Adding some zip to your home’s outdoor space doesn’t need to break the bank. Taking stock of the key areas and not overspending can help you get the best return for your money. So, what are the key areas and how can you improve them at a reasonable cost?
First steps
The first step is your first step: a patio. If you do not have one, this may be the best time to add a concrete patio to your home. If you are not familiar with or don’t have a good helper, this is one of those projects to pull in a professional.
If you do have a patio, what does the concrete look like outside your door? Is it clean and in good shape? Does it have cracks or is the surface chipping or sloughing off? If it is stained, start with a household detergent and some scrubbing. Next try a mild bleach solution to remove spots caused by mold or mildew. If things are really out of hand, a mild solution of Muriatic acid can be used, just make sure you are well covered up and you follow the directions.
If you have cracks, you can repair them by using a variety of different options. Caulks and sealers, concrete patching, and polymer resins. Each serve a different purpose and meet a particular need based on the failure you are experiencing. So do your research and pick the one that best applies to your specific fault.
Upgrading your grass
The next step you take is onto the grass. Having a vibrant, healthy lawn is a high priority to any buyer. First, assess the condition of your lawn. Do you have any grass, do you have weeds, do you have patches, and do you have a consistent type of grass?
If you don’t have any grass, preparing the surface for and rolling out sod is the best way to instantly have grass. Hydroseeding would follow for speed, installation is quick but you are going to have to wait for growth. If time is less important than budget, straight seeding may be the option you have to take. Seeding will give you an immense sense of accomplishment as you watch the process go from dirt to lawn. If you need outside assistance to maintain your lawn, you may want to look towards the services of Trugreen for help with this.
If you have grass and you just need to repair what you have, break up the dry patches and replant, pull all the weeds you can, and if possible, apply a weed and feed fertilizer. All of this will take some time, but the more you do yourself, the more you will save.
Don’t get soaked watering your yard
Your grass won’t last if there’s no water. Installed sprinkler systems can be very expensive. One option to make a sprinkler system affordable is to use timers installed on your hose bibs. This timer allows you to connect and create 4 sprinkler zones for your yard. Using high pressure, low volume sprinklers, you can have two sprinklers per line, or even a drip or high pressure micro sprinkler line attached. If you place your sprinklers wisely you can do a great job covering your lawn and garden with water.
Planning your perimeter
The micro sprinkler line will allow you to have a more healthy perimeter. Your perimeter should have a sculptural quality to it. Low plants in front ascending to tall as you go back from view. Perennials provide lasting color, and can be picked up near the end of the growing season for reasonable prices. Trees can help establish boundaries, and if you live near forests seedlings can easily be transplanted.
With some careful planning, you can revamp your yard on a budget and give your buyer one more good reason why this should be their new home.
