Creating Curb Appeal in Side Yard

Do you have a side yard that is begging for some enhancements? Consider adding a garden area with stone and mulch to add some amazing curb appeal. We've previously shared the transformation of the front yard on this FSBO senior home in Lakes at Leesburg. Let us show you what we did in the side yard to tie the landscape design all together.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Initially, we started our side yard project at the back area next to the opening into the carport and then expanded it to the back adjacent to the shed. Along the side, next to the carport, we dug up an area about 18 inches wide to include red stone edgers and red lava rock. We then stopped that portion of the side yard improvement and jumped to the front curb area.

It was a wee bit challenging to decide how to handle the placement of the water meter as it was set a bit lower than the rest of the area. It took a little maneuvering with the stone edgers to create an "indented" area. We think this actually looks like one of the states -- perhaps a little Utah? 

Oh woe is me! This place needs some CURB APPEAL !!!
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Let us remind you of the lack of curb appeal before we got started transforming the exterior of this home! It is kind of amazing to see the finished result especially when you compare it to the before condition.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

The side yard area was handled as mini-projects -- kind of like little puzzle pieces that fit together to create one design. We initially planted Aztec grass and salvia in the front yard side garden. Heading to the back, in that side yard, we did a triangular garden area with more red mulch and red stone edgers. We opted to go triangular so that we could install a stone and rock patio area to connect to the golf cart path along the carport.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

In the triangular side yard garden, we planted sunflowers! For four consecutive years, we maintained sunflower gardens grown from seeds. The first year, in our Jacksonville back yard garden, we used four different variety of seeds -- mostly Burpee. The fourth year, the sunflowers were grown from the seeds of an amazing wine-colored Autumn Beauty sunflower.

After planting the sunflowers, we noticed little brown bunnies in the area. One morning, over half of the sunflower seedlings we had growing in our backyard garden were nibbled to the ground! The remaining seedlings were moved to this triangular garden and then surrounded by wire decorative edging and the red polka dot pinwheel. The bunnies seemed to leave these sunflowers alone ... but then the squirrels found them! What to do? We tried crumbled moth balls that were spread around the area.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden of Sunflowers
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

In the photo above, you can see that the wine-colored Autumn Beauty sunflowers are doing well. Notice on the mulch around them how crumbled moth balls have been sprinkled there. It was a good deterrent to bunnies and squirrels.

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden of Sunflowers
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Of all the sunflowers that I have grown in my four sunflower gardens, the Autumn Beauty variety is my favorite. I also discovered that squirrels in Jacksonville AND Leesburg, Florida LOVE the Autumn Beauty blossoms! I'm not sure what it is about this variety -- perhaps the wine color?

Creating Curb Appeal with a Side Yard Garden of Sunflowers
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Once the Autumn Beauty sunflowers blossomed, the side yard curb appeal was pretty amazing. Neighbors were driving or walking by daily to check out the sunflowers. It is very satisfying to grow sunflowers from seeds ... I'd say my only "regret" -- if you can call it that -- is that sunflowers seem to have a life of little more than 90 days ... and then you need to start over. When the sunflower heads are read to cut from the plant to harvest seeds, I generally take out the plants.

Creating Curb Appeal with Front and Side Yard Gardens
19 Tortuga Way, Leesburg, FL 34788

Here is a view of the property after exterior enhancements -- virtually EVERYTHING has been "touched" with a designer's brush to create a visually-stunning finished piece. Classic Burgundy painted accents draw the eye across the front of this property.

If you love what you see, you can be the new owner of this stunning senior home in Lakes at Leesburg. We are pleased to offer for sale by owner this cute cottage-style, senior home at 19 Tortuga Way in Leesburg, Florida.