10 Landscaping Projects That Increase Home Value

Key Takeaways:

• Basic lawn care and landscape maintenance return the most for each dollar spent.
• A front walkway with new plantings, a paver patio, and an outdoor kitchen each recover close to their full cost at resale.
• Landscape lighting, fire features, and in-ground pools recover less than 60% of their cost.
• Design quality and plant size add more perceived value than the number of plants.
• A licensed, experienced landscaper with a clear plan gives you the best chance of getting your money back.

Does Landscaping Really Increase Home Value?

Yes, when you choose the right projects. Buyers form an opinion about a home before they walk through the front door. A healthy lawn, defined planting beds, and a clean path to the entry tell buyers that the owner took care of the property.

Research from Virginia Cooperative Extension found that a well-designed landscape raised perceived home value by 5.5% to 11.4% compared with a home that had only a lawn, depending on the state. In a related Michigan study, the gap between the least valued and most valued landscape was 12.7%. Design sophistication ranked as the top factor, followed by plant size.

The same research found that very minimal landscapes with small plants can lower perceived value. More money does not always mean more value. A good plan matters more.

Cost Recovery at a Glance

The National Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of Landscape Professionals publish a Remodeling Impact Report on outdoor features. Landscape professionals estimated what each project costs, and REALTORS® estimated how much of that cost a seller gets back. The 2023 numbers are below.

Project	Typical cost	Share of cost recovered at sale
Standard lawn care program	$415	217%
Landscape maintenance	$4,800	104%
Outdoor kitchen	$15,000	100%
Overall landscape upgrade (front walkway and plantings)	$9,000	100%
New paver patio	$10,500	95%
New wood deck	$16,900	89%
Tree care	Varies	87%
Irrigation system	$6,000	83%
Landscape lighting	$6,800	59%
Fire feature	$9,000	56%
In-ground pool	$90,000	56%

Costs in your area will differ. Use these figures to compare projects with each other, not as a quote for your yard. Our article on online price ranges vs. contractor quotes explains why local prices can vary so much.

1. A Professional Lawn Care Program

A thick, green, weed-free lawn is the cheapest way to raise curb appeal. The NAR report describes a standard program as six seasonal fertilizer or weed control treatments on a 5,000-square-foot lawn. That program costs about $415 and recovers more than twice its cost at sale.

What a lawn care program usually includes:

• Spring pre-emergent weed control
• Fertilizer applications through the growing season
• Spot treatment for broadleaf weeds
• Fall fertilization to strengthen roots before winter

If your lawn has bare patches, ask about core aeration and overseeding in early fall. Cool-season grasses common in the Midwest recover best when you seed in late August through September.

2. Landscape Maintenance and Fresh Planting Beds

Landscape maintenance covers the basics: mulch, mowing, pruning, and seasonal color. The NAR report's sample project included mowing, pruning shrubs, fresh mulch, and about 60 perennials or annuals for around $4,800. It recovered slightly more than its cost.

Simple steps with a big visual effect:

• Edge every bed with a clean, sharp line
• Refresh mulch to a depth of two to three inches
• Prune shrubs away from windows and walkways
• Remove dead plants and fill gaps with perennials
• Add seasonal color near the front entry

This is the first project to consider if you plan to sell within a year.

3. A Front Yard Upgrade With a Walkway and New Plantings

The NAR report's overall landscape upgrade included a natural flagstone front walkway, two stone planters, five flowering shrubs, and a 15-foot tree. It cost about $9,000 and recovered its full cost.

The front walk is the path every buyer takes. A cracked concrete walk or a narrow strip of stepping stones makes a weak first impression. A wider walkway in natural stone or pavers, framed by layered plantings, gives the entry a finished look.

