Does Planting a Garden Increase Property Value?

There’s no doubt that curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of getting a home ready to sell. And what’s better for beautifying the lawn than adding a burst of color with a garden?

Before you start searching for a buyer, though, there are more aspects to consider. What types of gardens sell homes? Can the wrong type of garden cancel out the value boost? What turns off homebuyers from a garden?

Get ready to get your hands dirty as we dig into whether planting a garden can increase your home’s value. In this article, we’ll answer the question, “Does a garden increase property value?” to help you decide your next steps.

What are the Best Gardens to Plant For Curb Appeal?

Large, elaborate gardens are unquestionably attractive. They are also a labor of love that can be daunting when preparing to take it on for yourself. Not all homebuyers want a garden that looks like it takes a lot of work to maintain. Therefore, simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to relandscaping a garden.

To be clear, extensive gardens aren’t necessarily a dealbreaker. They just require the right buyer. However, much like staging a home for sale, the intention is to appeal to the widest variety of buyers. Most buyers appreciate low-maintenance gardens and flower beds that don’t require too much extra effort to look nice.

So, what are some low-maintenance gardens that will achieve curb appeal?

• Bright perennials look good and don’t require replanting
• Xeriscaping, especially in hot climates, reduce the need to water
• Native plants require less maintenance overall since they’re adapted to the local environment – they’re also great for creating eco-friendly gardens!
• Shrubs that don’t require complicated pruning add greenery, and if they have colorful foliage, they add visual interest year-round

Before selling a property, make sure the garden is freshly mulched and weeded right before a home showing. A tidy first impression is important. If the garden is clearly cared for, buyers will take away the impression that the home as a whole must also be well-cared-for.

Impeccable garden care in the weeks and months leading up to a home sale is also important. Good summer watering practices are vital to keeping a green lawn and thriving garden. But neglecting to water or de-weed can leave you with a scorched, weedy lawn that’s not easy to fix.

Best Features to Add Value to a Garden

An important tip for getting the best return on investment lies in knowing what buyers are looking for. Read up on the latest gardening and landscaping trends to get an idea of what items might be on a buyer’s list.

Primarily, outdoor living space is one of the most desired features among homebuyers. So having a place to sit, eat, and entertain in the garden can be a big plus.

Other garden features that can help your garden earn value include:

• Mature trees and shrubs
• Automated irrigation, particularly smart watering systems
• Landscaping around the pathway leading to the front door
• Outdoor lighting
• A permanent deck or attractive patio
• A well-maintained and unobtrusive garden shed
• A fire pit or outdoor fireplace
• A well-maintained privacy fence

Garden Features That Can Decrease Value

Anything overly specific to the homeowner’s taste is likely to hurt their chances of selling for the best price. This doesn’t just apply to extremes that a homeowners’ association might complain about. It can also apply to the style of the garden itself.

A too-manicured look can look like too much effort, and a too-wild garden runs the risk of looking like it’s not taken care of. Keep in mind that a buyer will likely want to personalize the garden to their own tastes.

Additionally, garden features don’t help anyone if they’re not in good repair. Some things might be rescued by a fresh coat of paint. But rotting woodwork, cracked birdbaths, or rusted metal benches might be better off removed entirely if a replacement is not optimal.

Water features might come as a surprise here, but they can sometimes decrease value. Much like pools, water features like fountains, birdbaths, and koi ponds tend to bring maintenance to the forefront of a homebuyer’s mind.

The soothing properties of a water feature can outweigh the perceived negative qualities, especially if maintenance isn’t too complicated. But a buyer’s interest in a pool depends on the local market, so it’s worth asking around first.

Does a Vegetable Garden Increase Property Value?

Vegetable gardens are an entirely different feature compared to flower gardens. While they both involve growing plants, their purposes, designs, and appeals are dramatically different. Therefore, they affect home value differently.

Selling a house with a vegetable garden often requires a more specific kind of buyer than a flower garden, which narrows the possibilities. A fellow gardener can appreciate the tastiness of growing veggies at home. Whereas a novice interested in the hobby may appreciate having part of the work done for them.

Finding the right buyer can absolutely cause a vegetable garden to add value to a home. The majority of buyers, however, might have to be sold on the idea during a home showing, since vegetable gardens often look like more work than a typical flower garden.

If you’re planting a garden for the return on investment rather than the enjoyment of the garden itself, a flower garden might be a better idea than a vegetable garden. However, if you already have a vegetable garden, you can get the best of both worlds by planting flowers alongside vegetables—which can also improve the health of the garden overall.

Tips for Staging a Vegetable Garden When Selling

One of the reasons why lawn care is so important to curb appeal is that bare dirt doesn’t look appealing. The same is true for a gardening plot with nothing growing in it. Raised beds are usually a more attractive alternative. They also look less permanent, so a buyer on the fence about gardening can imagine taking them away.

If possible, plan to sell your home when the plants are fairly well-grown (or even producing) so that the garden looks its best. Growing plants can also get some buyers to imagine what it would be like to have them for their own.

Gardening is one of the many impactful actions that you can take to increase your home’s value. If you are planning of selling your house soon, these things are important to do. Most homeowners don’t take advantage of these opportunities as much as they should.

Summary

A well-maintained garden can increase your home’s value if it’s designed in a way that’s appealing to the average buyer. It shows that the current owner takes care of their property, while also making your home more beautiful.

If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, take some time to spruce up your garden—it could make all the difference. Even if your home doesn’t look great on the inside, sprucing up the outside of your property can attract more homebuyers.

You can even successfully sell a hoarder house with the help of a beautiful garden. Homebuyers love greenery and will likely offer you more if your property has strong curb appeal from a recently added garden.

Are you selling your house soon? Brotherly Love Real Estate are your local property experts. We buy houses in Philadelphia in as little as 21 days with no closing fees. Contact our team of real estate agents today to learn more and get your cash offer.