How to improve your home's property value with landscaping

Improving the landscaping of your home can increase
the house value by up to 10 to 25 percent. Poor
landscaping can detract from your home's value.

If you're trying to sell your home in this slumping real estate market, improving the landscaping can increase curb appeal as well as improve your home's value.

Real estate experts say that mature trees and a well-landscaped yard can improve your home's value by 10 to 25 percent, while poorly landscaped properties detract from the value of the home.

Even if you're not currently trying to sell your home, now would be a good time to begin paying attention to your investment if you think you'll be moving any time within the next few years, since some landscaping takes a while to mature.

Here are some basic steps to improving your home's value through landscaping.

• Mature trees add significantly to the value of the home because they can provide shade and privacy in addition to adding to the aesthetic appeal. But because trees take years to mature, they should be one of the first landscape additions homeowners should make.
• Well-maintained lawns are critical to an overall tidy appearance. If your lawn is patchy or has bald spots, you may need to invest in a lawn renovation. Most lawns need regular seeding, aerating and fertilizing for an overall healthy appearance. At the minimum, lawns should be mowed regularly, which can mean up to twice a week in the peak growing season to avoid removing more than a third of the blade in one cutting. A useful resource on lawn care is the Organic Lawn Care Manual, by Paul Tukey.
• Prune overgrown shrubs, but try to avoid over-pruning into unnatural-looking ball or square shapes. An excellent resource for proper pruning is the American Horticultural Society Pruning and Training.
• Weed beds and re-mulch for a finished look.
• Remove weeds between pavers and in concrete cracks.
• Tidy the yard by removing anything that doesn't belong there. Store unused children's play equipment, bikes and toys. Empty and toss dead plant containers. Get rid of junk, trash or anything else that is cluttering up the lawn.
• Plant annuals for color that lasts throughout the growing season.
• Sweep porches, decks and other hard surfaces. If needed, power wash the house, wood and concrete surfaces to remove caked-on dirt and mold.