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Add a Little Romance and a Lot of Green

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· The fences weren't the only thing that needed hiding. Clinton suggested transplanting the euonymus from the yard to the back of the house to screen the utility boxes there.

· For accents, Clinton would put to work the plant containers Butler already owns. Annuals such as petunias offer immediate impact. "Because she already has all those pots, she can really make use of them in a quick way." As an alternative, Butler could pick up inexpensive new pots made of PVC that look like terra cotta or stone.

· To soften the brick of the front porch wall and provide some visual interest, Clinton would put in three cherry laurels ( Prunus laurocerasus).

· To soften the front retaining wall and bring people in from the sidewalk, Clinton suggests a cotoneaster ( Cotoneaster salicifolius).

· A flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida"Cherokee princess") gives the house scale, shade and a framed view of the front door.

· Lily turf ( Liriope spicata) fills in as ground cover.

· Cover the rest of the yard with lawn. Sod provides instant green.

Does your house need a boost in its curb appeal before hitting the market? Send an e-mail torealestate@washpost.com.

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