What plants increase home value?

Do Gardens Increase The Value Of Your Home?

It’s no secret that plants and flowers add life and color to a home (both indoors and outdoors), but does a garden add any value to your home when it comes time to sell? If you’re placing your garden in the front yard, that plays a factor in determining your home’s curb appeal. And curb appeal is definitely important when selling a home.

In a 2018 remodeling impact report conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), members were asked about a number of outdoor features. When it came to a home’s curb appeal, 99% of NAR members agreed that curb appeal was important in attracting homebuyers. In other words, when potential buyers see how nice your home is on the outside, they’ll be dying to check out what’s going on the inside.

A backyard garden, meanwhile, can prove just as important to potential homebuyers as they explore your property, says the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors. When people come to view your home, they’re surveying every inch of the property, not just the inside. Because of this, you need to consider which landscaping actually benefits your property. The question is, do gardens increase the value of your home, or do they cause more harm than good?

Yes, gardens can, but with conditions

There are do’s and don’ts of gardening that could break or make a buyer’s impression of your home, and essentially, either increase or decrease your home’s value on the market. When you have a well-kept garden (and thereby, an attractive curb appeal), you’re more likely to draw in potential homebuyers than a garden that’s overgrown and full of dead plants. Seeing a lively and tidy garden conveys to buyers the garden is easy to take care of, according to LawnStarter. Along those same lines, a professional layout is advisable when building your garden. By taking the time to properly arrange and organize your garden space, you can only add to the value of your home — or at the very least, not diminish it.

One of the major don’ts when designing your garden is using artificial grass. It’s certainly not what a homebuyer would expect to find (or likely want), and should never be used in a front yard or backyard setting. The only acceptable places to use artificial turf are mini-golf courses, sporting fields, and retirement home landscaping, explains Ross NW Watergardens. Fruit trees are also a turnoff for potential buyers. They see it as a commitment they might not have time for, and even if they decide to cut the trees down, that still requires time and money. In this case, a garden likely won’t increase the value of your home; rather, you may have to negotiate the price to get buyers to accept it as is.

The bottom line, keep your garden clean, well-organized, and commitment-free, and see how doing so can add to your home.

Top plants to ‘increase’ your property’s value — and the one which could ‘decrease’ it

New research from GetAgent has unveiled the most popular garden plants of 2022, according to Instagram. Property experts from the company have also paired with expert gardener Craig Wilson from Gardeners Dream to share the flowers which could increase or decrease a home’s value. According to the research, tulips are the most popular plant species this year, with more than eight million hashtags online.

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While a tulip may be a popular option, Craig explained that a hydrangea could add value to a home.

He said: “Having a beautiful garden can certainly increase the return on investment on your property, and flowers play a leading part in this.

“The three flowers I believe to provide the biggest return on investment include hydrangeas, peonies and eucalyptus.

“Hydrangeas are cheap, cheerful and a classic.

Top plants to ‘increase’ your property’s value — and the one which could ‘decrease’ it (Image: Getty)

“Everyone loves hydrangeas so there is very little chance of putting prospective buyers off.”

Peonies are low maintenance which makes them attractive for buyers looking at homes to buy.

Craig added: “They’re also a great option for keeping the garden looking great even if the buyers are casual or part time gardeners.

“They thrive in both warm and cold climates so can be left to fend for themselves as long as they are kept out of the wind.”

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The expert said they just need a bit of sun and soil to thrive.

Peonies are also a great option for those with a small garden as they can grow in containers too.

Craig continued: “I’d say for people interested in using plants for medicinal properties [eucalyptus] could help drive up the price and/or attractiveness a little.

“Though these flowers didn’t make it into the most popular plants on Instagram, false indigos also provide a great return on investment for homeowners.

Japanese knotweed is one of the UK’s most invasive weeds (Image: Getty)

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“They are pest and disease free and they are consistent in flowering, so are always there as a nice backdrop whenever you decide to sell up.”

The gardening expert also recommended crocus flowers as they provide nectar and pollen for long seasons.

According to Craig, homeowners should be wary of Japanese knotweed, an invasive weed in the UK.

He said: “We all know that plants such as Japanese knotweed can reduce a property’s value but unfortunately it isn’t clear by how much.

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“It all depends on the size of the property, the degree and the level stage of infestation.

“How close the knotweed is to the house is one of, if not the biggest factor in property valuations.

“However, from what I have seen, the plant can reduce a property’s value between five percent in minor cases right up to 15 percent or even 20 percent in the case of severe infestations.”

This is because Japanese knotweed can cause major damage to a property, since its roots can crack the concrete and damage the foundations of a house.

It also has the ability to block drainage pipes and other structures underground.

This includes water pipes, cables and even structural damage to cellars.

Craig added: “Depending on the severity and how early you can catch it, it can be anything from £1,000 to £20,000 to remove the plant from your home, with the average spend being between £3,000 and £5,000.”

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