Some towns in the US have actually offered home owners incentives to help beautify their neighborhood areas, starting with mailboxes. For instance one community in West Virgina held a photo contest for best and worse mailboxes to bring awareness on how much mailboxes do make a difference when it comes to curb appeal and overall appearance of the entire community.
They have become a symbol of inconsistency and lack of maintenance to the community, so much so that the residents were encouraged to evaluate the 'drive-by' first impression that their mailboxes give to potential residents and guests. Ron and Laurie Albert of Mailbox Morning Glauries in Macedon, (a side business they do for creating or sprucing up mailbox gardens for beautification), said that one of the most important things to remember when planning your project is to take into consideration the amount of sunlight and the type of plants that can tolerate your specific area.
Ron and Laurie offer different plans to choose from depending on your taste, which makes it easy for the homeowner to to choose a plan that is best for them. For instance Plan 1 may have more flowers with a mix of Perennials and Annuals such as: Chrysanthemums, Tulips, Irises, Phlox, Daffodils, Primrose, Crocuses, Daisies, Lilies and Pansies, Petunias, Geraniums, Alyssum, Marigolds, Sunflowers, Zinnias where as Plan 2 is a great Shade Loving Option with a mix of Hostas, Impatients, Begonias, Ferns, and Coleus. When selling your home don't foget that curb appeal is very important and your mailbox can add to it by keeping it well maintained or replacing it altogether.
For the do-it-yourselfers start with surrounding your mailbox with flowers. Just keep a few things in mind. First, you need tall, upright varieties that won't get dwarfed by the mailbox. But don't get so carried away that you block your letter carrier's access. Black-eyed Susans, threadleaf coreopsis, cornflowers and other daisy family members will form a colorful cluster. Additional distinctive alternatives would be dwarf or medium hybrid sunflowers, hollyhocks, or hardy hibiscus. Decide whether you want your flower bed to stick out or blend in with the surroundings. To make it more prominent, mulch heavily and install a border of metal edging, stones, or tiles.
Traditional climbing varieties can make a very successful mailbox mask but will need a better foothold than the standard four-foot post. Install a trellis behind the post firmly supported by metal stakes, and train your climatis or wisteria around the post and trellis. Ornamental grass can be planted into the late summer or fall for an exotic visual touch. Some showy varieties include Flame grass, which turns blazing orange-red or purple in the fall, are sure to please.
Below we will show you just how easy it is to go from ragged to rich looking with a simple mailbox makover. By using a few tools you can do this project yourself in just a few short hours.
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First, get your tools and supplies needed to make the project run smooth and to save time while planning your project. Below is a list of tools and supplies needed to complete your mailbox makeover.
TOOLS REQUIRED
- Drill
- 1 inch Wood Screws
- Level
- 1 inch thick piece of wood for the mailbox base
- Stain or Paint w/paint brush
- 1-50lb Bag of Ready Mix Concrete
- Table Saw to cut your Base
- Paint Brush
- About 1 Gallon of Water to mix with Ready Mix
Of course you need to purchase your mailbox and a post first! Here we have used a Pressure Treated Wood Post.
1
Cut your base that your mailbox will rest on. Make sure it's thick enough to go under the mailbox as you will need to secure your mailbox to it.
2
Stain or paint your base the same color you will use for your post. Stain your post so that it can dry.
3
Next drill some holes for your wood screws and secure the base piece to your post.
4
Attach your mailbox to the base with a few screws.
5
Dig a hole about a 15 inches deep for your cement mixture.
6
To mix your ready-mix cement all you need is about a gallon of water. The easy way (and less mess) is to pour your ready-mix into your hole and then slowly pour your water in and "work" the mix around with your shovel to mix it.
7
Always level before your cement starts to set!
8
Place your decorative numbers on your post and your done!