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Landscaping to increase property value is one of the highest-return home improvements available, often outperforming interior remodels dollar for dollar. It is not about planting a few flowers or mowing the lawn once before an open house. It is about choosing the right combination of projects, since some landscaping investments pay back far more than others.
Below are ten specific ideas that reliably add value, ranked roughly from the highest return on investment to the more situational, higher-cost options, followed by the data behind each one, common mistakes to avoid, and how professionals approach these projects differently than a DIY weekend job.
How Much Does Landscaping Actually Increase Home Value?
A widely cited Virginia Tech study found that high-quality landscaping can increase perceived home value by 5.5 to 12.7 percent compared to a home with no landscaping at all, with some industry estimates putting exceptional landscaping as high as 15 to 20 percent. That range matters more than a single headline number, since the actual increase depends heavily on design quality, plant maturity, and how well the landscaping suits the home’s architecture and neighborhood.
Return on investment tells an even more compelling story than the perceived value increase alone. According to the National Association of Realtors’ Remodeling Impact Report on outdoor features, produced jointly with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, standard lawn care service returns roughly 217 percent of its cost at resale, general landscape maintenance returns around 104 percent, and a broader landscape upgrade project, including a walkway, planters, shrubs, and a tree, returns close to 100 percent. For context, that same NAR data shows an in-ground pool returning only about 56 percent, which makes the case that routine, visible upkeep often outperforms flashy, expensive features.
Top 10 Ideas to Increase Landscaping Property Value
1. Standard Lawn Care and Routine Maintenance
This is consistently the highest ROI landscaping project available, returning roughly 217 percent of its cost at resale. Regular mowing, fertilizing, and weed control are inexpensive relative to their impact, and buyers read a healthy, well-kept lawn as a signal that the rest of the home has been cared for too. If you only do one thing on this list, start here.
2. General Landscape Maintenance
Annual mulching, pruning shrubs, and seasonal planting return around 104 percent of their cost. This category sits just below basic lawn care in ROI but still comfortably pays for itself, and it is the foundation that makes every other project on this list look better by comparison.
3. Front Entry Walkway and Planting Bed Upgrade
An enhanced front walkway paired with stone planters, flowering shrubs, and a tree is one of the most reliable curb appeal investments, returning close to 100 percent of its cost. Since the front entry is the first thing a buyer or appraiser sees, this is one of the highest-priority upgrades on the list if your budget allows for more than routine maintenance.
4. Strategic Hardscaping
Patios, walkways, and retaining walls add both usable space and visual structure to a property. Hardscaping tends to have a longer lifespan than plantings alone, which appraisers and buyers both value, since it represents a more permanent improvement rather than something that needs replanting every few years.
5. Mature Tree Preservation and Planting
A mature, healthy tree adds shade and long-term value that takes years to replicate if removed, and buyers consistently respond well to established trees on a property. If you have mature trees already, protecting them during any other landscaping work should be a priority rather than an afterthought.
6. Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting returns roughly 59 percent of its installation cost at resale, and it delivers a second benefit beyond resale value: it makes the property usable and safer in the evening hours. Prioritizing LED fixtures around the front entry, walkways, and any specimen trees or planting beds gets the most curb appeal impact for the investment.
7. Modest Outdoor Living Spaces
Decks, fire pits, and small patio seating areas are increasingly desirable to buyers, particularly smaller, well-built spaces rather than sprawling, expensive builds. A well-built small patio or fire pit area, costing a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, tends to deliver a stronger return than a large-scale outdoor kitchen costing tens of thousands.
8. Eco-Friendly, Native Plant Landscaping
Native plants, reduced water usage, and organic fertilizers appeal directly to a growing segment of eco-conscious buyers who specifically look for lower-maintenance, lower-input landscaping when house hunting. This idea pairs well with general landscape maintenance, since native plants typically require less ongoing care once established.
9. Water-Efficient Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping and other water-efficient landscaping approaches can meaningfully reduce utility bills while still keeping a yard visually appealing. These designs are particularly attractive in regions with water restrictions, where a lush, high-water lawn can actually work against a property rather than for it. The EPA’s WaterSense program is a useful resource for understanding water-efficient landscaping standards.
10. Seasonal Color and Year-Round Curb Appeal
Layering in seasonal blooms, evergreen shrubs, and ornamental grasses keeps a property looking vibrant across multiple seasons rather than just during a single spring bloom. This idea is less about a single project and more about a planting strategy, and it is one of the more affordable ways to keep curb appeal strong throughout the year.
Landscaping Costs vs. Return by Project Type
Here is how the ideas above compare in terms of typical cost and reported return, based on national landscaping and remodeling data.
| Project | Typical Cost | Reported ROI |
| Standard lawn care (seasonal fertilizing, weed control) | $400 – $500 | Around 217% |
| General landscape maintenance (mulching, pruning, seasonal planting) | $4,000 – $5,000 | Around 104% |
| Overall landscape upgrade (walkway, planters, shrubs, tree) | $8,000 – $10,000 | Around 100% |
| Landscape lighting | $1,500 – $4,000 | Around 59% |
| Fire pit | $300 – $1,400 | Around 56% |
| In-ground pool | $12,000 – $20,000+ | Around 56% |
The pattern here is consistent. Smaller, routine projects tend to outperform larger, more expensive ones on a percentage basis, even though the larger projects still add real dollar value and everyday enjoyment. If your goal is maximizing return relative to spend, start at the top of this list and work down rather than jumping straight to the biggest visible project.
Why Do These Projects Have Such Strong ROI?
