Your landscape extends well beyond your property line. It's what people see in adjacent homes and your backyard. Take photos of your home to uncover eye sores and highlight areas to improve.

What’s your landscape like?
Most people think that their landscape is defined by their property line. It's definitely not. Whatever you can see outdoors from where you stand in your house or in your yard is your landscape. That includes plants and what is called hard scape- walls, paths, driveways, etc. Also, even though you don’t own the neighbor’s rusty play ground equipment or vintage 1962 garbage cans, they’re a part of your landscape if you can see them.

Go ahead and stand across the street from your house and look straight ahead and to the sides of the property. Now walk to the edge of your property and look at the front and sides. Do the same in the backyard.

If you have a camera, take some pictures and create a photo album as we did. We found that photos really can be useful in highlighting aspects of your landscape. For example, look at the photo below.
Notice how the house is pretty much overtaken by the trees on the left and right side and how the shared driveway is prominent. Pruning the trees and shrubs may be the first step in improving this landscape. However, some big flowers in those clay pant pots would really give the place a lift.

Take these photos with you to your garden center and use them to select other flowers and shrubs. Note, All of the photos in this gallery and website have been edited using Google's free Picasa Photo software. You too can
Always remember that if you can see it, then your friends and guests can too. And if you are selling or renting your home, buyers and renters will too. Ultimately, you have a choice on what to include or exclude in your landscape.

See our other landscaping articles for help in improving the curb appeal of your home.