Nobody driving past your house suddenly pulls over to admire the weeds.
“Wow, look at that crabgrass! Impressive!”
“Wait — is that Canada thistle? I haven’t seen that much in one spot in years!”
A healthy green carpet of lawn, though, that adds curb appeal. Everybody notices. Everybody wants that.
Does a good lawn increase home value?
Sure, it does. Want proof? Want to know how to get one? Let’s take a look.
Does Landscaping Increase Home Value? Experts Say It Does
Great curb appeal landscaping involves a lot of different elements, from leafy shade to trimmed and tidy shrubs to bright and bountiful blooms.
But a healthy green lawn plays a huge part.
What’s so appealing about a great lawn?
It gives potential home buyers the sense that the entire place is cared for and well tended. They envision playing on that soft carpet of grass with their kids, entertaining friends with summer cookouts, spending fulfilling Saturday mornings mowing that amazing lawn.
Well, maybe not that last one.
Want curb appeal for home value? Great landscaping is a must, experts say. It improves a property’s appearance almost immediately, and that boosts home value.
But don't take our word for it.
- Virginia Tech research says a well-landscaped home has a 5.5% to 12.7% price advantage over a home with no landscaping.
- Did you know there’s actually such a thing as landscape economists? There are. And landscape economists say good landscaping can add up to 28% to a home’s overall value.
- And the American Society of Landscape Architects claims professional landscaping can increase a home’s price tag 15% to 20% more at the time of resale.
- Without proper plant care, Trees.com reports that property values can decrease by up to 30% due to poor landscaping.
- And the National Association of Realtors says 78% of real estate professionals blame poor landscaping for diminished home values.
A Healthy Lawn Boosts Home Value — Now What?
Now, you get to work. What does your lawn need to be the healthy green star of curb appeal landscaping?
A few basics:
Stop Mowing So Short
When you mow, you’re removing a portion of the leaf surface that creates food through photosynthesis.
So when you take off too much, you’re starving your grass. Kind of makes you feel bad, doesn’t it?
Don’t cut more than a third of the grass blade off each time you mow.
Is your mower blade sharp? It should be. A dull blade leaves a jagged edge that invites pests and disease. (No studies mention pests and disease as part of curb appeal landscaping.)
Wise Watering
It’s tempting to give your lawn lots of water, often.
Nope.
Water deeper, longer, and not as often. That encourages deeper, stronger roots, which means greener, healthier grass and great curb appeal landscaping.
An irrigation system plays a huge part here, making it easy to keep your lawn on the perfect watering schedule, with dependable watering that delivers just the right amount of water exactly where it needs to go, with no waste.
Don’t forget to sign up for an irrigation system maintenance program. Your system needs routine maintenance to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.
Get Serious About Crabgrass Prevention
Crabgrass doesn’t show up on any expert’s list for great curb appeal landscaping. How to get rid of it? Timing is everything.
Apply crabgrass pre-emergent in early spring. Mark your calendar — it's important. Target those weed seeds as they germinate and take root in the soil so they don’t become more villainous seed-producing plants.
Here at RainMaster in Minneapolis and Eau Claire, we really double down on crabgrass, offering two crabgrass treatments — one in early spring and another in late spring, so you get extra protection against this aggravating weed.
Wage a War on Weeds for Curb Appeal Landscaping
Weed control is complicated. Different dastardly weeds need different plans of attack to knock them out.
And applying weed killer isn’t a one-time thing. (Wouldn’t that be great?)
Weed control service visits need to happen multiple times a year. Different weeds grow at different times throughout the seasons.
That’s why you get five visits throughout the year in our comprehensive lawn care programs. Does a good lawn increase home value? It does. That means an ongoing battle with weeds.
What’s That Sound? Your Lawn’s Stomach Growling
Just like you, your hungry lawn needs regular meals. The first round of fertilizer and weed control should be done by Memorial Day. Three more applications should happen throughout the summer.
Then, wrap it up in the fall with a final round of fertilizer so those roots have the nutrients to grow nice and deep now, with some left over for a healthy start — and greener grass for great curb appeal landscaping — next spring.
You’ll notice there’s liquid fertilizer and granular fertilizer. Go for granular every time. Yes, it costs more than the liquid, but it breaks down slowly, giving you consistent benefits from fertilization.
Look for blends that also contain organic nutrients, which give your lawn that beautiful, deep green color for the best curb appeal for home value.
A is for Aeration
So, you have your basic mowing, watering, fertilizing, and weed control down. But your lawn still doesn’t have that great curb appeal landscaping look.
What the heck?
It might need aeration, so your compacted lawn’s roots can take in the water and nutrients it needs to thrive.
Lawn aeration uses a machine to pull out plugs of soil, creating spaces so that air and water can penetrate, which leads to healthier roots and a healthier, thicker lawn.
Ready for a Lawn That Boosts Curb Appeal Landscaping? Trust RainMaster
Sure, everybody wants a lawn that makes their whole property worth more.
But it takes a lot of work.
Maybe you’re picturing spending your hard-earned weekends fertilizing, killing weeds, aerating, and staring at your lawn trying to figure out why it’s still an embarrassment.
We’ll pause while you think about it and sigh.
Wait, here’s an idea. Leave all that work to us, with expert lawn care and irrigation in Minneapolis, MN & Eau Claire, WI that will get you to your curb appeal landscaping goals.
At RainMaster, you choose from three different levels of lawn care programs, based on the results you’d like, how fast you want to see results, and your budget.
- Luscious Lawn is a high-end, proactive program that will promote amazing lawn care results. This is the program to choose for the quickest and best results, particularly if your lawn needs a lot of help.
- Terrific Turf, a mid-level option, is our most popular program to grow a thick, green lawn and deal with most challenges.
- Healthy Habitat is a basic plan that includes the elements you need for a better lawn.
When you’re ready to put your trust in us, we can’t wait to meet you — and help you make the best choices for your lawn.
Ready to turn your curb appeal landscaping over to the pros? Request a quote today! We’ll review your lawn care options together so you can make a great choice. Then, you can finally enjoy watching your lawn transform and stop worrying about it.
