The Commitment of Being a Gardener

Finding the balance between gardening I want to do and gardening I have to do is tricky.  I like to walk my garden and deadhead a daisy or coneflower.  This bit if tidying is rewarding when I look back at the refreshed looking garden.  But when I know that an hour of weeding is before me, I balk at the chore ahead.
 
 

Frequently, I get asked for a design plan for a ‘maintenance free’ garden.  Usually this request comes after the yard becomes overgrown, weedy, and unsightly.  Unfortunately, this stage of disrepair is usually too late for the ‘low maintenance’ garden desired.  Because to get the garden back into a reasonable state of acceptance some work is going to be required. 


Many times the trip to the Midas Well is to blame for this dilemma. 

As we gardeners find gratification in a successful project, like these colorful planters, we decide that we ‘might as well’ do something more.


Like planting the whole yard with color!


Or we have a lovely, bubbling urn to send peaceful sounds into the garden.


 And we ‘might as well’ do this!


We found a great set of lawn furniture and so we ‘might as well’ have somewhere to use it.


And this massive project takes over!


I caution gardeners to beware of this Midas Well thinking.  Because the bigger the project, the more maintenance is required to keep the look you desire. 

Maintenance such as trimming, mowing, watering, edging, raking, deadheading, weeding, and mulching are going to increase as the project gets bigger.  Here is where the commitment to gardening must be demonstrated.  Getting overwhelmed by the constant chores is the cause for many gardeners to throw in the trowel and give up. 

  Unedged walkways becomes unsightly.  Regular trimming is easier than a major dig out and an edged walk is more attractive.


Trimming or providing a barrier to limit grass from encroaching the garden may need to be considered.


Using stone, brick, wood timbers, or rubber edgings can define the garden as well as keep grass from creeping into the beds. 
Removing the grass as a recurring nuisance.  Usually the plants need to be dug out, and grass blades removed from the soil before replanting the plant back into it’s space.



If a well manicured garden is what is desired, remember that the plants grow all season, and that look of a pristine garden will come at a cost of routine trimming.
  


Overgrown paths, gardens, and shrubbery are overwhelming to many gardeners.  A few tools can make the difference in the difficulty factor of this chore.

Hand pruners, loppers, and a short saw can conquer an overgrown mess.

Keeping plants alive through summer heat and drought can really discourage many gardeners.  The hose is too short; the hose gets kinks; the hose tangles up into knots; and the hose drags across the garden and pulls plants out along the way. (Can you tell, I get REALLY frustrated with hoses?!)



Some helpful watering and hose attachments are hose guides placed around corners and edges of the garden.  This is supposed to keep the hose from tearing up the plants.  Also, these quick-snap accessories can help extend a hose , or remove a nozzle easily.


Money enters into the decision making process for the gardener as well.  Tools can be expensive.  Watering the large lawn and garden can add to the monthly household expenses.  If the budget cannot support this added expense, there are a few things that the gardener can do to reduce some of these expenses.

 


This picture from the Design Fanatic shows a well place pipe to bring water to the garden.  Mulch is another resource to help reduce water usage in the garden.  The layer of mulch holds moisture in the soil so plants do no need to be watered as often. 

Weeding is another of those chores that most gardeners avoid if possible.  Mulch can not only save on water usage, but can keep weed seeds from germinating; and even if there are a few weeds, their roots are easily pulled from mulch.

A well cared for garden is a delight. But any garden that is overgrown, weedy, or dried up is not a going to thrive and will be avoided.   If other life events carry more weight than the time the garden needs, rethink the scope and size of the gardening project.

If time to garden is limited, do not expand the garden beyond the limits it will take to keep it vibrant.



A gardener has a commitment to the plants, the style, and the on-going maintenance the garden requires.

  Gardening is supposed to be relaxing, rewarding and enjoyable.

Have you reneged on your commitment to your garden?

Curb Appeal Increases Real Estate Values

Real estate markets in the U.S. are varied by region.  And some regions are rebounding after property values diminished several years ago. Many homes lost up to one third of their value overnight. Other regions, however, are still depressed due to a large amount of foreclosures in the area which bring down home prices in that neighborhood. 
Many homeowners need to sell their properties, but with the prices down, and interest rates on the way up from record low rates, how can the seller get the most buyers to see this house as their new home?

