By: Leanne Potts
Because they’ll put money in your pocket.
Landscaping done right can put as much as $4 in your pocket for every $1 you spend, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of REALTORS®. So what are you waiting for?
Grab a shovel, and let’s go.
#1 Mix Rocks with Bark Mulch:
Surrounding bark mulch with a rock moat makes for a tidy, everything-in-its-place yard. It also makes maintenance easier because mulch smothers weeds and keeps plant roots cool and moist. And the rock mulch next to your home’s foundation is smart, because it keeps water away.
Best of all, this is a simple landscaping idea to DIY: Put rubber garden edging along your beds. Put down weed guard. Pour bags of mulch and gravel in the beds. Done.
#2 DIY Window Flower Boxes:
Window boxes are like jewelry for house, adding bling to the blah. If you’re handy with tools, make your own, but you can also buy prefab ones and mount them yourself. Fill with plants, and your curb appeal improves at point five past light-speed.
TIP: Leave an inch of space between the window flower box and the house to prevent moisture from destroying your siding.
#3 Build a Dry Stream:
Here’s why we love dry rock streams: They add a touch of mountain-y rugged to your yard. They drain water away from the foundation of your house. They don’t need to be mowed, watered, or fertilized. Oh, and it’s a simple two-step install: 1. Dig a trench. (It’ll replace your cardio and strength workouts for the week, so prepare accordingly.) 2. Place the rocks.
#4 Build a Paver Path:
Creating a path from the curb to your door to adds a civilized touch and makes your front yard feel designed. It also means less lawn to mow and weed. You can do this one yourself with pavers or bricks.
TIP: Choose a brick pattern with staggered edges to handle curves without the drag of cutting bricks.
#5 Light Your Walkways:
The only thing better for your curb appeal than making a walkway is making a walkway and lighting it. LED lighting adds the most value, but you can DIY it with a solar lighting kit. Lighted walkways look very Architectural Digest, and they’ll keep you from taking a header when you’re bringing in the groceries.
#6. Plant Flowers and Trees:
“I want a yard devoid of trees, shrubs, and flowers.” Said no one, ever. Adding plants (a.k.a. softscape) to your yard adds to your home value.
You’ll get every penny you spend on plantings back when you sell your house. So apparently money does grow on trees.
Plants get more valuable as they get older, so take care of the tree saplings and azaleas you planted. You’re getting ROI as well as flowers and shade.
#7 Grow Grass:
If you do nothing else to your yard, plant a lawn or reseed a patchy one. Americans love lawns, so for every dollar you spend planting a lawn from seed, you’ll get more than $4 back when you sell your home. It’s hard to beat a 400% return on an investment.
Comments(0)