10 Front Yard Mistakes That Made Our House Look Worse

We’ve all done things around the house we thought would look great—only to realize later we made it worse. Our front yard went through a few of those phases. From planting the wrong stuff to skipping basic upkeep, we learned a lot the hard way.

If your yard’s not giving off the right first impression, here are 10 front yard mistakes we made that dragged everything down.

Letting the Grass Get Patchy

There was a season when our lawn looked more like a bald man’s head than a yard. We ignored the patches and figured they’d fill in on their own. They didn’t.

Uneven grass makes the whole yard feel neglected—even if everything else is in decent shape. Once we finally fixed the soil and reseeded, the entire space felt cleaner and more put together.

Using the Wrong-Sized Plants

We bought shrubs based on how they looked in the pot—big mistake. Within a year, they had outgrown their spots and were swallowing up the walkway.

When plants don’t fit the space, it throws everything off. It also makes upkeep harder than it needs to be. Now we always check mature sizes before planting anything near the house or sidewalk.

Skipping the Edging

For way too long, we let the grass run wild into our flower beds. No defined lines, no barrier—just a mess that blurred everything together.

Even when we weeded and mulched, it still looked sloppy. Once we added clean edging, the yard instantly looked more finished. It’s a small fix that makes a big visual difference.

Leaving Toys and Tools Out Front

We got used to seeing the kids’ bikes, garden hoses, and random tools scattered near the porch, but buyers or guests don’t have that same blind spot.

Even the nicest yard starts to look like a storage zone when stuff is left lying around. Now we keep a bin on the side of the house and make cleanup part of our evening routine.

Overcrowding the Flower Beds

At one point, we stuffed every seasonal flower we liked into the front beds. It looked like a plant sale gone wrong—no flow, just chaos.

Too many plants can overwhelm a small space and make maintenance harder. We’ve since scaled back and focused on a few solid perennials that give color without the clutter.

Using Cheap Plastic Borders

We tried those flexible plastic edging rolls because they were cheap and easy—but they looked warped within a month and started popping out of the ground.

They didn’t hold shape, didn’t stay in place, and made the whole front yard look unfinished. Replacing them with stone edging made a massive difference in curb appeal.

Ignoring the Porch Details

Our porch was structurally fine, but we let peeling paint, dirty mats, and an old plastic chair hang around too long. It made the front of the house feel forgotten.

Once we repainted the railing, replaced the mat, and got a couple of decent chairs, it felt like a whole new space. You don’t need a total remodel—just a little effort to clean it up.

Planting Too Close to the House

We thought it looked cozy to have bushes right up against the siding. Turns out, it traps moisture, invites pests, and makes the house feel boxed in.

Pulling those plants out gave us breathing room and made the house feel bigger from the street. Now we keep a gap between the house and any big greenery.

Not Having a Clear Walkway

For a while, guests basically had to guess how to get to our front door. The path was narrow, uneven, and half-covered by overgrowth.

We finally widened it, trimmed back the plants, and added a few pavers. Now people know where to go—and it makes the whole entry feel more welcoming.

Leaving Dead Plants in Place

We were guilty of the “it’ll come back next year” mindset, even when we knew that plant was done for. Brown, brittle stems sat out front like a warning sign.

Once we started pulling dead plants right away, our yard looked healthier—even if that meant leaving a bare spot for a bit. Clean beats cluttered every time.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.