Landscaping Tips

Recently CNN Money had an article on landscaping tips that add value to your home (http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/01/real_estate/landscapingtips_juneissue.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2007060410) . This article reinforced my desire to continue landscaping even though we are thinking of moving in the next year or two. Many times I wondered if it was worth the bother knowing that we aren't planning on staying in this home. Here are a few of the quotes and tips from the article.

"By spending $500 to $3,000 on plants and materials and a few hours of time, you can achieve a well-landscaped look without shelling out for professional help."

"Besides the personal enjoyment you'll get from a prettier yard, landscaping adds more value than almost any other home renovation. "

"A recent Michigan State University study found that depending on where the house is located, high-quality landscaping adds 5 percent to 11 percent to its price."

"Edge the beds Cutting fresh edges where grass meets mulch makes the lawn look well kept. A move as simple as curving the edge of your flower beds could increase the value of your home by 1 percent, says horticulture professor Bridget Behe, the lead researcher on the MSU study." This is what I'm attempting to do around my own flower beds and trees.

"If you have no immediate plans to move, all the better: Landscaping is the one home improvement that actually appreciates over time."

"Add drama with foliage A distinctive yard will make your home more appealing to buyers, says Los Angeles realtor Dana Frank. So replace plants that don't flower, or provide interesting foliage with eye-catching alternatives, like a patch of blackeyed Susans, a flowering crabapple or a cutleaf Japanese maple.
If you're planning to stay put, you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars for big plants. You'll save 50 percent or more by buying small ones and waiting a few seasons to get the full visual impact (when planting, make sure to space them based on the mature size listed on the label, not how they look now)."

"Consider new angles Most yards have almost all the plants along the foundation and the property lines. But if you place yours throughout different parts of the property, you'll create a depth of field that makes your home look farther away from the road, says architect Hoerr.
Try putting some near the house's corners to accentuate its shape, others near the street to define the yard, and some in between, where they can block unfortunate views and be admired from indoors."

"Cover your rear It's nice to wave hello to your neighbors out front, but the backyard should be a private space." This theme keeps resonating with me- PRIVACY. Sometimes I feel guilty for not wanting children walking through my yard, but I long for a private backyard space.

So, now that I have further confirmation that landscaping adds value and desirability, I will continue to create my private sanctuary even if in the end someone else benefits more from the fruits of my labor.