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Easy Garden Tips to Increase Your Home’s Value
Implementing one or more of these easy outdoor upgrades can boost your home’s curb appeal as well as its resale value.
Maximizing your home’s value can come from both indoor and outdoor upgrades. While interior design renovations, such as a kitchen update or a bathroom makeover, can boost the value of your home, so too can landscaping improvements. In fact, the American Society of Landscape Architects suggests that professional-grade landscaping can increase a home’s worth by 15 to 20 percent.
When it comes to landscaping, however, it’s important to aim for a balance of beauty and maintenance needs. Clutter-free spaces, low-maintenance plants, and eye-catching features are key. In addition, embracing naturally occurring elements and the changing seasons is a great way to add beauty and an element of magic to your outdoor space.
Here are six ideas for outdoor upgrades that can increase the value of your home:
1. Choose Solar Powered Lighting
Lighting can instantly elevate your outdoor space, but traditional electric wiring can be expensive and time-consuming. Instead, consider using solar-powered lighting, which has become widely available in a variety of styles. These lights can be used to highlight paths or garden features, and they can be placed out of sight for a more minimalistic look. Remember to clean the surfaces of your solar lights regularly to ensure they are capturing enough sunlight.
2. Create a Front Entry Courtyard
Although it may seem a bit intimidating, incorporating a front entry courtyard can be a beautiful extension of your indoor living space. Create your own private outdoor oasis by fencing in a small area and adding pea gravel and plants. Include a basic steel arbor within the enclosure and your intimate outdoor space is complete.
3. Include Pretty Planters
Planters filled with native plants are a great way to add color and vibrancy to your outdoor space, in addition to providing local bees and other insects with nectar and pollen. Grouping similar-style pots together and placing them near an entryway or on a deck corner are easy ways to incorporate planters. Consider opting for annuals, interesting foliage, grasses, or low-maintenance succulents depending on the light levels in your space.
4. Showcase a Large Feature Plant
Incorporating one or two larger feature plants into your yard can make a big impact. Depending on your hardiness zone and climate, options include Japanese maples, flowering trees like magnolias or dogwoods, smaller fruiting trees, and trees with fall color like oaks, aspens, or hawthorns. A single tree or big plant can be all it takes to transform a blank space.
5. Put Up a Deck
Adding a deck to your home can increase its square footage, and it doesn’t have to be a major project. A small deck with a trellis that can be covered with vines offers a comfortable spot to connect with nature. When planning your deck, consider your hardscape needs and preferences, including decks, patios, and walkways. Once decided, incorporate low-maintenance native plants that attract bees, butterflies, and birds.
6. Add Mulch or Rock
Get rid of yard mess and disarray by laying down mulch or rock. This do-it-yourself project is both economical and easy to execute, while also reducing yard maintenance needs. Laying mulch or rock helps retain moisture and block sunlight, preventing weed growth. Additionally, it gives your landscaping a neat and uniform appearance, making it an attractive low-maintenance alternative to grass for potential buyers.
To enhance your garden beds, pathways, and fences, consider placing mulch or rock in strategic areas. Rock is a great choice for dry climates, while mulch is ideal for regions with regular rainfall. Keep in mind that mulch may attract bugs and termites when used in arid areas where it dries out quickly.
