How To Dress Up Your Front Door or Yard To Make A Great Impression

In the Northeast, the magic no-freeze date for outdoor plantings starts Now that spring seems to really be settling in with the magic "May 15th freeze-free" date around the corner,

it's time for sellers to add those potted plants to the front door, back patio, or to freshen up tired landscaping. Just as interior designs change, so do outdoor landscaping trends. Remember the ivy and pachysandra beds of yesterday?

Now it's colorful grasses, ferns (for shady areas), and interesting up- or down- sweeping evergreens -- in the northeast -- that are popular.  A beautifully landscaped yard -- front or back -- grabs buyers' attention and goes a long way towards creating outdoor ambience and a lifestyle that buyers want. The easiest and cheapest way to upgrade the look of your front entrance is with LARGE potted plants -- use urns with flowers or small evergreens for a more traditional, formal look (especially when used in pairs), potted palms for a tropical or beach location, or large ceramic or pottery containers with colorful annuals for a more casual or whimsical look. If the front steps or landing are small, one pot or large hanging plant will work fine. For added pizzazz, use flowers that match a colorful front door -- think purple pansies or pink petunias or geraniums. Don't forget to consider the amount of sun that the plants will need, since many front entryways tend to be shady. A good option besides the traditional impatiens or begonias are New Guinea impatiens and red ferns.