Everyone wants the beautiful curb appeal with their home where you pull up and see lush gardens and an emasculate lawn. But most of us don't have the time to spend the weekends weeding and mowing and some are not blessed with the greenest of thumbs. For those that have just bought one of the new Leslieville homes on the market or a property here in Richmond and want to add a little green space without adding too much to their weekly to-do list, here are some relatively low maintenance landscaping options.

The amount of time that a person needs to spend on their outdoor spaces depends entirely on the type of plants that you choose. Talk to an expert at your local garden center to find out what plants grow best in the type of climate near your Richmond or Lawrence Park Toronto real estate and opt for shrubs and flowering bushes. You might also want to create garden boxes instead of traditional garden spaces to contain what's growing inside. This will mean less space that you need to weed and fertilize and can actually give a better structure to your outdoor areas.

Choosing a garden-style that fits your landscape and lifestyle is also very important. If you want an outdoor room including a barbecue and patio set than you may want to cover most of your deck with a deck or patio. Hardscaping might be a better choice with a few accent flowers than installing a whole garden. But if you're living in Queen West homes and want that feeling of escape from the city when you enter your backyard space than you can't do much better than lots of plant life. Plant vines to cover brick or concrete walls to give them a softer feel and opt for an English garden style rather that a more structured look if you do want an outdoor space that looks a little wilder.

When considering all of the uses for your backyard you want to make sure that you're making good use of the space that you have. If you're looking at garden or deck plans make sure that the size fits your space. You don't want something too big that makes you backyard look small but you also want to make as much usable space as possible. Also consider other add-ons that you can include in your outdoor landscaping. This could mean adding a pool or building a shed to hold your sports equipment and gardening hand tools. Try to get everything you want the first time when it comes to redecorating your outdoor areas.

Lastly, don't forget to give the front yard some love. Many people spend lots of time and money creating an outdoor room in their backyard and then neglect to do anything special in the front. Remember that this is how your home's first impression is created and you probably want the home that really stands out on your street.