go and it'll look like crap. (again, I speak from experience -- just drove by our old house last week; ouch!)

Colorful annuals in pots will do wonders to brighten up the place, along with general tidying up, edging the lawn and so forth. And you can take them with you or leave them for the new owners to place wherever they'd like.

Next spring, you might want to think about potting up perennials that you especially like, and planting some low-growing simple annuals in front of the porch (pansies, petunias). You want the approach to your house to appear as "clean" as possible, and many perennials can look a little... messy when not in bloom. Plus, you want people to have a good view of your inviting front porch!

-Mow and trim the grass
-Work on weed control in the yard
-Have the city fix the broken curb
-Remove vines growing on the columns
-Paint columns a bright white (along with other trim since you're getting ready to sell)
-Add haning baskets to the porch of something light and bright, maybe yellow wave petunias. One basket on left, two on right.
-Containers of annuals at entrance steps. Once again, bright and light colors.

Excellent advice from the last three posters.

It doesn't pay to do any major landscaping project shortly before a planned sale, and money is best spent on enhancing the sense of a tidy, well-maintained property.

I agree with everyone else. Clean up, trim up and use annuals.

I like the curved walk, would move the trash containers to behind the chimney where they can't be seen from the street. Would put the glider on the front porch beneath the windows (against the house) and, instead of hanging baskets, would move a small table next to the glider with a pot of strong colored annuals--same thing on the other side of the porch--look at the arrangement from the street, use what you have to arrange a pleasing vignette. Would remove the vines.

Edge the walkways and weed and re-seed the lawn. Clean up the flower beds, add annuals for brightness and sharp edge the beds.

Same thing inside. Clean out closets, even if you have to rent a storage locker for out of season clothes, shoes and non-essentials. If you have a basement like mine (full to the rafters), same thing. Create the same sort of vignettes in your closets that you will on the front porch--pleasing configurations of clothes, etc. Look around the house for clutter and remove it or organize it/disguise it.

Do this before you bring in realtors to take a look.

Good luck. Cute house.

What is the "perennial vine" on the left side of the porch?

From here it looks as though it might be Aristolochia durior "Dutchman's Pipe", though the leaves seem small for that.

You have a great house. I agree with straightening the pathway. But I'd be careful about yanking out the vine. Find out what it is and go from there.

In the past few months I watched a "landscape maintenance" company yank out a mature H. anomala petiolaris, Aristolochia durior, and a lovely climbing rose all in the name of "cleaning up". They did what they were told to do, but seeing mature specimen wiped out in a morning about broke me heart.

Identify what you have and please consider leaving it for the next owner. Just a thought.

Thank you everyone for helping me see my property through a landscaper's eyes. I have always appreciated beautiful landscaping and wish I were better able to figure out such things for myself. And you've all been so generous with your time!

For busyd95 and chelone, thanks for liking my house. I like it too! And chelone, the perennial vine on the left is a crossvine that I planted a few years ago. I'm attaching a picture. Maureen

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:49447}}