The Memorial Day threshold of summer has been crossed and summer activities are commencing; it is time to think about your yard space. Between barbeques, graduation parties, and long sundays in the hammock, our yards will be the focal point of our homes for the coming months and good landscaping is essential.
Besides the personal enjoyment that comes with a luscious garden, it also serves as a strong investment for your property. Various surveys conclude that there is about a 15% return on investment (ROI) for landscaping on home sales. It is projected that “high quality landscaping adds 5-11% to the [overall] price value of your home [which you can easily achieve] by spending $500 to $3,000 on plants and materials” (Josh Garskof, CNN.com) In the St. Louis area, Bayer’s Garden Shop is a great resource for quality do-it-yourself landscaping projects. (http://www.bayergardenshops.com/)
So, the question is: how do we turn this....
Into this....
Into this....Ok, so maybe you’re not building the gardens of Versailles, but you still want that “wow” factor. The balance of individualizing your garden and making it timeless and appealing to the next owners is a delicate one. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the top three current garden features are low maintenance gardens, lighting and fire pits. Weave your ideal outdoor ambiance with some of the most desirable attributes sought after. The following charts reflect percentages accumulated from the 2011 ASLA’s Outdoor Living Survey:
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In the dirt
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About the dirt
Whether you are just looking to improve your personal living space, or sell your home in the near future, a great mise en scene can elevate your summer to the next level.
References http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/01/real_estate/landscapingtips_juneissue.moneymag/index.htm, http://www.asla.org/NewsReleaseDetails.aspx?id=3085 Written by Ciara Brewer on behalf of Monica Brewer |
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