You'll Want to Steal These Amazing DIY Ideas for Your Front Yard

Landscaping done right can put as much as $4 in your pocket for every $1 you spend, according to the "Remodeling Impact Report" from the National Association of REALTORS(R). So what are you waiting for?
Grab a shovel, and let's go.

#1 Mix Rocks with Bark Mulch
Front yard landscaping using rocks and mulchImage: Dundee Concrete & Landscaping Surrounding bark mulch with a rock moat makes for a tidy, everything-in-its-place yard. It also makes maintenance easier because mulch smothers weeds and keeps plant roots cool and moist. And the rock mulch next to your home's foundation is smart, because it keeps water away. Best of all, this is a simple landscaping idea to DIY: Put rubber garden edging along your beds. Put down weed guard. Pour bags of mulch and gravel in the beds. Done.

Popular Back Yard Ideas

1. 7 "Oh Yeahhh" Projects That Make Your Backyard Staycation-Worthy
2. 7 Amazing Ways to Transform Your Backyard
3. 5 Small Backyard Ideas to Make Your Cramped Outdoor Space Feel Like Versailles
4. 6 DIY Fire Pits That'll Make You Feel Oh-So-Warm

#2 DIY Window Flower Boxes
Front yard window boxesImage: Molly Patton Design Window boxes are like jewelry for house, adding bling to the blah. If you're handy with tools, make your own, but you can also buy prefab ones and mount them yourself. Fill with plants, and your curb appeal improves at point five past light-speed. TIP: Leave an inch of space between the window flower box and the house to prevent moisture from destroying your siding.

#3 Build a Dry Stream
Dry stream landscaping in a front yardImage: Doughty Residence - Rancho Murrieta, Ca. Here's why we love dry rock streams: They add a touch of mountain-y rugged to your yard. They drain water away from the foundation of your house. They don't need to be mowed, watered, or fertilized. Oh, and it's a simple two-step install: 1. Dig a trench. (It'll replace your cardio and strength workouts for the week, so prepare accordingly.) 2. Place the rocks.

#4 Build a Paver Path
Front yard paver pathwayImage: Custom Walkway by Stone Arch Landscapes, Minneapolis, MN Creating a path from the curb to your door to adds a civilized touch and makes your front yard feel designed. It also means less lawn to mow and weed. You can do this one yourself with pavers or bricks.

TIP: Choose a brick pattern with staggered edges to handle curves without the drag of cutting bricks.

#5 Light Your Walkways
Front yard walkway lightsImage: Rosann Kelley, photo/Outdoor Artisan, Inc., design and install The only thing better for your curb appeal than making a walkway is making a walkway and lighting it. LED lighting adds the most value, but you can DIY it with a solar lighting kit. Lighted walkways look very Architectural Digest, and they'll keep you from taking a header when you're bringing in the groceries.

#6. Plant Flowers and Trees
Flowers and trees in a front yardImage: Jude Parkinson-Morgan "I want a yard devoid of trees, shrubs, and flowers." Said no one, ever. Adding plants (a.k.a. softscape) to your yard adds to your home value.You'll get every penny you spend on plantings back when you sell your house. So apparently money does grow on trees. Plants get more valuable as they get older, so take care of the tree saplings and azaleas you planted. You're getting ROI as well as flowers and shade.

#7 Grow Grass
Front yard with lovely curb appealImage: A Dogs Life Photo/Getty If you do nothing else to your yard, plant a lawn or reseed a patchy one. Americans love lawns, so for every dollar you spend planting a lawn from seed, you'll get more than $4 back when you sell your home. It's hard to beat a 400% return on an investment.