When moving to a new house, be ready for a drastic change in the feel of a new yard. Especially when going from city dwelling in an apartment or condo to a house with property, the move will add some new challenges to the to-do list. When you are getting settled into the new place, even before the team of Columbus movers has unloaded the truck, assess the state of the yard.

Know What You Have at the New Place. Depending on the season, the grass may be brown and seem dead and the borders may look like nothing but empty strips of dirt along the house. In springtime, the lawn will come to life, if all goes well, and the planting beds can be customized. Ask neighbors or lawn experts for help to identify the variety of grass at the new property, and figure out if it needs work.

Brighten the Borders. When you have just moved in, one way to add new appeal is by changing out the border plantings. Be careful to look for bulbs, which may be dormant but healthy under the soil, but feel free to remove flowering annuals and other groundcover plants to supplement the look with fresh colors and varieties.

Consider Edibles. Some people love to intersperse attractive edibles among border flowers, from low-growing thyme and oregano, to varieties of kale and even strawberries, which look good whether they have berries on them or not. Even before the Columbus movers have brought the lawn care equipment out of the truck, the yard can begin to take on the look and feel of home with a few personal design accents.