8 Landscaping Tips to Increase Home Value

The real estate industry is booming, and home prices are steadily climbing. Whether you want to sell soon or build long-term value, improving your home's curb appeal is important. Many homeowners spend on indoor upgrades, often overlooking the potential of exterior improvements. However, the outdoor space is what makes the first impression on potential buyers, making it an essential element to consider.

Certain landscaping projects can offer high returns on investment, from boosting aesthetic appeal to improving your property’s price. With strategic planning, you can create an inviting and visually appealing outdoor space while elevating the marketability of your home.

Key Takeaways

• Landscaping projects like planting native gardens and building outdoor living spaces can boost your home value by up to 20%. Adding trees and having well-maintained lawns can also significantly improve marketability.
• Maximize your ROI with strategic upgrades. Focus on high-return projects like walkways, lighting, and low-maintenance gardens. Features like drip irrigation and planting native plants can help reduce maintenance while adding aesthetic value.
• The range of NutriPod fertilizer pods provides targeted nutrition for various plant types, from grass plugs to shrubs, contributing to faster growth and healthier landscapes. Their eco-friendly, easy-to-use design helps reduce the frequency of applications, making landscape maintenance more efficient and sustainable.

How Can Landscaping Add Value to Your Home?

Landscaping can be a game-changer when it comes to increasing the value of your home. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), professional landscaping can increase a home’s price by 15%-20% at the time of resale. When designed thoughtfully, landscape projects often yield some of the highest ROIs among home improvement efforts.

However, not all landscaping projects are created equal. While some can be expensive and offer limited ROI, others—such as simple lawn maintenance or planting native plants—can provide significant benefits. Focusing on well-maintained lawns, low-maintenance gardens, and functional outdoor spaces can deliver impressive results in increasing property value.

Spruce Up the Walkway

More than functionality, walkways can also serve as a defining feature of your landscape design. Upgrading your walkway with large-scale stones or pavers can create a polished, cohesive look that transitions seamlessly from your yard to your home's entrance. Add pebbles between pathway joints to give the area a modern, minimalist touch, or line the walkway with flowering shrubs and stylish planters to elevate your entrance.

Incorporate Lighting

Thoughtful lighting improves safety, highlights the beauty of your lawn, and makes your outdoor space usable even after dark. Well-designed lighting can boost property values by up to 3%, showing buyers that the home is attractive and well-maintained.

Achieve this by installing lights along walkways for a welcoming glow or placing them around trees and garden beds to create focal points. Choose energy-efficient options like LED or solar-powered lights for a sustainable, low-cost solution that's easy to set up and maintain.

Plant a Low-Maintenance Garden

Many homeowners want a beautiful garden, but few want to spend too much time maintaining it. Low-maintenance gardens, which feature native plants that thrive in your local climate without extra care, provide an excellent solution.

Choosing native plants reduces the need for constant watering, fertilizing, and pruning, ensuring your garden remains lush and vibrant with little effort. To simplify garden maintenance further, consider water-smart landscaping features like a drip irrigation system to water your plants regularly. Grouping plants by their water needs can also help create water-efficient zones, minimizing waste and conserving resources. Low-maintenance gardens add beauty and value that appeal to eco-conscious buyers, as they demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and efficient resource management.

Add Trees

Trees are one of the most significant long-term landscaping improvements you can make. They add shade and beauty to your yard and dramatically increase your home's value. A previous study found that a tree in front of a home can increase its sales price by more than $7,000, and strategically placed trees can lower energy costs by providing shade and reducing cooling needs during summer.

However, remember to plant trees mindfully, ensuring they are positioned away from your home’s foundation, septic system, or driveway to prevent potential damage from roots or falling branches. Trees can offer aesthetic and financial benefits for decades to come if properly selected and planted.

Create Privacy with Plants

Privacy is a sought-after feature, especially in urban areas. Using shrubs, hedges, or trees, you can create a natural privacy screen that provides a balance of openness and seclusion while adding value to your property. Opt for dense shrubs or small trees that provide coverage without becoming unmanageable. Planting in layers, using a combination of tall and short plants, helps achieve a full, lush look that offers effective privacy while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.

Native plants are particularly effective for this purpose as they require minimal water and upkeep. Check out our list of the 10 Best Plants for Privacy in Florida.

Build an Al Fresco Space

Outdoor living spaces are more than just a trend—they’re a valuable extension of your home. Whether it’s a simple patio or an elaborate deck, having a dedicated outdoor area for dining or relaxation increases the functionality and appeal of your property.

Adding features like a fire pit area for gatherings, a covered patio, or a pergola for shade and shelter can also make the space more versatile and inviting. Simple seating arrangements that can accommodate family and guests further improve the usability of the space.

Maximize Underutilized Spaces

Installing retaining walls can unlock new potential for properties with steep slopes or uneven terrain. These structures stabilize the landscape, prevent soil erosion, and create new, usable spaces that can be transformed into terraces, gardens, or seating areas simultaneously. They also provide a reliable foundation for planting herbs, flowers, or decorative shrubs. By optimizing these challenging areas, you can transform underutilized spaces into functional, visually appealing features that boost your property's overall value and appeal.

Keep Up with Maintenance

Lawn maintenance may seem like a chore, but it's essential for preserving your home value. A well-maintained lawn reflects care and attention, making your property more appealing to potential buyers. Regularly mowing your lawn to maintain a neat appearance and pruning shrubs and trees to encourage healthy growth can contribute to a polished, well-groomed appearance.

NutriPod Fertilizer Pods for Landscape Maintenance

For optimal landscape health and growth, consider using NutriPod fertilizer. These fertilizer pods are formulated for specific plant types, including grass plugs, shrubs, and vegetables, and are designed to support plant establishment and growth. NutriPod accelerates growth up to times faster with effects that last up to 45 days, reducing the need for frequent fertilizer applications. They’re also environmentally friendly, with their precise and mess-free application, making them an excellent solution for sustainable gardening.

Using NutriPod during planting can ensure your plants have access to essential nutrients to adapt to their new environment, helping you maintain a healthy landscape with minimal effort.

Final Thoughts

Landscaping is more than simply planting flowers—it’s an investment that can substantially increase the value of your home. From adding lighting and planting trees to building outdoor living spaces and keeping up with maintenance, these strategic landscaping solutions can elevate your property’s appeal and provide a strong return on investment. Whether you’re preparing to sell or simply want to enjoy your outdoor space, these landscaping tips can help you make the most of your yard and boost the value of your home.