PORTOLA HILLS LIVING by Kelly Turbeville

Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever we do, our favorites involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features. Whether it's as simple as installing some lighting or a little more time-consuming like re-plotting plants, a fresh look for the lawn always gives your home a fresh look as well. Here are our top five easy landscaping projects! Create a pathway. To guide you and visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pathway. You can use materials from a variety of materials, including reclaimed pallet wood, flagstones, gravel, and more to add texture and color. Add a wall or border. Installing a flagstone, rock, or brick wall around flower beds or trees adds a sleek, clean look to your landscaping and helps separate different sections of your yard. Install a water feature. Nothing says zen quite like the sound of trickling water as you relax in your backyard. You can start simple with by purchasing and installing a small feature p...

I was taking a stroll through the Portola Hills neighborhood this morning and I love seeing some of the new landscaping residents are putting in to deal with the drought.   This is certainly needed and the Realtor in me always smiles as curb appeal is key in your homes value. Curb Appeal by Kelly Turbeville Why is curb appeal so important to homeowners? We all know first impressions are everything.. right!  Doesn't it make you feel good when you walk up to your house and see how great it looks.  Have you ever walked up to a house with poor curb appeal? Now jump ahead and imagine that feeling if you were a home buyer... Does your home need a little updated curb appeal.... Here are 10 Low Cost and Quick Updates, you can do this weekend! Clear the way .. The path to your front door should be wide, think of two people walking shoulder to shoulder. Cut back any overhanging plants or encroaching shrubs. Lite the route.. Landscape lighting is a quick a...