This is a collaborative post
Your front yard is like your home’s version of a first impression — it’s the first thing guests see when they arrive and the last thing they’ll remember seeing when they leave. So, it’s no surprise that properly maintaining your landscape can increase your home’s property value by 15-20%, according to Bankrate.
But even if you aren’t planning to sell anytime soon, you’ll want to keep reading for a few easy hacks to make your lawn look professionally groomed without breaking the bank.
Plant Some Trees
As the climate crisis continues to progress, more and more homeowners are ditching the suburban cookie-cutter, all grass lawns and switching to a more natural, plant oasis type of yard. Not only are native plant lawns more modern and trendy but they are also much better for the environment.
Rather than spending thousands of dollars and gallons of water trying to grow a perfectly manicured grass lawn, spend your time and effort growing native plants which will thrive in your yard and make your home feel more natural and welcoming. With a little bit of research, you can find tons of foliage that will coexist and almost become entirely self-sufficient.
Look After Your Lawn
Looking after your lawn is an essential part of garden maintenance. Sowing grass seed over any worn patches can help the overall appearance of your lawn, and don’t forget to pull up weeds and rake leaves to allow for the healthiest lawn growth.
Grow a Garden
Just like with native-plant lawns, farm-to-table dinners are also wildly popular and beneficial to the environment, your local ecosystem, and your wallet. It shouldn’t require a lot of effort either – you can start small by planting a few vegetables that are in season in your area. You can create a small wooden plant box in your yard or buy some large outdoor pots for easier planting and maintenance.
Keep Overgrowth Neatly Trimmed
While you should let your native plants thrive and take up space, be cautious to not let your lawn appear too busy and unkempt.
Spend some time every few weeks pulling unwanted weeds and trimming limbs away from your home. This will keep your property value high while also protecting your home from falling debris, uncontrollable overgrowth, and annoying pests.
In the case of a big storm, overgrown tree branches could fall on your home and cause extensive damage. Yikes! That would not be great for your property value.
Tree trimming is a great way to prevent this from happening and if it’s not something you can do yourself you can always call in the professionals.
Construct a DIY Fire Pit
Nothing says comfort and luxury like a brick, in-ground fire pit. While it seems like an expensive home feature, it’s actually a pretty easy DIY project for a sunny autumn afternoon. All you really need is a shovel and some bricks! Then, you can customize according to your space and budget. Feel free to spice it up and add a metal fire pit inside of your pit or keep it simple and use the bricks as a guard. Eventually, you can invest in some nice outdoor furniture and a roasting kit to have the best backyard party!
Spruce Up Your Walkway
Use your existing walkway space to upgrade your home’s aesthetic by adding some marble stones, solar-powered lighting fixtures, or garden decor. You can also utilize this space to expand your garden or plant more native plants. Get creative and express yourself here! But, be sure to stay on top of overgrowth in this area, though, as it can become hazardous to your guests and lower your property value.
Add a Water Feature
Creating a picturesque water oasis in your yard can not only provide a calm, serene space but it can also increase your property value tremendously. You can go as big and bold or as simple and low-key as you want and as your budget allows. Consider adding a koi fish pond or a bird fountain, taking into account the type of wildlife your water feature might attract.
Install an Irrigation System
If you’re new to landscaping, you are more than likely underestimating how much work it actually requires to maintain. Or maybe you have a busy schedule. Or maybe you travel a lot for work. Either way, investing in an automatic irrigation system could save you the time and hassle of trying to stay on top of watering.
If you want to take this to a new level consider plugging in a rainwater harvesting system for home. This is not as complicated as it sounds, simply connect your gutter downspouts with rainwater collecting barrels and voila you can use it for water your garden at the time of water scarcity. However make sure your gutters are regularly cleaned to receive adequate water throughout the year.
To be more eco-friendly and further increase your property value, try shopping around for a high-efficiency, water-saving irrigation system. If your budget allows for it, these systems will reduce water waste, lower your water bill, and increase your property value.
You might be surprised to learn how much landscaping can increase your property value. But, don’t feel like you have to go all out and break the bank! Try some of these easy DIY hacks to upgrade your home’s first impression.
