Few things are more frustrating than a messy front yard. In addition to disrupting your curb appeal, overgrown, messy landscaping can also harbor pests and make it look like you don't care about your property. Fortunately, tidying up your yard doesn't have to be difficult. I have spent years learning more about landscaping, and this blog is all about how to become a landscaping enthusiast. Check out these articles about fun topics like planting flowers, perfecting pruned trees, and decorating your yard with whimsical additions. After you know more about landscaping, your yard might become the talk of the town.
As a homeowner, you are likely always looking for ways to improve your energy efficiency and increase your property value. While expensive renovations are one way to achieve these goals, there are several affordable and enjoyable things you can do to get the results you want. Consider using one or more of the following ideas for optimized property value and household energy efficiency:
Build a Living Fence Line
Instead of installing a fence around the perimeter of your property, consider building a fence line with living plants. Not only can plants create a solid barrier between your property and public lands, but they'll improve curb appeal and help protect your home and other plants from extreme winds when the weather isn't great. There are a variety of plants you can use to create an effective living fence line – consider incorporating one or more of the following options into your landscape design:
Use just one type of plant to create a uniform design around your entire property, or alternate two or three plants along the fence line to make it look more natural. You can also choose a different type of plant for each of the four edges of your property to create an asymmetrical look and feel.
Plant Trees Near the House
Landscaping with trees will not only help improve your household's energy efficiency, but it can also increase your overall property value by up to 20 percent. Trees always seem to make a positive impact on curb appeal too. Plant some new trees near any windows in your home that get direct sunlight during the day in either summer or winter. This will provide the space with some natural weather protection and reduce wear and tear on your HVAC system.
Evergreen trees are a great option because they're thick and act as effective insulators. Deciduous trees are also a good bet, as they're full of leaves in the summer, which will shade your home from the sun, and they lose their leaves in the winter, which allows the sun to heat things up. And, fruit trees shouldn't be overlooked, as they'll provide you with some free food throughout the year.
Whichever types of trees you decide to plant, make sure you know how big they'll get upon maturity before putting them in the ground. You'll want to plant them far enough away from your home that their branches won't reach the roof and cause damage if they fall off due to a storm, old age, or disease as time goes on.
Create a Rooftop Garden
Another excellent way to increase the overall value of your property and improve household energy efficiency is to grow a garden on your rooftop. You'll be able to harvest free food year-round, and it should be easier to keep temperatures inside cool without wearing your HVAC system out. It's important to have the parts of your roof that you plan to use as a garden reinforced by a roofing contractor to ensure that it holds up to the weight of soil and plants on top of it.
After reinforcements are done, you'll need to create access to the rooftop garden. You can have spiral stairs built or install a heavy-duty ladder with railings. Once you've got access to your rooftop garden space, you can place your planters, fill them with your favorite soil and fertilizers, then plant seeds or starters of various plants such as zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, and bell peppers.
You might have to erect a sunscreen over the garden to protect it from harsh sunlight in the middle of the day, but otherwise the space should be ready to enjoy after planting your veggies. Spend time experimenting with different plants throughout the first year so you know what will and won't work, and you can ensure a thriving garden in the years ahead.
Utilizing just one of these ideas is sure to make a positive difference when it comes to the value and energy efficiency of your property. For additional ideas and assistance, contact a landscaping professional in your area.
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