I’ve always loved gardening, so I’ve always had a flowery front yard. I did it because it’s what I like, but it turns out that my hobby may have actually made my home more valuable. A 2016 study from the National Association of Realtors showed a little front-yard upgrade (such as planting trees, shrubs, and perennials) can bring a return on investment of 100 percent (or more!).
This is especially true if you’re thinking about selling your house. The same survey revealed that 96 percent of Realtors suggested folks improve their home’s curb appeal before putting the home on the market. And 83 percent of Realtors say that good curb appeal is “very important” in attracting a buyer.
If you’re thinking about adding a little more color to your front yard, try these three tips to make it beautiful AND easy to care for.
Use Mulch
Cover bare soil with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. This will dramatically reduce weeds and help your soil stay moist during hot, dry weather, so you have to water less. Plus, mulch has a nice, clean look that really dresses up landscape beds and borders.
Read Plant Tags
I know this tip probably sounds super obvious, but I think everyone’s been excited about a plant, put itin the ground, and then didn’t realize just how big it got. But if you plant perennials or shrubs that get the mature size of the space they need to fit in, you won’t need to prune them regularly to keep them in bounds.
Don’t Go Overboard
Start small and pick a particular area to start planting in. Expand and add to it over the course of the season or year, rather than all at once. That way you don’t end up with a huge investment all at once or end up feeling overwhelmed and give up. It’s better to have a small, but nice area than a front yard full of plants that are overgrown or competing with lots of weeds.
This is especially true if you’re thinking about selling your house. The same survey revealed that 96 percent of Realtors suggested folks improve their home’s curb appeal before putting the home on the market. And 83 percent of Realtors say that good curb appeal is “very important” in attracting a buyer.
If you’re thinking about adding a little more color to your front yard, try these three tips to make it beautiful AND easy to care for.
Use Mulch
Cover bare soil with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. This will dramatically reduce weeds and help your soil stay moist during hot, dry weather, so you have to water less. Plus, mulch has a nice, clean look that really dresses up landscape beds and borders.
Read Plant Tags
I know this tip probably sounds super obvious, but I think everyone’s been excited about a plant, put it
Don’t Go Overboard
Start small and pick a particular area to start planting in. Expand and add to it over the course of the season or year, rather than all at once. That way you don’t end up with a huge investment all at once or end up feeling overwhelmed and give up. It’s better to have a small, but nice area than a front yard full of plants that are overgrown or competing with lots of weeds.
Written by Justin Hancock
