Chatter in real estate circles speculates that homebuyers who get into the market after we’re released from stay-at-home orders will have a different wish list than those who bought homes before the COVID-19 pandemic.
It makes sense when you consider just how much time we’ve all spent at home the last few months.
It won’t surprise you that home offices will be on many Southern Maryland buyers’ wish lists, and outdoor spaces will make the list, too.
With that in mind, how does your backyard look? If you’re planning to sell your Southern Maryland house, take a good long look at your yard. Then, get to work on some projects to make your home stand out when we get back to normal.
Start with a clean slate
With winter firmly in the rearview mirror, it’s time to get rid of the scars of winter that are still evident in your backyard.
First, clean up all the debris that winter left in your yard, such as broken branches, trash, and leaves.
Next on the list? Weeding. We love spring, but I don’t know anyone who cares for the weeds that it brings.
Prune dead or dying branches from trees and shrubs. This will make them look better and make them healthier. Disinfect your pruning equipment before you use it. Soal it for five minutes in a disinfectant like Lysol. Rinse with water and allow to air-dry.
Turn your attention to the hardscaping
Hardscaping refers to the non-living elements of your landscape, like pottery, benches, water features, pavers, arbors, and fencing.
Does your fence need to be painted? Now’s the time for a new coat of paint. Darker colors are better, says landscape designer Darin Bradbury.
“Not only does the dark color give those vertical surfaces around the garden a uniform finish, but it creates the perfect backdrop for all that green foliage,” Bradbury tells Georgia Madden of Houzz Australia.
Add new plants
The gardening centers at the big box home improvement stores are open during the pandemic, but it’s a good idea to shop online right now.
There are many online plant retailers. Here are a few:
Landscaping professionals suggest choosing a theme before planting. Your theme can be based on color, scent, pollinators (such as butterflies), or another gardening themes like these popular ones:
Sticking to a theme helps prevent the space from looking too “chaotic and disconnected,” landscape designer Wayne De Klijn tells Madden.
“The right plant for the right space” is an old gardening adage that describes one of the most important secrets to gardening success. Before purchasing plants, observe your landscape for a few days. Where is it sunny all day, shady all day, partially sunny? Choose your plants based on the existing conditions in your garden, and you should have far fewer problems.
Mulch – the workhorse of the landscape
Mulch offers so much to your garden. It’s ornamental, it helps suppress weeds, it keeps the soil cooler in the summer, it helps the soil conserve moisture, and, if it’s organic, it breaks down, adding nutrients back into the soil.
Choose whichever type of mulch you like and spread at least 2 inches of it over the soil, keeping it about 6 inches from the base of each plant.
Spruce up outdoor furniture
We are all supposed to be staying home, so running out to buy a new patio furniture set is not a wise idea. Hopefully, with a little DIY action, you can spruce up what you have.
Best of all, you can buy most of the products you’ll need online at Amazon.com or Gardener’s Supply Company and have them delivered to your door.
If your outdoor furniture is made of wood, follow the instructions you’ll find online at YouTube.com. Ideas for updating other types of patio furniture can be found at BobVila.com.
Stay well!
Leonardtown MD Homes for Sale and Real Estate Services in Southern Maryland. You now have a search engine to help you with your Southern Maryland home search! And I’m ready to provide you with a custom home valuation if you’re considering selling your home. Let’s connect to discuss how I can help you. Contact Kimberly Bean at 301-440-1309
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