4 Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid
Good landscaping could potentially boost a home’s value anywhere from 6 percent up to 28 percent, according to a Clemson University study of homes in Greenville, S.C.
So that means a bad landscape design could potentially dent a home’s value by that much. And that isn’t chump change; it equates to potentially thousands in lost money just from poor curb appeal.
Realtor.com® recently highlighted several do-it-yourself landscape disasters to avoid:
1. Huge Piles of Mulch: Don’t overdo it with the "mulch volcanoes" that pile high over the trunk of a tree. Mulch needs to be applied loosely. “Mulch mounds may look like the norm, but it’s a harmful practice,” says Michael Rittenhouse Rigby, an arborist in central Virginia.
Read more: Planning a Smart Landscape
2. Overplanting: Some home owners don’t think through their plantings before they start planting. The result? An overgrowth of plants that quickly become unruly. In general, tall plants should go in the back; small plants in front. Also, avoid planting too many large plants. They may have a tough time taking root. Small foliage, on the other hand, tends to have a better chance at survival.
3. Disrupting tree roots: If you end up expanding your home or garage, per se, make sure you maintain a sizable distance from any large trees in the yard or take special precautions to protect the tree’s roots. It can take awhile to see the damage of roots from large trees, but eventually it will show itself. Trees can be costly to remove or cause damage to your home if they fall. Hire a tree specialist prior to any construction projects in your yard.
4. Too much gravel: Just like mulch, you can quickly overdo it here. Landscaping with gravel can save water but it reflects heat and can potentially damage even the hardiest of plants, landscapers note. What’s more, gravel may get mixed into the underlying soil and then make it more difficult for plants to absorb rainwater. Use gravel cautiously.
Source: “6 Landscaping Mistakes That Will Destroy Your Yard,” realtor.com® (March 29, 2016)
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