Lush green grass, boldly colored flowers and fragrant shrubs can transform your yard into a refuge. Good landscaping makes your home look more welcoming and improves curb appeal. Landscaping can also stop erosion and reduce noise. Additional value found in greenspaces is the connection it keeps you to nature.
“Homeowners often overlook the importance of a well-maintained yard,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance Florida’s top independent homeowners insurance agency.
Whether you are ready for an upgrade to your yard or looking to draw the interest of potential home buyers, boosting your curb appeal is a benefit. Below are some do’s and don’ts from HGTV when it comes to the maintenance of your lawn.
DO
- Keep a maintenance schedule and stick to it. Don’t underestimate the importance of regular lawn mowing, watering, pruning and trimming.
- Create a budget, the project will always cost more than you expect.
- Make a plan- decide on a look or theme you want and place plants and shrubs in relationship to the shape and style of your home.
DON’T
- Be excessive on lawn ornamentation, a little whimsy is ok but one item is usually enough.
- Cut grass too short.
- Forget the view from your window, it sounds like common sense but look at your landscaping from all angles.
- Be shortsighted, homeowners don’t always think about the eventual growth or spreading of their plants after a couple of years.
- Overlook exterior lighting, people often only consider what their yards look like during the day. Lights can really make your garden pop.
- Impulse buy, buying takes some planning and research.
“Intense heat and sandy soil pose some challenges for Florida homeowners,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance Florida’s largest independent homeowners insurance agency.
Be sure to chose Florida-friendly plants and native plants, which you can discover on the floridayard.org website. Area nurseries have a database of recommended trees, palms, shrubs, flowers, groundcovers, grasses and vines developed by University of Florida/IFAS horticulture experts.
GreatFlorida Insurance provides coverage for all your home improvements inside and out. Contact us to discover your homeowners insurance options today.
