Florence Landscaping adds value to your property and can increase its market value if it is well-maintained. It can also provide recreational opportunities and improve your overall health.
Grass and trees are natural cleaners that help to reduce the amount of dust, smoke particles, and carbon dioxide in the air. They also produce oxygen, allowing you and your family to breathe healthier.
1. It Increases Property Value
While a kitchen or bathroom remodel may increase your home’s value, a well-maintained yard can also give it a boost. In fact, a home with a lush landscape can sell for up to 15% more than one without. This is because potential buyers love to see well-maintained properties and it shows that the homeowner cares about their property.
A well-maintained front yard is the first thing potential buyers will notice. So, it’s important to keep it free of weeds and overgrowth. It’s also a good idea to invest in some trees and shrubs. These will add natural beauty to your property and provide shade and privacy. Plus, they can also help to cool your home in the summer by blocking the sun’s heat.
Landscaping can also help to reduce energy costs and improve air quality. In addition, it can help to prevent soil erosion and floods by controlling runoff. It can even create habitats for wildlife. For example, by planting trees and shrubs, you can encourage birds and insects to live in your garden.
There are two types of landscaping – hardscaping and softscaping. Hardscaping includes walkways, patios and retaining walls while softscaping refers to the green elements of a landscape such as trees, shrubs, flowers and lawn.
According to a study by Virginia Tech, homes with proper landscaping can enjoy up to a 15 percent increase in real estate value. However, this can vary depending on the climate and the location of the home.
2. It Creates a Relaxing Environment
Whether you live in the middle of a bustling city or a rural area, everyone needs a place to unwind. A relaxing garden provides the perfect retreat to leave your troubles behind and relax with a book or take a dip in the pool. You can even create a quiet place to meditate, with comfortable seating and soothing colors.
A landscape can help improve the air quality in your home, reducing pollutants and improving breathing. This is important because the air we breathe can have a profound effect on our health and well-being. By planting trees and other plants that filter the air, you’ll be creating a healthier environment for your family.
Landscaping can also help to reduce noise pollution, something that is particularly prevalent in cities. The rustling of leaves and grasses can be very soothing to listen to, and it can also drown out the jarring sounds of traffic and other nearby sources of noise.
Many people also find that being in nature helps to relieve stress. This is because being in a natural environment can stimulate the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Landscaping can help to promote relaxation by incorporating features such as benches, fountains and water features that can all be used to create a peaceful oasis in your own backyard.
If you want to turn your outdoor space into a relaxing retreat, it’s important to work with professionals. They will be able to recommend the best plants and trees for your landscaping project, as well as provide you with expert advice. It’s always a good idea to start small and add to your garden over time, rather than attempting to do it all at once.
3. It Prevents Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is a natural process that takes a physical toll on your property, tearing away the top layer of fertile soil. This topsoil contains valuable nutrients vital to grass and other vegetation on your property. Once it’s eroded, your soil can become exposed and disintegrate over time, leaving bare areas that are difficult to grow on.
Erosion is exacerbated by human activities, including intensive agriculture, deforestation, road building, and climate change. Landscaping helps prevent erosion by stabilizing the soil with plants and other vegetation. It also slows down water flow and minimizes surface runoff, reducing the amount of erosion carried off your property into local waterways.
When it rains, excess water flows over the lawn and into flower beds, garden pathways, and other landscape features. This rapid movement of water causes erosion, especially in compact soil. The best way to stop erosion is to plant dense ground cover, such as grass or native plants. Plants have deep roots that anchor the soil and keep it in place, while the dense foliage of ground cover slows down the flow of water, preventing erosion.
Another way to prevent soil erosion is to use terracing and contouring, which create level platforms on sloped terrain. These landscape design methods slow down the speed of rainwater, allowing the soil to absorb more moisture and minimizing erosion.
Soil erosion is a major problem in our region, damaging local waterways and removing valuable topsoil. Fortunately, landscaping can help protect the environment by preventing erosion, keeping our beloved Scott’s Run and other local waterways clean. By planting native flora and using landscaping techniques like terracing and mulching, we can preserve the beauty and health of our green spaces.
4. It Prevents Water Damage
A major benefit of landscaping is preventing water damage to homes. When a house is poorly insulated or the landscaping around it isn’t properly graded, rainwater can soak through the foundation and into basements and below-grade rooms. This can be especially dangerous if the area has experienced a lot of rainfall.
By adding native plants with deep roots, your landscape can absorb and filter the rainwater to reduce runoff and soil erosion. This prevents flooding and can also help reduce the amount of pollution carried into local ecosystems by pesticides or sediment from paved areas.
Another way to prevent water damage is by planting trees and shrubs that can tolerate moisture. You can also use water-efficient plants and hardscaping, such as permeable surfaces like paved patios, to reduce the amount of irrigation needed.
Water damage can be expensive to repair, but it’s much cheaper to prevent it in the first place! A few simple changes to your property’s landscaping can make a huge difference.
If you’re looking for a professional landscaping service, contact us today at ServiceMaster Restore. We can help with everything from lawn care to gutter cleaning and more!
5. It Improves Mental Health
A well-maintained yard with beautiful landscaping can improve your mental health in many ways. The sense of personal achievement that comes with seeing your work come to life is a big boost to your mood, and the activity itself can also help lower stress levels. Plus, it can provide a lot of exercise, which is beneficial for your physical health as well.
Landscaping also helps keep your property cool. Cities can get extremely hot, leading to a phenomenon called a heat island. This is when a city’s temperatures are significantly higher than nearby rural areas due to the presence of concrete and cars. To combat this problem, it’s important to plant as many trees as possible. Trees act as nature’s air conditioners and can reduce temperatures by up to 6-degrees. In turn, this can cut down on energy use and emissions.
Landscapes that include shrubs, flowers, and grasses create a peaceful environment that can make you feel happy and relaxed. This is because they emit the scent of freshness and can evoke positive feelings in people. Plus, flowers and plants can attract pollinators and bees, which are essential to the ecosystem.
Studies show that being in nature and gardening can increase your memory, lower stress, and make you happier. This is because they can trigger the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. Plus, spending time in nature can decrease your blood pressure and heart rate.
Gardening has been used as a form of therapy for centuries. It can have a positive impact on your mental health by providing a sense of purpose, reducing stress and anxiety, promoting mindfulness, and fostering social connection. In addition, volunteering for a landscaping project can give you the opportunity to enjoy these benefits while making a difference in your community.