Fall Garden & Fall Porch Before & After

We bought our house two years ago and it was in a shambles! The yard looked (and still does in some areas) like it was a back woods farm that hadn't been touched in years.







The front was non-descript with overgrown greenery (weeds) and stones full of dirt and dried up greenery (weeds).





After a year of not addressing the stones in front, tons of weeds took root and made it look even shabbier. After I dug out the rocks, I found plastic. This is not uncommon, but it's awfully hard on the dirt below. Dirt prefers to breathe. After first doing some research, I decided to either use landscaping fabric or mulch and compost with nothing beneath. This time I didn't use the fabric.





After adding dirt, mulch and compost, I planted a few things, but due to family issues, left the rest for this summer. It's amazing what a little DIY can do for the front of a house...check out this summer's fall garden.





A bit of care, addition of more greenery and time makes a huge difference. Next came our fall porch decor.





Fall is a great time to spiff things up. Winter is so long here in Wisconsin that we need to encourage ourselves to go into it with a positive attitude. A welcoming front porch will do a lot to lift your spirits.





Happy fall y'all!





I dug the marigolds out of my garden - where they protected my tomatoes. The ladder was from my daughter's back yard, formerly a railing for their deck.





Basket from Goodwill, Fake leaves from JoAnns on clearance last year, spray painted antique chair from a local auction - DIY can be VERY inexpensive if you look hard and patiently wait to find the good deals.





The flag came from my MIL after my FIL's passing. He was a Korean War veteran medic.





Basil in hanging baskets instead of flowers - smells so fab!





DH was good enough to paint the front door for me today - isn't it amazing how paint can totally change a look? It went from white to "brandy wine" a satin exterior from Menards.











You don't have to be experienced, talented or extraordinary. You just have to research, ask a lot of questions, experiment and then just go for it. It's worth the effort. Don't pay anyone to do it for you. DIY!





God bless America, land that I love!
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Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/10085850/fall-garden-fall-porch-before-after site