By:  Cat Murphy 

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Investing in backyard upgrades will significantly increase the value of your home. Home buyers in Toledo want a modern interior and updated outdoor living spaces. These areas of the house are becoming much more critical for serious sellers who want to get the most money out of their investment. Consider these landscaping trends that increase the value of your property when selling your home this year.

Complementary Plants

Blazing Star Flowers

Step back and take into consideration the style of your home’s exterior before updating the yard. You’ll want to choose plant varieties and styles that  complement your home. Selecting a plant that seems out of place can create an unintended eyesore and distract buyers. Using native plants in the yard is a great way to support the local environment and add color to a home. Modern homes will benefit from Cardinal Flowers or Blue Vervain. Romantic  style homes should have some Blazing Stars or Joe Pye Weed, perfect for a blooming border. Smaller homes would look great with the simple blooms of White Wood Aster or Marsh Marigolds.

Most neighborhoods feature similar style homes, so take a walk around the block to see what neighbors have planted. Resist the urge to overflow the garden. Instead, leave space around selected additions.

Mulch & Fertilize

Adding mulch around your plants will instantly raise your home's curb appeal. Mulch adds the finishing touch to a yard and pulls everything together. Organic mulch options, like grass clippings or bark dust, are good to use for those smaller homes. Inorganic mulching options, like pea gravel or even rubber mulch, would do well in upscale neighborhoods. Covering the ground around your plants also helps keep them moist and cuts down on weed growth.

Make sure your lawn is also weed-free and fertilized. Once again, those grass clippings will come in handy and provide an eco-friendly fertilizer for your lawn.  Spreading mulch on your yard is a must when wanting to reduce your maintenance time  while your home is on the market.

Outdoor Lighting

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Serious home buyers may visit your home during the daytime and then view it again at night. Having the right amount of outdoor lighting is essential. Floodlights, porch and walkway light will keep all areas of your home safe. Backyard lighting can include solar string lights to create a soft and inviting ambiance. Other options include spotlighting those new plants in the yard with solar lights that need no electric outlet nearby. Well-placed lighting can also make a backyard feel larger when focused on specific areas of the yard.

Privacy

Potential home buyers want a backyard where they can enjoy nature without interruption from neighbors. Fencing can quickly raise your property value. It's also essential to make sure that some areas stay hidden  from neighbors’ views. This can include patios or decks that have well-placed privacy screens or large potted plants. You could also plant some fast-growing hedges or add outdoor curtains. For an ultra-trendy addition, install a vertical garden to add beauty and fill space. Vertical gardens can include edible plants as well as smaller flowers and succulents.

Backyard Upgrades

Make your backyard an inviting outdoor getaway. Upgrade your outdoor furniture (maybe a simple coat of paint) and polished grill. Create different pockets of activity in the yard including an outdoor dining area as well as a comfortable seating area. A fire pit can extend the use of your patio year round. Make sure to coordinate the color of the furniture with the exterior color of your home.

Other upgrades that will help fetch a better price for your home include grilling areas, porches, decks, and patio space. Hardscaped areas also define these spaces giving your backyard a polished and professional look. Painting an older fence or installing sun shades will also increase the resale value of your home.

There are plenty of inexpensive upgrades you can add to your Toledo home to increase its value. Following these landscaping trends will add curb appeal and may just get you an offer above the asking price!

Cat Murphy is a gardening and landscaping writer, and outdoor gardener extraordinaire. She enjoys cooking for family and friends and going on long hikes anywhere and everywhere.