Need to landscape for house sale next spring-picture 1

Ok, so I am selling my house next spring. I will post a pic of the front whne i can. but it';s a simply ranch, rectangular house. The doorway is in the middle. basically i need some kind of green type pine tree (3-6 ft?) to go on the left (against the foundation). What bushes/pines etc would grow fast in one year? I will plant the largest sized tree i can this year. Also, on the right side of the door, i have hostas thatare againt the house to cover the foundation. I also have a big pine in the front side that is full shade under it and i have a large round mulch bed under it. What will grow up ealry in the spring nect year to have something nice under it? Also waht are early flowers for massachusetts? So i can have some color come May, 2009. Hers the left side

For the pine tree sort of thing, I'd focus less on fast growth and more on buying one that when it's full grown will be an appropriate size for the area. Find one that'll fit that area when it's mature, then buy as large a specimen as you can from the nursery. That way the foundation will be covered, but you won't wind up with something that's going to overgrow that space and cause problems for whoever buys your house.

As far as flowers, figure out what month(s) you think your house will be on the market, and drive around this year and look at what sorts of things are blooming in everyone else's yard during those months. Spring blooming bulbs are always nice, and you can always go to the nursery shortly before the house goes on the market and pick up flats of blooming annuals and pop those in for some nice instant color.

Also, your grass looks a little bit sad...I've been in CA for several years now so I don't remember what grass is supposed to look like this time of year in a colder climate. But if other people's lawns are green at this time of year then you may want to consider doing some seeding this year so that you have a nice lush healthy lawn by the time you put the place on the market.

Hi
Good luck selling your house - it is always a good feeling when it is finally done and more than worth any effort/preparation you make to get a good price.

Would you consider staining the concrete on your porch and steps? It would make a big difference for a little paint work work and the price of the stain.

Ecrane had a good suggestion for figuring out how to choose what should go along the porch - I definitely would choose material that won't disappear come the winter like the hosta do - also would make my choice with all the seasons in mind and not just the spring. Again, great luck selling Dorothy

I would also take into consideration your tree size and proximity to the house. If you are putting it close to the foundation, don't forget big trees have BIG roots. The last thing the house needs in 5 years is a damaged foundation.

If you are trying to hide most of your foundation, azaleas would do that job nicely and possibly even be in bloom if you are selling later in the spring. They would do so much to jazz things up (and there are evergreen varieties). Some with white flowers would complement your house color. And ecranes suggestion of annuals is a good one (and inexpensive). You could plant them out in front of the azaleas. The money you spend trying to spruce up your house will be well worth it. Hubby and it remodeled and planted extra plants/flowers at our other home before we put it on the market and ours sold much more quickly than the others in the neighborhood. We had lots of complements about how good it looked. Good luck--hope yours sells easily.

I'd forget the tree idea. It's too small of an area for a tree in my opinion, not to mention the fact that since it is not settled in it might start having some transplant shock issues, especially the bigger caliper b&b ones. Noting worse than a sparse and/or brown leaved tree. I think ecrane has the best idea of annuals and bulbs. If you are thinking about may i would think the late season daffodils, single late tulips, late muscari. The john scheepers website might help you with the bloom times as they are in ct, and i notice that their bloomtimes are a little behind me.
The grass doesn't look bad to me for this time of year. I would apply a lawn fertilzer late winter or early spring, something high nitrogen just to green it up a bit. That would probably be more noticeable to most people.