Landscaping and Gardening can be a low cost way to add value to your home. I tell my clients often that the exterior of their home is extremely important in getting maximum value for their property. Regardless of constant warnings from our parents, people often DO judge a book by it's cover. The "curb appeal" can make a significant difference in whether a potential Buyer will book a showing for your property or not, and if we can't get them in the door it's almost guaranteed that they will not be buying your property.
Enhancing the curb appeal by creating an appealing front yard and garden can be one of the cheapest improvements that a homeowner can make to a property. Often the most significant investment is one of time rather than dollars.
If you are not inclined to do it yourself, then just glance at your local yellow pages under the heading "Landscaping" and you will discover that this is a full-time, year-round, multi-million dollar business.
Did you know that in addition to Landscape Architects, there are Landscape Contractors and Designers? There are transplanters and maintenance people who specialize in wrapping trees, shrubs and evergreens, sodding, pruning, tree removal and trimming. Other services available that fall under the same heading include interlocking stone pavers, waterscapes and indoor plantscapes, snow removal and fence and deck building for residential, commercial and industrial sites.
The City Gardener
Large supermarket chains now offer special sections devoted to gardening equipment and supplies. No longer is this business confined to a garden centre or a local nursery. The proliferation of product is mind boggling. 
Many homeowners with and without a green thumb do take pleasure in maintaining the landscape themselves once the groundwork is done. There is challenge and excitement in this growth process, and gardening, although usually referred to as a hobby, has become a type of relaxing therapy away from the maddening crowd...a quiet escape that can be productive. Be it cultivating a special herb garden or an array of organically grown vegetables for the table, there is a certain contentment derived from gardening.
Landscapes Galore
New homeowners with little or no history in landscaping and garden maintenance are sometimes overwhelmed with the problems associated with undertaking the "public" front lawn and surroundings.
Before deciding on the kind of landscape that you want, you have to take into consideration your location, the climate and the space that is available and adapt your planting accordingly. Other aspects to add to your plan could involve some of the following:
- a terrace or deck
- fences or hedges to create privacy
- special garden areas
- summerhouse or gazebo
- walks, steps
- recreational space for your children's play or your own badminton game
Your design plans should also relate to the type of house you have, the view and the shape of the lot.
Good News
Existing trees on your property will enhance the area and can work into your landscape design. Save your valuable topsoil during any garden development to use in your planting. The young and newly planted shrubs, possibly part of the window dressing for your home, can easily be moved to a temporary area as you regroup. Hearty ground covers work as a filler when you transplant from a noticeable spot.
Helpful Hints
- Take advantage of a house on a sloping lot by using retaining walls, steps, develop a terrace or a very attractive rock garden.
- Though there is usually some kind of plant to cover every problem area, sometimes the best solution is to forego planting and use gravel, flagstone or some other material.
- Pines and junipers provide year-long colour.
- To enjoy your gardening experience more, avoid the summer season and concentrate on spring with tulips, forsythia, azaleas, etc.
- A time-saver for a busy gardener would be to use lots of minimum upkeep plants such as a tight ground cover for both shady and sunny areas, for this never requires mowing and weed growth is almost nil.
- A low maintenance landscape could be a good looking lawn surrounded by several healthy shrubs.
Think Green
There are many new environmentally friendly and or organic lawn, garden and pest control products. Organic fertilizers decompose and release their nutrients more gradually than synthetics and thus nourish lawns over a longer period of time. Composting is also a great eco-friendly way to add micro-organisms and nutrients to your lawn and garden.
Leaving the grass clippings on the lawn adds nitrogen to the lawn and the earth worms love it. Setting your lawn mower so that it cuts higher will also help your lawn grow healthy and thick. Taller blades of grass absorb more sun and conserve moisture by better shading the soil.
The merits of a lovely lawn are many and the caretaking is up to you. At the outset, deal with reputable landscapers and understand the terms you negotiate and make your objectives known.
Ultimately, your landscape will reflect your personal taste and lifestyle and it can add a very appealing feature to your property to make it stand head and shoulders above the competition.
Happy Gardening!
Blooming for home buyers.
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