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How much value does landscaping add to an American suburban residence? A recent study cites survey data to argue that ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????a good landscape?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? adds from 6 to 11 percent to a home?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s base value. What?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s more, that added value turns out to compare well with the cost of the landscaping. In other words, landscaping is a good investment. This fact is an important one for landscapers to emphasize to potential clients. One way to maximize the investment-to-payoff ratio is to install medium-sized plants and let them grow for a few seasons before selling a property. The study is published in the American Nursery & Landscape Association?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s Journal of Environmental Horticulture. Funding was provided by The Horticultural Research Institute. Customers Like ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????Sophistication?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,?? Not all components of a landscaped home are of equal value, the study shows. The most valuable aspect of landscaping is ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????design sophistication,?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? followed by ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????plant size?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? and ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????plant material type.?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? The results are compiled from a survey that asked homeowners in seven states to rate photographs showing landscaping details. Photos showing a varied, ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????sophisticated?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? design featuring ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????large deciduous, evergreen and annual color plants and colored hardscape(s)?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? were consistently rated highest by survey respondents. The bottom line is, homeowners like prominent landscaping features. In other words, think color and think big. The survey found that a large number of small plants did not compensate for the plants?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,?? small size. So-called ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????minimalist?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? landscapes featuring small plants even prompted respondents to rate a landscape lower on the scale. Plants Grow, Value Builds A landscaper can add a dose of sophistication just by installing an edge between turf and planting beds. Such a job can add as much as 1 percent to a home?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s value, study author Bridget K. Behe of Michigan State University suggests. The report ends on a final up note for landscape professionals. While many kinds of home improvement add value to a home, only landscaping appreciates over time. So like a fine wine, good landscaping matures and grows in value, adding dollars to a property?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s bottom line long after the contractor leaves the site. Source: ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????Landscape Plant Material, Size, and Design Sophistication Increase Perceived Home Value.?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? Behe, B., et al. Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 2005.
How much value does landscaping add to an American suburban residence? A recent study cites survey data to argue that ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????a good landscape?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? adds from 6 to 11 percent to a home?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s base value.
What?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s more, that added value turns out to compare well with the cost of the landscaping. In other words, landscaping is a good investment. This fact is an important one for landscapers to emphasize to potential clients.
One way to maximize the investment-to-payoff ratio is to install medium-sized plants and let them grow for a few seasons before selling a property.
The study is published in the American Nursery & Landscape Association?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s Journal of Environmental Horticulture. Funding was provided by The Horticultural Research Institute.
Not all components of a landscaped home are of equal value, the study shows. The most valuable aspect of landscaping is ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????design sophistication,?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? followed by ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????plant size?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? and ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????plant material type.?EUR??,,????'?????<????????
The results are compiled from a survey that asked homeowners in seven states to rate photographs showing landscaping details. Photos showing a varied, ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????sophisticated?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? design featuring ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????large deciduous, evergreen and annual color plants and colored hardscape(s)?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? were consistently rated highest by survey respondents.
The bottom line is, homeowners like prominent landscaping features. In other words, think color and think big. The survey found that a large number of small plants did not compensate for the plants?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,?? small size. So-called ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????minimalist?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? landscapes featuring small plants even prompted respondents to rate a landscape lower on the scale.
A landscaper can add a dose of sophistication just by installing an edge between turf and planting beds. Such a job can add as much as 1 percent to a home?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s value, study author Bridget K. Behe of Michigan State University suggests.
The report ends on a final up note for landscape professionals. While many kinds of home improvement add value to a home, only landscaping appreciates over time. So like a fine wine, good landscaping matures and grows in value, adding dollars to a property?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????EUR??,,??s bottom line long after the contractor leaves the site.
Source: ?EUR??,,????'?????<????????Landscape Plant Material, Size, and Design Sophistication Increase Perceived Home Value.?EUR??,,????'?????<???????? Behe, B., et al. Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 2005.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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