Landscape Tips for Selling a Home

Landscape Tips for Selling a Home - Keller Williams-Elite

While I lived in Morganton, North Carolina, I did landscape design to supplement my teaching job. It was great to use my love of gardening as a way to generate additional income. I am now excited to be sharing some of my gardening knowledge on our Keller Williams blog.  Believe me, I have learned much through trial and error! I hope this will be useful information for you in planning your own landscape.

For starters, I would like to discuss the importance of thinking about the big picture - how your landscape will look 10 or 15 years down the road.  Sometimes, homeowners select shrubs and trees without considering how the mature specimen will impact the property down the road.  When I preview homes, I am naturally drawn to observing the landscaping. It’s great to see landscaping that graces the home and enhances its beauty.  On the other hand, overgrown shrubbery and trees planted too near to the home and to other plants create a choked, overcrowded look. 

Another problem is incorrect plant selection. This is a most important decision.  I will use the beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree to illustrate. Crepe Myrtles, with their lovely flowers and ornamental bark, range widely in size, depending on the species.  Dwarf crepe myrtles may grow up to 3 feet tall, while other crepes reach rapid maturity at 30 feet tall.   

In a condominium development in south Asheville, you can see that this Crepe Myrtle, after years of aggressive growth, now overpowers the building and looks awkward. The tree also blocks light, creating a dark interior for the home.   

This is a common issue appearing on properties of single-family homes throughout neighborhoods.  It can be avoided with careful planning. By installing the correct plants, at appropriate locations on your property, you will save yourself the high-maintenance headache of constantly cutting back shrubs or removing mature trees. Talk to knowledgeable nursery folks and make decisions that will lead to a balanced landscape you will enjoy for the duration!  

Here is a handy list of smaller crepe myrtles, provided by NCSU Extension Office:

https://extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu/extgardener-popular-crape-myrtles-now-in-smaller-sizes/

 Written by Lizette Lampe

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