During the past year, Morrison Chamber of Commerce has looked at ideas, tasks, and initiatives to enhance the community as a whole, help increase homeownes’ property values, and make Morrison an even better place to live. However, it takes an entire community effort to beautify our City–starting in your own front yard.
The Chamber’s Beautification Committee put together ten easy ways to beautify and improve the appearance of your home or business. Many cost little or no money. Together, we can help make Morrison beautiful, while creating a positive first impression for those visiting.
1. Give the Lawn a Manicure: Cut grass regularly and add fertilizer so that it looks healthy.
2. Clean Up: Keep the sidewalk and street in front of your home or business free of litter. Don’t sweep trash, leaves, or lawn clippings into the street. Put litter and yard waste into a garbage bag for disposal or composting. Pick up debris that happens to blow onto the yard. This makes your home more inviting and won’t cost a thing.
3. Plant and Maintain: Growing trees and plants keep your neighborhood beautiful. Trim shrubs; prune trees; remove weeds; maintain the flower beds. Add fertilizer regularly and remove flowers that have finished blooming. Plant perennials, so you don’t need to buy and plant new flowers every year. Try flower boxes to add curb appeal. Planting flowers is easy, is cost-effective, and makes a big impact.
4. Exchange: Create a gardening exchange program in your neighborhood or church. Those with extra seeds or seedlings can nurse these plants and start a neighborhood plant exchange. By doing this, plants and native grasses all find their way into new yards at no cost to others.
5. General Home Upkeep: Powerwash your home or use a bucket and long-handled brush. Clean gutters and windows regularly to add sparkle to the home.
6. Paint: Paint the outside of your home or just the trim around the windows, doors and garage doors. Paint makes a home look fresh, clean, and up-to-date–while being cost-effective.
7. Consider Small and Large Home Improvements: Replace door handles, locks, light fixtures, house numbers, and the mailbox receptacle with modern, up-to-date ones. Evaluate replacing your roofing and siding. These items add beauty, elegance, and value to a home. They play a big part in making your home more attractive to the neighborhood.
8. Add Edging: Placing bricks, pavers, or stones along the edge of the driveway make it look elegant and add a finishing touch to your newly-mowed lawn. Build a brick wall around flower beds to keep the area looking tidy and add dimension to the yard. Taking care of the details create a crisp, clean, finished look.
9. Add Lighting: Lighting the garden or pathway to the house makes for ambiance. It gives added safety for anyone approaching the house. Solar lights are a good option for saving on electricity.
10. Set an Example: When you walk around your neighborhood, take a small
trash bag along. If you see a piece of trash, pick it up. Pick up after your dog as you walk through your neighborhood, using newspaper delivery bags, scoopers, or other methods. You’ll set a great example for your neighbors, especially the children.