NUTS & BOLTS THE BIG PICTURE
STRATEGIES: REITs CURB APPEAL
PLANTING ZONES: Also known as a plant hardiness zone. These zones are defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and set the standard for plants most likely to thrive in a given location. The zones are based on average annual minimumwinter temperatures. They may change over time as weather patterns change (see below).
LANDSCAPING WITH ZONE IN MIND
J ust as you have a clear plan for the interior of your property, you need a plan for your exterior design as well. Avoid piecemeal landscaping: It looks illogical and sloppy and can even create subconscious uncertainty about the interior of the home as well. Integrate simple, concise plans with detail-oriented execution to get an attractive, effective appearance that appeals to potential buyers. Here are a few tips to get you started: Is the ground flat or hilly? Is there bright or low light? Plantings should work with the natural flow of the in- tended area and your plants should be placed to get the right amount of sun over the course of the day. If you don’t like the lay of the land, use stones, bricks, or walls to create natural elements on a smaller scale. 2. START WITH THE BIG STUFF. Select your trees first. Do you want flowering trees or hardwoods? Re- member that careful placement can reduce summer and winter energy costs. Canopied trees on the west side of the home will reduce the amount of direct sunlight hitting the roof and windows. Bushy or evergreen trees on the north side of the house can partially block wind. 3. PICK YOUR SHRUBS. Shrubs are woody, multi-stemmed plants that are smaller than trees. You can select flowering shrubs or ones that stay green all year. Mix up the look of your shrubbery by plant- ing a variety together, including dif- ferent types that bloom at different times of the year so then there will be live growth all year long. 1. CONSIDER THE YARD’S TOPOGRAPHY.
4. FINALLY, SELECT YOUR FLOWERS. You can plant perennials, annuals, or both. Vary your selection according to the blooms and make sure the colors work well together. To keep a colorful landscape all year, plant varieties that bloom according to the different times of the season.
Landscaping with native plants reduces maintenance costs, including that of fertilizer, because your vegetation is already used to local soil conditions.
CurbAppeal Gone Native LANDSCAPING WITH NATIVE PLANTS NETS HIGHER RETURNS.
by Heather A. Elwing
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planted [see sidebar]. You can determine whether a plant will do well in a specific zone by looking at the information on the seed packet or care tag. Planting the right native flora at the right time not only gives you a vibrant yard, it also enables you to keep that yard thriving all year long. Avoiding “dead spots” in winter will make that first impression really pop when your buyers show up in the middle of a cold February.
will likely be happy to spend less on lawn maintenance, and investors selling directly to retail buyers.
e all know that a buyer’s first impression of your property will
likely make or break the deal. Given that landscaping can add up to 28 percent to a home’s value, taking the time to under- stand what makes your lawn really work may prove invaluable. According to landscape economist John Harris, “A well-landscaped home can reduce the amount of time the home is on the market by 10 to 15 percent.” Further- more, going from a “good” landscaping design to “excellent” design can add an additional six- or even seven percent to your existing home value. Furthermore, creating something balanced and beau- tiful can get more eyes on your property listing as well as increase the return on investment (ROI). Carefully considering what is living in your yard is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to take your landscap- ing design from its present state, good or otherwise, to “excellent.” The key to this transition lies in determining whether your existing landscaping is appropriate for your planning zone. Planting “in the zone” will not only help your yard thrive, but it will likely result in the need for less maintenance and ongoing care. This is good news for landlords, who
PLANTING IN THE ZONE The United States Department of Agri- culture (USDA) assigns every part of the continental United States a zone number that indicates plants likely to thrive in those zones and when they should be
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