Jamie Hancock: Don’t underestimate value of landscaping

Never underestimate the value of landscaping your home. The Wall Street Journal reported that a homes value can increase by 7 to 14 percent with an attractive landscape. That means that a home with a base worth of $200,000 can now be worth $14,000 to $28,000 more just by adding a moderate landscape. Smart Money Magazine and the American Nursery & Landscape Association indicate that this investment is always recouped and sometimes doubled. They also state that landscaped homes spend five to six weeks less time on the market.

These statistics alone should be an encouragement to homeowners to landscape their homes. But, what about those owners who are not looking to sell any time soon. What value is there for them to landscape their yards?

A yard that is landscaped correctly, not necessarily expensively, will add to the living space of your home. Your yard should not be a no mans land; a place that no one ventures into except to mow. You pay a mortgage on your house and land. You should enjoy as much of it as you can.

A good landscape will provide privacy, tranquility and opportunity. It will give you places to do the things you like to do. These spaces dont just happen in a landscape any more than they do in a house. Architects design houses with rooms and spaces to do the things you have told him you like to do. A yard is the same way. Make a list of activities you would like to do in your yard. This may include doing nothing but, I will bet, that doing nothing also means that you would like it to look nice for you or for the public as they drive past. This is still an activity.

Activities in houses take place in rooms; rooms that are designed for that activity (ie. kitchens for cooking, bedrooms for sleeping, bathrooms for bathing). Yards have areas (spaces) for eating, cooking, playing, relaxing, gardening, bird watching, swimming and anything else your heart desires. Outdoor rooms are created with walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and accents just like interior rooms. Floors are made of grass, stone, brick, concrete, sand etc. Ceilings are made of trees, overhead structures, overhangs with hanging baskets and umbrellas. Furniture can be traditional benches and tables, but gardens (they take up space in the large room called a yard), fountains, ponds and swimming pools can all be considered to be furniture. Accents in the house are throw pillows, lamps, spots of color. In a landscape, accents are bedding plants, brightly colored patio pots, light poles, and art.

A proper combination of walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and accents for the activity you wish to do will generate a wonderful landscape fit to meet your needs and increase your living pleasure. (If you would be interested in attending a landscape design class to further explore there concepts please contact the Extension Office at (785) 232-0062 ext. 104 and leave a message.) A landscape design class is being planned for this spring TBA.

Here are a few other benefits to a good landscape.

Lower crime rates and enhanced self-esteem. Landscape projects deter graffiti and other vandalism while increasing community pride and self-esteem for homeowners and neighborhood dwellers.

Stress reduction. It is a proven fact that blood pressure decreases in people with a nice landscape. Working in gardens or just relaxing and enjoying them generate benefits. Improved attention, reduced muscle tension, reduced feelings of fear, anger, aggression, and increased contentment have all been documented as a result of a landscaped yard.

Children who work or play in nice yards cope with stress more easily, learn responsibly, increase in their imaginations, and take ownership of their world more readily.

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Jamie Hancock: Don't underestimate value of landscaping