Curb appeal – that element of the home that is viewed from the outside by prospective buyers.  Most buyers will drive by a listing before they actually go inside the property and 63% of those driving by will never go inside.

So let’s see what the 37% of home buyers find attractive enough to walk in the front door. What can the seller do to make a good impression? 

Good curb appeal will tell the story of this house.  Gee, the house must be neat inside, because, look at the outside.  They have time to relax on the front porch.  Adding a sitting area will go a long way to invite folks in.
 
Many avid gardeners can go a long way to be attractive by reducing massive gardens.  To the onlooker, these gardens mean work.  They see, not only mowing, but weeding, pruning, painting, and a big commitment to the landscape.  The reminder is that not everyone likes to garden, so simplify the impression that this yard takes a lot of time to maintain.



Personal style is another risky element to the curb appeal.  Not everyone will be drawn to your style and to limit the future buyer to a chosen few will greatly reduce the buyer pool looking for a home in the area. Appealing to ‘most’ buyers is going to pay off in a timely sale at maximum dollars.





Exterior maintenance delayed costs money. Few buyers, if any, will want to tackle a major project like these.  The buyers may agree to a sale IF the seller fixes the problems before the sale.  So if the homeowner is going to have the expense of fixing this anyway, go ahead and present a well maintained landscape from the beginning. 


No landscaping or dead landscaping will not lure a buyer to this property. Before putting the house on the market, spray weeds, and  water and fertilize the lawn.



A bare landscape is just as much a turn-off  as an overgrown landscape.
 
Tearing out, pruning, and weeding a landscape will show the buyers that this house is well taken care of and it shows a degree of pride in this home.

Clean up drives and walkways as well.  Edging to make crisp neat lines will show the onlooker this yard and home are not hiding any difficult maintenance issues, since the current homeowner seems to have time to keep the yard looking good.

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Another aspect of too owner specific is artwork displayed in the yard.  The seller may like his gnomes and flamingos, but removed, the curb appeal will speak to many more buyers.





This may be charming, livable house inside, but with these shrubs hiding the front, who can tell?  Open up the view to the house by pruning, or removing overgrown plantings.


Opening up the site of the house shows a couple of aspects that a buyer may find appealing.  The siding is in good condition, and the beds are neat, and would be easy to maintain.  That is good curb appeal.




Clutter of any kind is a drawback to curb appeal.  These planters are another hint that this house is hard to maintain so that the yard was just too much for these homeowners.  Fence lines need to be trimmed, and clutter removed before the curb appeal has a chance to scare off too many potential buyers.




Front doors need to be welcoming.  Power washing siding to remove dirt, mold, and spider webs, or a fresh coat of paint will say ‘come on into your new home’. 



Good exterior lighting is another aspect of curb appeal.  Keep porch lamps on in the evenings.  A well lit exterior appears welcoming and safe. Safety is another reason to remove overgrown shrubbery around the front door.  Do not give intruders a place to hide and the prospective buyers will see a safe place to call home.

 

Spend a few dollars to add bright, colorful plants at or near the entrance.  Power wash the walkways, or paint the porch surface for a new, clean look.

 
Plant a tree.  These two homes are in the same upscale neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.  Yet the top property is valued at $10,000 more than the lower house.  Why?  The value of the landscape.  People will pay more for a wooded lot.  Trees create a sense of peacefulness and calmness.  So if a seller can add a tree to the property, that property will appear to have a greater value. 





Curb appeal is an important aspect of selling real estate.  If the potential buyer keeps on going, there is no chance for the property to get sold.
 
Inexpensive chores like mowing, weeding, and pruning can put money in the seller’s pocket.

Adding a shrub or planter gives the landscape a finishing touch, much like a piece of jewelry does to an outfit.

The optimum time to sell is when the homeowner decides to sell. As house prices go up, and interest rates go up, make sure the curb appeal does not limit the amount of good, qualified buyers from taking an interest in the house.