By Luke Smith
As a homeowner, increasing your property value is important to selling your home. Most landscaping endeavors, in general, can help to boost the value of your home. But, one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to increase your property value is with a garden.
Plus, you can enjoy the benefits of having one before your home ever hits the market.
You don't need to be an expert landscaper or even have much of a green thumb to create a beautiful garden. Plus, they are easy to customize to fit both your needs and wants, no matter what your yard looks like.
So, how does a garden increase your property value, and how can you create one that could give your listing price a boost?
If you have a large backyard, you probably won’t have a problem finding the perfect location for a garden. But, if you’re working with a smaller property, you might have to get creative to bring your landscaping dreams to life.
The good thing about gardening is that it’s easy to do on different levels. Changing the elevation of your garden plans actually has several benefits, including:
Increasing usable area
Providing air circulation
Improving the aesthetic
Creating better views
Instead of creating a flat garden bed out of a patch of land, consider raised boxes. They can be built or bought, they are relatively inexpensive, and they can maximize the space you have. Some raised boxes can even be staggered on top of one another to help your garden grow “up†instead of “out.â€
By thinking of ways to maximize your garden space, you can enjoy the benefits of whatever you’re growing, while creating something truly unique to your home. So, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when creating a big garden in a small space.
If you want to make the most of your garden, you need to not only think about how it looks but its functionality and maintenance. Are you going to plant flowers? Consider which ones are native to your local area. They will take less work to maintain, and will naturally look more vibrant. Plus, you can use them as an “eco-friendly†boost, since native plants grow without as much water.
It’s also a good idea to consider which plants go together. If you’re not sure how to layout the plan for your garden, it could be in your best interest to avoid DIYing and hire a professional. Not only can a landscaper help you with the right things to plant, but they can show you how to properly maintain your garden so it grows quickly and looks beautiful.
Once you have the know-how, you can take care of things yourself. But, if you’re going to invest in a garden space, knowing how to get started and properly take care of it will allow it to reach its full potential.
After all, if you’re putting your home on the market, you will want your garden to appeal to potential buyers. People want to be able to see themselves in a home for sale, which includes spending time outside. If your garden looks overgrown and messy, they're not going to want to have to deal with it. If it looks neat, organized, and lush, they'll be excited to get their hands dirty.
If you don't plan on selling your home for a while, you can still enjoy the benefits of having a garden in your yard. After all, if you're putting in all the work to bring it to life, you should be able to reap the rewards!
The benefits of actively taking care of a garden include:
Boosted self-esteem
Stress reduction
Memory improvement
Physical activity
A garden can also be a great learning opportunity for you and other members of your family. If you have kids, teaching them about growing their own produce is a fantastic way to encourage healthy eating habits and informing them about sustainability. That's also another draw for potential homebuyers.
More than ever, people are trying to be more aware of what they eat and where it comes from. If your home has a flourishing garden with nutritious vegetables, that can be an important perk for your mental health. Studies of the gut-brain connection have proved that you essentially are what you eat, and growing your own food can give you a higher sense of ownership over your health.
Whether you want to enjoy something nice for yourself or you're trying to boost your home's value for a quick sale, a garden is one of the best ways to do it. It's an eco-friendly “renovation†solution that will add a lot of character and charm to your yard. That’s something most potential buyers simply can't resist.