Landscaping for Curb Appeal: Nice-To-Have #1 Fencing

If you’re in an urbanized area, fencing probably seems almost common-place, but it’s not to be taken for granted. Part of the “American Dream” is privacy and the setting of boundaries for pets, and happy kids that can play freely, plus everything else that goes with having one’s own backyard! Though the value of fencing does indeed become a bit “murky” when looking at its potential to boost property values, these dividers do play a very critical role in the re-selling of our homes.

As stated in Gordon’s article on Houselogic, “In Mesa, Arizona, where chain link fences are typical of older properties, an upgraded cement block privacy wall can boost selling prices by $2,000 to $5,000 more.”

These cement block walls, also known as “dooley” or “pilaster” walls, are typically built-in to newer homes within many American cities. For most of us, it might seem like a moot point, but there is still much consideration to be had in looking at HOW these walls can be used in defining a space for all to enjoy. If you’ve already got a block wall, good for you! Now how can you give your property some extra pizazz and out-do those other hundreds of homes competing on the market? Here’s some design-food for thought:

VENEERED COLUMNS
Veneered columns are the most pricey option. You can cap and face your pilasters with a stone veneer to complement the unique architectural style of your home. It might seem like an insignificant improvement, but it will be sure to make a dramatic statement!

STUCCO & PAINT
Stucco and paint your walls if they are bare-brick / concrete masonry units (CMUs). This will give your walls a softer, smoother appearance, and less of a “drabness” in feel. Incorporating the same materials / colors from your home into your adjacent property walls will tie the whole piece together in a way that you might not have imagined before!

BRING OUT THE COLOR
Give your walls a face-lift and paint em’! You don’t necessarily have to stucco the walls, this also can become costly. Choose a color that is appropriate in complementing your home. Or, if you are so inclined, bring out the color and go BOLD - use a flamboyant tone to highlight your favorite architectural plants against.

CLOTHING YOUR WALLS & FENCES: CLIMBERS, TWINERS & VINES
Put Up Trellises & Get the Vines Going! If you don’t want to make improvements to the walls themselves, then consider clothing them in lush flowering vines. Many of the local nurseries offer a handful of gorgeous trellises that would help break up the monotony of a simple wall. Or, go custom - have us put together a design for a series of trellises that will be distinctive to your individual tastes.

• GO SIMPLE. GOT POTTERY?
  Whatever you do, repetition in elements is usually extremely powerful. If you want to stay low-budget and don’t have the room for trellises / vines – go with pilaster pots. Purchase 3-5 pots, plant them out with the same species accent or succulent, and place them on the tops of the columns along your back wall. Our recommendation is to choose a species that has very low water demand. In so doing, you won’t have to run drainage or irrigation to these pots – just hit them with the watering can once a month or every two weeks. Oh, and one more thing, if this is a shared wall, be sure to do your diligence and kindly discuss the pots with your neighbors. Chances are there won’t be issues, as they be benefiting from the beauty too! In fact, take it a step further and see if they’d be willing to go half-and-half with you on the venture!
• GO EVEN SIMPLER. GO ARTSY.
  If you have an appreciation for art or “yard flair” run down to your local nursery, patio furniture supply, or rustic-niche shop and pick out unique décor to hang on your walls. There’s a lot of choices for vertical yard art that you could also place in front of your walls to break up the their starkness, elements that will draw attention away from the walls and create focal points amidst your landscape. From revolving wind towers, to boutique-style garden plaques, to classical ornamentation and sculpture, there’s no shortage of creative works on the market today! Regardless, make sure that you’re getting something that is YOU and not just “trendy." You will appreciate it more, probably hang on to it for a bit longer, and undoubtedly have some “conversation pieces” to share with guests!
• COMBINE ELEMENTS
  What might seem obvious, but worth mentioning, is the concept of combining these strategies to create a design-vocabulary that fits your family’s tastes. We don’t recommend doing one of anything, but you don’t want your yard to look like an emporium or yard sale either! Combining in groups of three or four can often times make a powerful statement (4 trellises / vines, 3-4 pots for column tops, 3-4 artworks, etc.) As mentioned, repetition is bold, it draws the eyes in creates coherence in your landscape. Just remember, too much of anything can be a detriment. Keep it simple, keep it classy, and your yard will be sure to turn some heads!
• VIEW FENCING & THE “BORROWED” LANDSCAPE
  Most of the concepts discussed thus far pertain to standard block walls. If you’re lucky enough to be on a lot that backs up to native desert, a wildlife area, or Natural Area Open Space (NAOS), one of two things might be true: 1.) Your lot and property fence was already planned and constructed with sections of view-fence or decorative wrought-iron in mind – to take advantage of views to the landscape beyond. 2.) If you don’t already have view-fencing / wrought-iron installed, but you DO back up to one of these types of areas … you have a potential opportunity (if, of course, your HOA allows these types of fences in the first place). It’s not real common for home owners to want to tear down sections of wall, just to put fencing up. It’s pricey! Pricier than any of the ideas discussed above. But if the “borrowed landscape” and view beyond warrants it, it might be worth the investment! A couple pointers on design – go with an iron color that complements or contrasts nicely with the adjacent wall color. Don’t choose a color that draws attention to the fence! The idea is to create the view to the landscape beyond – not for the eyes to fall on the color of the fence! Choose a design-style that complements the architectural style and ornamentation of your home. These seem like no-brainers, but the last thing you want to end up with is a fence that looks out of place. And finally, though we would recommend some vines be along the periphery of your yard, don’t entirely cover your view fence – you’ll defeat the point. Keep your vines trimmed and frame the views that you want. Shrub, tree, and vine placement in these types of situations is important!