First Impressions Set the Tone for Everything Else
Curb appeal is the first thing a buyer, appraiser, or even a casual passerby notices about your property, and that first impression shapes how they judge everything else about the home before they ever step inside. Surveys show that 97 percent of Realtors consider curb appeal important for attracting buyers, and 92 percent recommend sellers improve it before listing.
A Welcoming, Functional Layout Matters as Much as Plants
Landscaping that increases property value is not just decorative. It is functional. Well-designed walkways in stone, brick, or pavers guide visitors to the front door and add a sense of intentional design, while a focal point like a specimen tree or water feature gives the eye somewhere to land.
Front Yard vs. Backyard: Where Should You Invest First?
If you are working with a limited budget, the front yard generally delivers more resale value per dollar than the backyard, simply because it is the first and sometimes only part of the property a buyer sees before deciding whether to schedule a showing. That means idea three, the front entry walkway and planting bed upgrade, should typically take priority over backyard-focused ideas like outdoor living spaces.
The backyard still matters, particularly for buyers with families or anyone drawn to outdoor entertaining, but it tends to influence a buyer’s decision after they are already interested rather than before. A reasonable approach for most homeowners is to fully address front yard curb appeal first, then allocate remaining budget to backyard improvements based on how the space will actually be used.
How Appraisers Actually View Landscaping
Appraisers generally do not assign a precise dollar figure to landscaping the way they do for square footage or a renovated kitchen. Instead, landscaping typically factors into the broader condition and marketability assessment of the property. A well-maintained landscape signals that a home has been cared for overall, which can support a stronger comparison against similar properties in the neighborhood, while a neglected yard can work against an otherwise well-maintained home during an appraisal walkthrough.
This is part of why routine maintenance, idea one and two on this list, shows such strong ROI. It is not creating a new, separately appraised asset the way a kitchen remodel might. It is protecting and reinforcing the value of the property as a whole.
Common Mistakes That Hurt Landscaping ROI
- Over-investing in expensive, niche features. Elaborate water features or highly specialized garden structures rarely appeal broadly enough to justify their cost at resale.
- Neglecting basic maintenance while pursuing bigger projects. An impressive hardscape surrounded by an unkempt lawn undercuts the overall impression rather than elevating it.
- Ignoring the home’s architectural style. Landscaping that clashes visually with the house itself can hurt curb appeal instead of helping it.
- Choosing high-maintenance plants without a plan to maintain them. A landscape that looks great at installation but declines within a year or two can end up reducing perceived value rather than adding to it.
- Skipping professional input on larger projects. DIY approaches work well for basic upkeep, but larger hardscaping or drainage-related work benefits significantly from professional design and installation experience.
Professional Landscaping vs. DIY: Why Expertise Matters
Professional landscapers bring design knowledge that goes beyond picking attractive plants. They understand how to create a layout that complements your home’s architecture, works with your property’s existing grade and drainage, and maximizes the space’s long-term potential rather than just its appearance on installation day.
A professional landscaping company also builds for longevity, from proper soil preparation to selecting plant varieties suited to your specific site conditions. This matters because a landscape that looks good for one season but declines quickly afterward does little for long-term property value, while one built to last continues paying off year after year, particularly for ideas like hardscaping and mature tree planting where mistakes are expensive to fix.
FAQs About Landscaping to Increase Property Value
1: What is the single best landscaping project for increasing home value?
Ans: Standard lawn care, including regular mowing, fertilizing, and weed control, has the highest reported ROI of any landscaping project, returning roughly 217 percent of its cost at resale.
2: How much value does landscaping actually add to a home?
Ans: Research from Virginia Tech found that high-quality landscaping can increase perceived home value by roughly 5.5 to 12.7 percent, with some estimates for exceptional landscaping reaching 15 to 20 percent depending on the market and design quality.
3: Is it worth investing in landscaping before selling a home?
Ans: Yes. The vast majority of real estate agents consider curb appeal important for attracting buyers and recommend improving it before listing, and homes with strong landscaping typically sell faster in addition to selling for more.
4: Does landscape lighting increase home value?
Ans: Yes, landscape lighting typically returns around 59 percent of its installation cost at resale, and it also improves safety and evening usability of the property beyond its resale impact.
5: Should I invest in the front yard or backyard first?
Ans: The front yard generally delivers more resale value per dollar, since it is the first part of the property buyers see. Backyard improvements still add value but typically matter more after a buyer is already interested.
6: Are outdoor kitchens and pools good investments for property value?
Ans: Not always. Large, expensive outdoor living features like in-ground pools and full outdoor kitchens tend to return a lower percentage of their cost compared to more modest, widely appealing projects like lawn care and general landscape maintenance.
7: Does eco-friendly landscaping appeal to buyers?
Ans: Increasingly, yes. Native plants, water-efficient designs, and reduced-maintenance landscaping appeal to a growing segment of buyers, particularly in regions with water restrictions or higher utility costs.
8: Should I hire a professional landscaper or do it myself?
Ans: Routine maintenance like mowing and basic upkeep works well as a DIY project, but larger hardscaping, drainage, or full landscape design projects generally benefit from professional expertise to ensure long-term durability and a cohesive result.
Final Thoughts
Landscaping to increase property value is not a guessing game, and the ten ideas above show a clear pattern. Routine, visible upkeep like lawn care and general maintenance delivers the strongest return, mid-range projects like a front entry upgrade and landscape lighting offer strong value for a moderate investment, and larger structural projects should be chosen carefully based on what actually appeals to buyers in your specific market.
Curb appeal sets the tone for a buyer’s entire impression of a home, and getting the basics right before investing in bigger features is almost always the smarter financial decision. Whether you are preparing to sell or simply want to get more long-term value out of your property, working with an experienced landscaping team can help you prioritize the improvements from this list that matter most for your specific property.