A full landscape remodel can cost thousands of dollars and take weeks to complete. But here is the good news: most homes do not need one. A handful of targeted upgrades can completely transform the way your property looks from the street.
After four decades of working on properties across southern Minnesota, we have seen firsthand which improvements deliver the biggest visual return for the least investment. Here are the quick wins that make the most difference.
Refresh Your Mulch
Nothing makes landscape beds look tired faster than faded, thin mulch. And nothing revives them faster than a fresh layer.
A proper mulch installation does more than look good. It suppresses weeds, retains soil moisture, and insulates plant roots against Minnesota temperature swings. For most residential properties, 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch is the sweet spot.
If your existing mulch is still at a decent depth but has lost its color, mulch recoloring is a cost-effective alternative. Our infusionator technology restores like-new color at 40 to 60 percent less than full replacement.
Either way, updated mulch is one of the fastest ways to make your whole yard look maintained and intentional.
Add Defined Bed Edges
Clean, crisp bed lines instantly make a property look more polished. If your beds are bleeding into the lawn with no clear boundary, that one fix alone can change the entire feel of your front yard.
Decorative concrete curbing is the most permanent solution. It creates a seamless, continuous edge that eliminates the need for weekly trimming and lasts 20-plus years. It is especially popular with homeowners in Owatonna and Faribault who want a finished look without ongoing maintenance.
If you are not ready for curbing, even a fresh-cut spade edge along your beds makes a noticeable improvement for zero cost beyond your time.
Upgrade Your Front Door Plantings
The area immediately around your front entrance gets the most visual attention. A few well-chosen plantings here can set the tone for the entire property.
For southern Minnesota, we recommend a mix of:
- Evergreen shrubs for year-round structure (boxwood, arborvitae, or dwarf spruce)
- Perennials for seasonal color (hostas, daylilies, or coneflowers)
- Ornamental grasses for texture and movement
Keep it simple. Three to five well-placed plants look better than a dozen random ones crammed together. A professional landscape design ensures the right plants go in the right spots for your soil, light, and exposure.
Install Landscape Lighting
Low-voltage LED landscape lighting extends your curb appeal into the evening hours. Path lights along your walkway, uplights on architectural features, and accent lights in your beds create depth and drama that most homes in the neighborhood simply do not have.
Modern LED systems use minimal electricity and last for years. A basic front-yard lighting package can be installed in a single day and makes your home stand out after dark.
Clean Up What Is Already There
Before adding anything new, clean up what you already have. This is free and often makes the biggest difference of all.
- Prune overgrown shrubs that are blocking windows or crowding walkways
- Remove dead or struggling plants that drag down the overall appearance
- Pull weeds from beds, cracks in the driveway, and along the foundation
- Edge along sidewalks and driveways for clean, straight lines
- Power wash your front walkway and driveway
A well-maintained yard with simple landscaping always looks better than an elaborate landscape that has been neglected.
Add a Focal Point
Every front yard benefits from one element that draws the eye. This could be a specimen tree, a large decorative boulder, a water feature, or a well-designed planting bed at the end of the driveway.
The key is restraint. One strong focal point is better than several competing elements. It gives the eye a place to rest and makes the whole landscape feel intentional.
Prioritize Based on Budget
If you cannot do everything at once, here is our recommended order based on impact per dollar:
- First: Clean up and edge existing beds (minimal cost, immediate impact)
- Second: Fresh mulch across all beds ($300 to $800 for most homes)
- Third: Front entrance plantings ($200 to $600 depending on plant selection)
- Fourth: Decorative curbing ($1,200 to $2,500 for a typical front yard)
- Fifth: Landscape lighting ($500 to $1,500 for a front-yard package)
You can spread these across multiple seasons. Each one builds on the last, and your property improves steadily without a single large expense.
See What a Refresh Looks Like
Check out a front-yard mulch and curbing refresh we completed in Northfield — same bones, completely different feel from the street.
View Our Landscaping Projects →
Small Changes, Big Impact
We help homeowners across Owatonna, Faribault, Mankato, and the surrounding communities make smart, affordable improvements that look great and last. No pressure, no obligation — just honest advice and a clear estimate.
Prefer to talk it over first? Reach us at (507) 455-0081 — happy to help you prioritize.