The cherry blossoms seem to bring a yearning to Washington-area homeowners for signs of spring in their own yards. When the grass starts to green up, when that first tulip blooms, the yard starts to take center stage.
Investing in the overall look of your yard not only elicits “oohs” and “aahs” from passers-by, but it also can reap rewards when it comes time to put your home on the market.
Sprucing up the grounds usually begins with the lawn. Experts say that over the years, lawns can become weaker.
Whether starting or replanting new grass, homeowners are faced with the dilemma of using seed or sod to get that picture-perfect yard.
Lawn experts say both approaches have their pros and cons. Homeowners must decide what will work best for them.
Alan Macbeth, senior horticulturist and landscape designer with Kingstowne Lawn and Landscape in Lorton, says that while sod offers an instant lawn, it is more expensive and labor intensive.
He says that while seed can cost considerably less, just pennies per square foot, there is a limited window for planting and it takes longer to grow.
“Sod is instant and takes anywhere from three to eight weeks to completely knit and become mowable,” Mr. Macbeth says. “Seed lawn can run almost twice that long and often require additional follow-ups to overseed bare areas.”
Mike Gordon, buyer with Patuxent Nursery in Bowie, says that one method isn’t more popular over the other — it just depends on the customer and the time of year.
“The fall is a good time to plant seed, since the soil is still warm; the seeds need to germinate. Seeding in the spring puts stress on a new lawn to grow before the summer,” Mr. Gordon says.
He says sod is definitely easiest but more expensive. He advises homeowners to not lay sod in the summer — spring and fall are the best times.
“It’s too miserably hot in the summer and nothing wants to live,” Mr. Gordon says.
Tri-fescue, a blend of three grasses, works well in this area, Mr. Gordon says.
Fescues are more tolerant of Virginia’s heat, especially with the native soils in and around new construction areas that are heavily graded with fill, Mr. Macbeth says.
“The fescues will provide most homeowners with an easier-care lawn,” Mr. Macbeth says.
The new Nationals Stadium is sodded with bluegrass, which is not as heat tolerant and requires more maintenance to keep it looking good, but it is also more receptive to being cut short, Mr. Macbeth says.
Whether seed or sod, a good-looking lawn is key to curb appeal. Trends in landscape design have made the front and back yards a haven for outdoor beautification consisting of more than just green grass.
“The emergence of HGTV in the mid-’90s, I think, was one of the biggest booms to the landscape industry, coupled, just a few short years later, with Sept. 11 and the ’nesting’ phenomenon that it created,” Mr. Macbeth says.
Industry professionals say homeowners are being more specific when it comes to their yards — especially the back yard, which has evolved into an extension of the home’s indoor living space.
Vanessa Finney, executive director of the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association, says she’s heard members talk more about homeowners investing in water displays such as waterfalls, fountains, Koi ponds and all the aquatic plants that go in them. All this, she says, surrounded by a big patio with fancy pavers laid out in a geometric design.
“A lot of people are doing hardscaping,” says Mr. Gordon, who has seen a popularity rise in the creation of outdoor living spaces and patios with both manufactured and natural stone.
Ms. Finney says the more high-end spenders are getting infinity pools, where the swimming pool blends into the landscape. Some opt for exotic gazebos and landscape lighting.
“Consumers tend to like things bigger and bolder, an extension of the ordinary,” she says.
Outdoor kitchens are big, as are fireplaces, “not just a barbecue pit, but full-blown fireplaces,” Ms. Finney says.
Real estate agents and landscapers agree that nice yards can help sell a home, directly or indirectly.
Scott S. Fortney, supervising broker with Jobin Realty in Alexandria, says that landscaping, curb appeal and neighborhood are often the first items of discussion between a buyer and their Realtor when seeing a home for the first time.
It’s all about perception.
“Landscaping, as a first and lasting impression on a home, is a very important indicator that the seller cares about the property,” Mr. Fortney says.
Psychologically, he says, a prospective buyer feels that when superficial items like landscaping, paint and carpet are in good shape that systems and equipment — much more costly items — are probably in good condition as well.
Mr. Macbeth agrees and says that while your yard doesn’t have to be a botanical garden, a poorly maintained landscape often leads a potential buyer to think the home was neglected inside, too.
Anita Centofanti, associate broker with Long & Foster in Bethesda, says she believes that buyers are not specifically conscious of lawn and the landscaping but that it does add to the overall curb appeal of home.
A well-manicured lawn cannot compensate for undesirable characteristics.
“You can’t say to a buyer, ’Sure it doesn’t have a finished basement, but look at the landscaping,’ ” she says.
On the other hand, she says, a well-manicured lawn with a good landscape design will make a great first impression.
“It will favorably influence the buyer’s assessment of whether or not the property offers good value for the asking price,” she says.
Although the yard can be a good indicator of how the inside of the home is kept as well as an extension of the homeowners’ personality, experts advise homeowners not to overpersonalize their landscape design.
Mr. Macbeth, who has created themed gardens, recalls some unusual requests, including one time when he was asked to devote an entire back garden to the memory of the homeowner’s recently deceased cat.
“I also had one request to install an inlaid monogram of the client’s initials in the center of their town-home backyard paver patio,” Mr. Macbeth says. “It’s during requests like that you have to be very supportive and explain the pros and cons of doing something like that, weighing heavily on the cons.”
He says he told that particular client that details as personal as a monogram may have a negative effect when it comes time to sell.
Landscapers advise homeowners to take the time to spruce up their yards, regardless of whether their home is on the market.
Mr. Gordon says now is the time to put down crabgrass killer.
In the next breath, he warns consumers not to make the mistake that many homeowners make: “Don’t put down the seeds and crabgrass killer at the same time.”
Simple tasks work wonders.
“To begin with, a homeowner should, at the very least, cut in fresh mulch beds around existing trees, shrubs and planters,” Mr. Fortney says. “Adding inexpensive flowers like pansies give an immediate ’pop’ to the landscape.”
He also suggests pulling weeds, cutting grass and pruning and trees and shrubs for that clean, fresh look that will be very inviting to prospective buyers.
There is no doubt that a well-manicured lawn and landscape design, as simple or as intricate as it may be, has a direct effect on a home’s value, he says.
Seeking the advice of a professional landscaper or landscape designer before considering anything major is a good idea, Mr. Fortney says.
Homeowners should consider their budget and devise a plan that meets these budget restrictions while providing maximum bang for their buck, he says.
Mr. Macbeth says that years ago it was just a matter of asking the guy who cut the grass if he could drop a couple of plants in and maybe attempt to lay a patio. Today, he says, these services have been refined into areas of specific expertise for an experienced designer, architect and/or landscape company.
“Get comfortable with someone who is able to explain the intricacies of landscape installation right from the consultation to knowing construction and codes that may be needed,” Mr. Macbeth says.
A nicely landscaped yard is a win-win situation because it’s something families can enjoy all the while increasing the home’s value.
The guilt-inducing factor it may have on neighbors also can be a plus.
“It’s infectious,” Mr. Macbeth says. “Pretty soon you have one neighbor after another sprucing up their properties, which again only helps to increase the feel of a neighborhood and put dollars in your pocket when the time comes to sell.”
“Landscaping dresses a house. It is naked without it,” Ms. Centofanti says, adding that the right landscaping can transform the look of a house, adding style, richness and depth.
Mr. Fortney says a well-designed landscape does not need to be expensive — even minimal improvements can go a long way.
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