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It’s time to get your lawn ready for summer—especially if your home is currently for sale, or if you are planning on listing it in the near future.
While some of the labor involved in seeding and fertilizing or planting, cleaning, and mulching flower beds can be back-breaking, we’re fortunate that we live in an area of the country where labor costs are low, and help is plentiful. And it is worth every penny, as curb appeal is one of the most important—and often neglected—elements in attracting buyers to your home.
Here are some quick tips for improving your curb appeal:
· Clean/paint your outdoor pots and water features
· Pressure wash your sidewalks, driveway, decks, dock, and your house siding (if needed)
· Reseed and aerate your lawn; add fertilizer and weed control
· Weed your flower beds; then apply a weed preventer (like Preen)
· Add or touch up the mulch in your flower beds. Make sure your wood mulch is not too close to your home, as it can attract termites.
· Plant some annuals that will provide intense color that lasts all summer
· Give your shrubs and trees a trim, especially around your front walk and porch; it’s annoying to get caught in the shrubbery when you’re trying to unlock a door!
· Transplant and/or divide overgrown plants
· Check your landscaping lighting and replace any burnt-out bulbs
· Spray for spiders; you don’t want your buyers walking through webs
· Check drainage, so that water is not pooling in any of your beds (and make sure the water is flowing away from your home).
· Make sure your sprinkler system is working properly. If you don’t have one, don’t forget to water your lawn and flower beds on a regular basis.
And if you’re not planning to sell your home anytime soon but want to take your outdoor living to the next level, here are the Top Landscaping Trends for 2018, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects.
1. Fire pits/fireplaces
2. Lighting
3. Seating/dining areas
4. Outdoor furniture
5. Outdoor kitchens
6. Decking (i.e. rooftop decking)
7. Grills
8. Movie/TV/video theaters, wireless/internet, stereo systems
9. Outdoor heaters
10. Pools and spa features (hot tubs, Jacuzzis, whirlpools, indoor/outdoor saunas)
11. Utility storage
12. Hammocks
13. Outdoor cooling systems (including fans)
14. Outdoor showers/baths
Most of these will not add real value to your home, but you will certainly enjoy them, and when you are ready to sell, these enhanced features can help you get a quicker sale. But, keep in mind, if you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, some of these projects may require approval.