The curb appeal of your home is incredibly important when trying to sell. A beautiful landscape instantly welcomes potential buyers and emits a comforting appeal that people desire when looking to purchase a home. With spring finally here, you can now get to work in your yard. Here are 10 tips to create beautiful landscaping that will enhance your home’s curb appeal.
1. Understand the climate of your region and yard
Your geographic location plays a vital part in the landscaping options for your home, so choose plants accordingly. The climate of your yard is also crucial, as some plants need more sun than shade and vice versa. So monitor the areas on your property, and find the perfect location for each individual plant you choose.
2. Know the pests in your neighborhood
There is nothing worse than creating a stunning landscape only to have pests and wildlife come and destroy it. Figure out which kinds of wildlife, insects, and stray animals frequent your neighborhood, and purchase any additional materials as needed, such as wire mesh or fencing. Your local nursery or department store should be able to help you find the tools you need.
3. Plan your landscape out
Just as you would with an indoor do-it-yourself project, you must plan out your landscaping prior to digging into the dirt. Determine whether you’re going to hire a professional landscaper, the kinds of plants you wish to grow, the layout of your new landscape, and what you need to complete the tasks. This will make your landscaping endeavor significantly easier in the long run.
4. Plan for growth
When selecting plants for your landscaping, consider how large each will grow over time. This provides you with the opportunity to space everything out perfectly, and more importantly, ensure that the proper plants are planted in the best areas in your yard. Most plants will have the estimated height and growth requirements available prior to purchase. If not, this is something you will definitely want to know before purchasing.
5. Plan for maintenance
If you’re digging into your landscape this spring with the hopes of selling your home, you need to consider the maintenance of each plant. While you may have a green thumb, potential buyers may not want the upkeep of such an elaborate landscape. Select plants that aren’t too high-maintenance to entice the largest amount of potential buyers.
6. Consider the aesthetics of your home
There are many different landscaping options that can be perfect for the specific style of your home. If you live in a tropical area that flourishes with sunlight, flowering plants and shrubs can fit the theme of your entire property. If you have a rustic or desert-styled home, cacti or ornamental grass will match the aesthetics more effectively.
7. Consider the makeup of your ground
The quality of the soil used is going to play a huge part in the outcome of your landscaping efforts. However, soil isn’t the only thing you should place importance on. Other items such as mulch, have the ability to instantly enhance the aesthetics of your garden, and will also help maintain the soil and allow your plants to flourish.
8. Map it out
Once you have decided on the plants, it’s time to map out the decorative elements and walkways you wish to have within your landscaping. Making a blueprint of your landscaping plans allows you to make adjustments where needed, and will give you a better idea of how many plants and materials you need.
9. Plant at the suggested times
Since you’re planning on landscaping this spring, you want to consider each plant’s suggested time of year for planting. Many plants thrive at different times of the year, and if planted as recommended, they will continue to flourish for many years to come as opposed to just one season.
10. Get inspired
If you’ve never slipped your hands into gardening gloves before and are unsure as to where you should start, simply take a look around and get inspired. Look at your neighbors’ yards, explore the aisles within your local nursery, and skim over some landscaping magazines. You’ll have all the inspiration you need in no time.