Denny's Soapbox

It’s a given fact. The housing market has been in a funk. The value of many homes has been reduced due to supply and demand with some home mortgage issues added into the mix. This downtrend won’t last forever. It does give us a good reason to evaluate our own homes and see what we might do to add to the future value of our home.

The most visible improvement is the home’s landscape. Everyone who goes by your home sees your yard. In addition, the public is becoming more aware of the green effect to the environment. Renovating your old landscape can add thousands of dollars to your home’s value and tons of fresh oxygen to the environment.

These are exciting times to improve your existing landscape. There are many new varieties of trees, shrubs, and flowers that are very colorful and very easy to maintain. Plant breeders have been introducing many new varieties that require very little future effort on your part while adding their value to the value of your total home.

Seek Professional Help

It’s not too soon to contact a landscape designer. They could visit your home, take measurements of the area, and ask you many questions.

1. How much time do you want to spend maintaining your new landscape?

2. Do you have any favorite colors or plant varieties?

3. What’s your budget?

4. Do you want to do the entire landscape or do it in phases?

5. Do you like to entertain outdoors?

6. Is privacy an issue?

7. Are there any drainage issues that need to be addressed?

It is very important to plan before you plant. Your designer’s proposal should include the scaled design showing exactly where each planting bed is located and how the various plants will be spaced. All plant varieties come in several sizes, the larger the plant, the more the cost. Just be sure that if you decide on smaller sizes, the spacing should be considered so the planting doesn’t appear overgrown in a few years.

To protect your landscape investment be sure and ask about the specifics of the plant guarantee. How long does the replacement guarantee last and does the replacement guarantee include the cost of the labor. You’ll find that some landscape companies will have better plant guarantees than others.

Are you a “Do it Yourselfer?”

You can be very successful installing your own new landscape if you get professional help and advice before digging the holes. Take some pictures and measurements of the area(s) you want to improve. Most of the area year round garden centers have qualified certified nursery personnel on staff that can take all your information asking many of the same questions the landscape designers asks in preparing a professional installation. You will be able to view all the suggested plants on the internet. They will be able to provide you with a working sketch that you can follow to assure a proper design and installation.

Either way, when spring arrives you’ll be ready to go and give you home a new “green” look that will add both value and pride in your existing home and who knows, you might even get an offer for your home if you are planning to move.

Listen to Denny 8-10am Saturdays on Realtalk 1160AM

To Contact Denny McKeown, owner of Bloomin Garden Centre in Blue Ash, www.bloomingarden.com