People take a certain amount of pride in their yards — and they should. Maybe your yard isn’t a big priority for you yet; but that may very well change after you buy your first home. Homeowners have a lot of reasons to be invested in their landscapes. Landscape improvements can actually add quite a bit of value to your home. It may be difficult to at first justify investing in your landscape. However, this goes beyond adding to your garden or scattering cedar chips around your yard. Landscape improvements make a huge difference in your home’s overall value, and in fact, spending as little as 5% of your home’s value on landscaping may yield a return on investment of as much as 150%. However, it may be intimidating to decide exactly how far you should go in terms of landscaping improvements; and for that matter, many homeowners can end up spending more money than they should on landscaping if they don’t work with professionals. With that being said, let’s look into some of the ways you can increase your home’s overall value through landscape improvements.
1. Trees
Think about how much of a difference a tree makes in someone’s yard, never mind several trees. A tree adds in a lot of shade, bringing comfort to your landscape — and for that matter, it actually makes your yard, and the environment in general, much healthier by producing oxygen. All of that aside, however, trees are simply aesthetically pleasing. The types of trees that you decide to plant can actually alter the overall look of your yard. If you’d like something a bit more “zen”, you may want to invest in bamboo trees, which add an Eastern appeal to any otherwise western landscape (and for that matter, these types of trees are pretty easy to grow and durable). Others prefer to stick with “classic” trees, like pine trees or oak trees. With that being said, a major added benefit of planting more trees versus less is that they increase the overall privacy of your property. If there are a bunch of trees surrounding your yard, your neighbors certainly won’t be able to look in on you quite as easily. Of course, if you plan on planting trees on your property, you should consult with the pros — planting the wrong tree in the wrong environment can lead to a lot of wasted money and time. But if you pick the right trees, you could even potentially end up growing your own fruit in the future!
2. Vegetable Gardens
Which brings us to our next point — yes, the plants that you grow for good can also be an attractive part of your landscape. Think about having your own miniature pumpkin patch, or growing your own tomatoes right on the vine. There are so many benefits to growing your own fruits and vegetables, never mind the convenience. This doesn’t mean that your landscape will turn into a farm — keeping one or two plants is just enough to add a nice, homey appeal and fill your plates. This usually requires less upkeep than you’d think, and if you have your plants tended to by landscaping employees, you’ll have to worry about it even less. Furthermore, if you ensure that your plants and veggies are enclosed, you won’t have to worry about any animals stealing your crop.
3. Water Features
Going back to traditional landscaping details, everyone loves a water feature. A miniature waterfall or pond can make a big difference to those who want to relax and enjoy their yards, which is why this be one of the best landscape improvements you could make. Adding a water feature to your back yard will not only give you something to enjoy, but add a good bit of value to your home should you plan on putting it on the market in the future. It’s the best of both worlds!