At last, spring is here! And the long-awaited arrival of milder days and the appearance of buds on the bushes and trees means it’s time to get to work in the garden.
If you’re considering selling your home this spring or summer, it’s a great idea to break out the tools and put in a little toil to “wow” prospective buyers.
A well-presented home with an attractive garden will always win the attention of buyers and an almost seamless transition from indoors to a relaxing, private garden can add extra dollars to the asking price.
Check out these ideas to prepare your garden for your sales campaign.
Make a budget
Consider how much time and money you’re prepared to spend on your garden before putting your home on the market. You may have other expenses, such as those for repairs, that should take priority.
Plan your work
With your budget set, make a small map of the areas where you’d like to add new flowers, bushes and trees. The privacy of a garden is a big issue for many buyers who don’t like the idea of prying neighbors.
Mulch mayhem
Add two inches of mulch to your beds once you’ve finished planting. It will help protect the plants from any remnant cold weather and retain moisture at the base of the plants when the days heat up.
Quick color
Perennials need time to grow new roots before summer arrives, so if you want immediate color plant cool-season annuals, such as pansies, snapdragons, petunias, impatiens and zinnias
Start snipping
Prune and shape your shrubs. They’ll have been dormant during winter and this is now the best time to snip them into shape. It won’t be long until the spring growth becomes evident.
Pruning tips
Focus on dead or broken branches and those that grow into or across a bush or tree. This will encourage growth and ensure they retain their shape. The plants that respond best to early spring prune include juniper, dogwood, spirea and roses. Clip them back again after they’ve enjoyed their first blooms of spring. Don’t prune plants in full flower.