Have fun outside, create beauty & add $4 return for $1 invested!

Whether you want your front yard to catch the eye of your neighbors ("How lovely!") or if you want to increase your home's value, these are helpful, valid and affordable outdoor tasks to can contract for or DIY. 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®. So what are you waiting for? Roll up those short sleeves, grab a shovel, and let's go!

#1 Mix Rocks with Bark Mulch

These textures work well together! Surround bark mulch with a rock moat makes for a tidy, everything-in-its-place yard. It makes maintenance easier because mulch smothers weeds and keeps plant roots cool and moist. 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.

#2 DIY Window Flower Boxes

Window boxes are like jewelry for house, adding bling to the blah. Fill with plants, and your curb appeal improves at point five past light-speed. BTW: 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 rock streams 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. 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

Create a path from the curb to your door to add a civilized touch and make 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

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

No one evr said, "I want a yard devoid of trees, shrubs, and flowers." Add 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. 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

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. LET'S GET BUSY!