Step outside and take a good look at your yard. It might be time to be honest with yourself and decide if your yard is actually what you want it to be or if it hasn’t lived up to your dreams. Plus, if you’re thinking about possibly selling your home in the next few months, this dilemma might be a bit more pressing.
There is an idea floating around that fixing your yard takes tons of time and money. However, there are a ton of solutions we found that were surprisingly affordable and could even be done on a weekend.
Bringing the Experts to You
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The experts know all the best secrets to making your yard stand out and feel inviting without taking all of your time. That’s why we reached out to several pros in the gardening and real estate industries, who were more than happy to share their best landscaping hacks to spruce up your yard and add value — the ultimate winning combination.
We also consulted a number of gardening websites, also full of expert opinions, to fill in the gaps.
Consider Flower Window Boxes.
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Before we dig into our lawns, there’s a quick way to add color and dimension that doesn’t involve messing with your yard at all. According to Marjorie E. Gage of This Old House, a home enthusiast brand, homeowners can add curb appeal to their homes and yards with simple flower boxes on the windows.
If homeowners or even renters lack the room to plant flowers throughout their yards, they can use the space on their homes to bring life and color into their yards without taking up too much real estate on the lawn. Installing window boxes doesn’t take too long — only a few hours — according to This Old House, whose experts recommend finding a style that matches the home, just so it actually adds to the surroundings and doesn’t take away from it.
Add in Evergreens
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If you live in a seasonal climate, you’re likely no stranger to plants blooming in the spring and dying off in the fall. That can leave a landscape looking pretty drab during the cooler months of the year.
CEO Ryan Farley of LawnStarter, an online marketplace connecting those in need of landscaping services with vetted professionals, has the perfect solution for that: adding in some evergreen plants. These, he says, will “provide some visual interest to your landscaping year round.” Some varieties even have “color from foliage and berries that can make your home look great no matter the season.”
Farley recommends adding boxwood, classic holly, and red twig dogwood, which have colored stems that add “visual interest.”
Pay Attention to the Finer Details
Sure, mowing once a week helps, but CEO Mike Wall of EZ Sell Homebuyers advises homeowners to go the extra step to really improve the curb appeal. “Simple landscaping with clear borders and fresh mulch,” along with “removing overgrown bushes and adding defined garden beds,” comes with the best return on investment for your yard.
Wall says spending around $1,500 for a landscaping overhaul can increase perceived value by $3,000 to $5,000.
Plant Native Varieties
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There’s a reason native plants and trees are a great investment for your landscape. Ozzie Mowing & Gardening owner Andrew Osborne says adding “native plants and drought tolerant landscaping not only make a garden look stunning but also reduce maintenance costs.” These local options naturally occur in the region and don’t need special care to thrive in your yard.
Imagine a paved walkway to your door, flanked by colorful mulch beds and plants needing minimal care. Or, a lush bed of flowers and bushes along your house. Best of all, by using native plants, the US Forest Service notes you avoid having to use fertilizer altogether and can minimize your use of pesticides.
Create an Outdoor Living Space
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Yards are wonderful, but there should be a place for everyone to enjoy the beauty surrounding them. Real estate representative and division manager at Precondo, Samantha Odo, suggests “creating outdoor living spaces,” such as a patio or deck, which can serve a multitude of purposes, including a spot to relax in your yard or a new space to entertain guests. You can make it simple or as complex as you’d like by adding a fire pit and seating areas, depending on the space you have and what will suit your family’s needs.
Take this example: Bennett Heyn, CEO of Sell House Columbus Ohio, spoke of building a “simple paver patio with basic landscaping borders” for $2,000, which he credits with helping to sell the property for $12,000 over the company’s expected price.
Consider Water Features
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Water features add a touch of elegance and can help boost curb appeal and, thus, add even more to your property value. Juan Cava, who co-founded Cash for Your Home, says spending just around $800 can do wonders.
He notes that when his company flips homes, small changes like “a decorative fountain near the entrance consistently hel[p]” the company sell homes quicker and for more. Odo had a similar suggestion of adding “a small pond or fountain, to add a sense of luxury and calm.” If a big centerpiece is out of the budget, there are a number of smaller and cheaper options online that will add to your home as well.
Light Up Your Landscape
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Lighting is another element you won’t want to overlook but may have forgotten about in the process. Not only does good lighting light your landscape up in the evening, but it also creates ambiance, setting a mood for your yard. Pathway lights, accent lighting, and uplighting for tall plants or trees are just a few options, but there are tons of options and ways to create a dynamic space. To save money, opt for solar lights that soak up the sun’s power during the day and require no electricity.
Sean Grabow, owner of Central City Solutions, says he “always recommend[s] starting with lighting because it’s relatively inexpensive, creates instant impact, and adds both aesthetic and security value.”
Strategically Plant Trees and Shrubs
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Trees and shrubs add privacy to your home, but they also add dimension to your landscape, elevating it above your neighbors’ flat lawns and garden beds.
Odo says these elements are “simple touches … [that] can make a huge difference.” They’re also relatively inexpensive additions. If you’re not sure what to add, talk to your local nursery for the best recommendations for your region.
Stick to a Low-Maintenance Garden
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Even if you love to garden, if you’re looking to sell your home, you might want to stick with a more minimalist design that’s easy to care for. McInnis suggests using “seasonal flowers or ornamental grasses [that bring] color and texture without requiring too much upkeep.”
Doing so can help “contribute to a stronger first impression and overall property value.” You’ll get the benefit of the appeal but won’t have to put much work into keeping it tidy.
Don’t Forget Hardscapes
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There is a good chance you have never thought of the word “hardscape” before. Hardscapes are the inanimate materials, including pavers, gravel, and natural stone, you can use around your yard to build it into a more dynamic space. This could also include gazebos, pergolas, and ramadas if you have the space to house them.
These elements often appeal to buyers as they create a space to entertain or relax outdoors, creating extra functionality. Imagine fun additions, such as cozy furniture around a fire pit that can help bring a backyard space together.
Walk This Way, Please
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Whether you’re landscaping the front yard, backyard, or both, a walkway breaks up the sea of green and adds functionality. As a bonus, it also boosts value. McInnis recommends natural stone or pavers to create a defined pathway to “instantly elevat[e] the look of an entryway.”
Choosing stone local to your region can save money over fancy slats or pavers. Sometimes that extra taste of luxury fails to pay off in the end. You can add a touch of elegance to your space without going overboard on the price this way too.
Fill in Patchy Lawn Areas
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Dried-out or bare patches in a lawn can be visually unappealing, but what if you’ve found you just can’t grow grass in those spaces, no matter what you try? That’s where you have to get creative, like Osborne has done for clients.
He recommends filling them in with “a mix of native plants and a structured garden bed to create a low maintenance yet lush look.”
Read more
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