How to create a backyard garden without hurting the value of your home | Real estate

Growing a backyard garden has been a popular pastime for homeowners for ages, but the global pandemic has ushered in a new era for grassroots gardeners. According to the National Gardening Society’s National Gardening Survey, backyard gardening reached an all-time high in 2021 with the largest year-over-year increase in home gardens coming from millennials. Today, more than 185 million people are actively engaged in horticulture.

While the pandemic has sparked interest in home gardening, economic reality has kept it going. The 2023 edition of the Gardening Survey found that inflation was a major factor for more than half of respondents when planning to increase or decrease their level of involvement in garden and gardening activities. More than a third of households expect to spend more on lawn and gardening products in 2023 than in 2022, especially on food gardening. However, more families expect to reduce their spending on planting flowers and gardening.

Not every potential buyer will see edible landscaping as a selling feature. This is especially true if the garden is large or complex, as it can seem time and cost intensive to some people.

If you want to start a backyard garden, but don’t want to negatively impact your home’s long-term value, follow these four steps to grow an attractive, edible landscape.

One of the most important considerations for growing a successful and beautiful vegetable garden is planning your space. Take the time to carefully evaluate your garden before it starts growing. The amount of land you have in your front or backyard is a big factor, but you should also consider things like year-round sun exposure and access to water. These factors will ultimately determine which design is best for your garden wish list.

If you’re new to gardening or are worried about hurting your home’s value in the future, start small. Smaller gardens seem more maintainable for novice gardeners or those who may not be sure of exactly having a garden space. You can grow a lot of food in a small space if planned well.

Starting small makes the garden a pleasure, not a chore, says Elise Pickett, an urban homesteader and owner of The Urban Harvest, a Florida gardening education resource and seed club.

“Choose one bed or space to start and just three to five types of plants,” she says. “It doesn’t seem like much at first, but it will allow you to easily tend to the garden and learn about the plants’ needs without any confusion.”

Curb Appeal is a proven way to help a home sell faster and for more money. People like attractive, clean and tidy yards, including vegetable gardens. If you intend to plant a front or back garden, make sure that the garden space looks attractive and is well cared for.

Having beautiful raised beds, a well-maintained greenhouse, or leafy trellises can make a garden more visually appealing. You can add other aspects of the landscape such as a water feature, outdoor shower, paved patio area, or colorful native wildflowers to tie the garden space together. By doing this, the garden area will feel more like a peaceful retreat than a large time commitment to the next homeowner.

Small swaps or thoughtful planning can make edible plants feel like a natural part of the landscape. For example, you can place an herb garden in window boxes normally used for ornamental flowers. This easy landscape exchange does not compromise the beauty and continues your growth.

Another way to make sure your garden space doesn’t drive away potential buyers is to grow in containers that can be easily disassembled. While greenhouses and raised bed gardens look like permanent pieces in the yard, they can be removed if the new buyer doesn’t want to continue growing.

Just remember, less is more, so think about how many raised beds or structures you will have in your garden.

You can also use creative containers like vertical growth towers or garden pots to grow your food. These growing pots are portable and give you a lot of production with little room to grow. Beckett says vertical growing towers are one of her favorite elements in her yard.

“Containers are usually an affordable way to grow food and are self-contained, which makes them easier to manage when you get the hang of things. Soil-based vertical planters are great because you can grow more than 40 plants in less than 3 square feet. They also allow you to move locations or modify “As needed, if the sun is not favorable or the rain falling on your roof erodes. Almost everything can be treated in a container.”

Some fruits and vegetables require more work than others. There are many plants that will also look more untidy than others. If you’re concerned about future resale value, try growing low-maintenance edible crops.

Pumpkins, for example, require a lot of space and can have problems with mold, pollination and pests, depending on where you grow them. On the other hand, lettuce and other leafy greens rarely have problems other than minor pests. They also take up very little space, making them a low-maintenance but highly rewarding vegetable to grow.

Fruit trees are another low-maintenance edible. From apples to bananas, pears, lemons and avocados, they require little work once planted and can bear fruit for years. They can also provide additional benefits such as shade if planted correctly.

Just remember that the basics of gardening still apply no matter what type you grow or how you grow it. Choose plant varieties that grow well in your growing area. As Pickett says, “Even if apples are your favorite fruit, don’t be tempted to grow them if they’re not right for your area. Check with your county’s garden extension office or find a local garden supplier/guru to find out what’s really thriving in your area.” This will result in more production and a nicer garden, where the plants will be happy and healthy.”

No matter how or what type you grow, you’ll need to follow gardening basics to be successful. Your plants will need adequate sunlight, frequent watering, and good quality soil to be productive. Don’t forget regular maintenance to keep weeds and pests away.

Growing food at home can be a rewarding experience that adds a productive and attractive space to your home. Today’s trend in favor of home gardens means there is a good chance that lush landscaping will attract more home buyers in the future. Following these four gardening tips should help you maintain your home’s value and increase your chances of selling your home faster.

Just remember that it is ultimately your home and your space. Create a garden that suits your needs while you’re at home. Having a large garden space or even an entire house does not mean your home will lose value – it may just take longer for the right buyer to come along.