32 — Say you saw it in The Real Estate Browser of Lynchburg — Volume 9 Number 9 www . LynchburgRealEstateBrowser . com
5 Awesomely Easy Landscaping Projects
It ’ s your yard — yours to do with as you wish . And while that ’ s great , that doesn ’ t mean you have to be one of those people who spends every spare moment in their yard , sprucing it up .
But , still , your landscaping could use a little something . But something easy .
Here are five totally doable projects that your budget will barely notice , but your neighbors definitely will :
# 1 Add Some ( Tough ) Edging
Tell your grass who ’ s boss with edging that can stand up to even the crabbiest of all crabgrasses .
But don ’ t make the mistake that many homeowners make of buying the flexible plastic stuff , thinking it will be easier to install . It ’ ll look cheap and amateurish from day one .
Worse , it won ’ t last . And before you know it , you won ’ t be able to tell where your garden bed ends and your “ lawn ” begins .
Instead buy the more rigid , tough stuff in either fiberglass , aluminum , or steel .
Tips on installing edging :
• Lay out a hose in the pattern you want .
• Sprinkle flour or powdered chalk to mark the hose pattern .
• Use a lawn edger ( or spade ) to make an incision for the edging .
• Tap the edging into the incision with a rubber mallet .
The cost ? Mostly your time , and up to $ 2.50 a square foot for the edging .
# 2 Create a Focal Point with a Berm
A berm is a mound of gently sloping earth , often created to help with drainage . You can also build them to create “ island beds ,” a focal point of textures and colors that are so much more interesting than plain ol ’ green grass .
Plus , they ’ ll give you privacy — and diffuse street noises . What ’ s not to like about that ? Especially if you live in more urban areas .
For most yards , berms should max out at 2-feet high because of the space needed to properly build one .
They need a ratio of 4-6 feet of width for every foot of height . That ’ s at least 8 feet for a typical 2-foot high berm . So be sure you have the room , or decrease the height of your berm .
Popular berm plantings include :
• Flowering bushes , such as azaleas
• Evergreens , such as blue spruce
• Perennials such as periwinkle
• Tall , swaying prairie grasses
• Lots of mulch to keep weeds away
The cost ? Usually less than $ 300 , depending on how big you make it , how much soil you need to buy to get to your desired height , and what plants you choose .
# 3 Make a Flagstone Wall
Aim to build a wall no more than 12 inches tall , and it becomes a super simple DIY project — no mortar needed at all !
How to build an easy flagstone wall :