Tips for a front yard upgrade:

• Make the walkway at least four feet wide so two people can walk side by side
• Use plants of different heights, with taller shrubs near the house and lower plants near the path
• Choose plants that fit the space at maturity, so they do not block windows in five years
• Repeat a small number of plant varieties for a cleaner design

4. A Paver Patio

A patio adds usable living space. The NAR sample was an 18-by-16-foot concrete paver patio at about $10,500, with an estimated 95% cost recovery.

Pavers cost more than poured concrete upfront, but they handle freeze-thaw cycles well and are easy to repair. A cracked paver can come out and go back in. A cracked slab needs patching or full replacement.

What to ask a landscaper about a patio:

• How deep is the gravel base, and how will you compact it?
• What slope will you build in for drainage away from the house?
• What edge restraint will hold the pavers in place?
• Does the price include polymeric sand and sealing?

Poor base preparation is the most common reason patios sink and shift. A good contractor will explain the base in detail.

5. An Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen recovered 100% of its cost in the NAR report. The sample project included a built-in grill, stainless steel drawers, an ice chest sink, and a concrete countertop with stone veneer for about $15,000.

Outdoor kitchens make the most sense when you already have a patio and use it often. Plan for:

• A gas line or propane setup for the grill
• Electrical outlets that meet outdoor code requirements
• A water line and drain if you add a sink
• A location close enough to the house for easy trips to the indoor kitchen

Gas, electrical, and plumbing work usually needs permits. Our guide to permits and contractors explains how to confirm your project meets local rules.

6. A New Wood Deck

A new wood deck recovered about 89% of its $16,900 cost in the NAR report. Decks work well on sloped lots and for homes with a raised back door.

A deck needs more upkeep than a patio. Wood decks need cleaning and sealing every few years. Composite boards cost more upfront but need less maintenance. Most deck projects need a building permit, and the ledger connection to the house must meet code to prevent water damage and structural failure.

7. Tree Planting and Tree Care

Mature trees add character that buyers notice right away. Tree care, such as pruning and removing dead or hazardous limbs, recovered about 87% of its cost in the NAR report.

Trees also affect your energy bills. Deciduous trees on the west and east sides of a home block hot afternoon and morning sun in summer, then let light through after they drop their leaves in fall. Evergreens on the north and northwest sides can block cold winter winds.

Tips for trees:

• Plant large trees at least 15 to 20 feet from the foundation
• Keep trees away from sewer lines, septic fields, and overhead power lines
• Choose species suited to your climate and soil
• Hire a certified arborist for large pruning jobs or removals near the house

Always call 811 before you dig so the utility companies can mark buried lines.

8. An Irrigation System

An in-ground irrigation system cost about $6,000 and recovered 83% in the NAR report. Irrigation keeps the lawn and beds healthy through dry stretches in July and August, and it saves you time.

Modern systems use smart controllers that adjust watering based on weather and soil moisture. Drip lines in planting beds put water at the roots and waste less than spray heads. Ask your landscaper about a backflow preventer, which many water utilities require, and a plan to winterize the system each fall.

9. Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting recovered about 59% of its $6,800 cost. It does not pay back like a patio, but it adds safety and makes the home look inviting in evening listing photos and showings.

Focus lighting on:

• The front walkway and steps
• The front entry and house numbers
• One or two feature trees or architectural details
• Patio and deck edges

Low-voltage LED systems use little energy and last for years.

10. A Fire Feature

A fire pit or outdoor fireplace recovered about 56% of its $9,000 cost. Buyers like the idea, but it does not raise sale prices much. Build one if your family will use it. A simple fire pit set into a paver patio costs far less than a full masonry fireplace and gives you most of the same enjoyment.

Check local rules before you build. Some cities limit open burning or set minimum distances from structures and property lines.

What About a Pool?

An in-ground pool has the lowest cost recovery on the list, at about 56% of a $90,000 project. In the Midwest, a pool sits unused for half the year, and some buyers see it as a maintenance burden or a safety concern. Install a pool for your own enjoyment and treat any resale value as a bonus.

Projects That Protect Value: Grading and Drainage

Grading and drainage do not show up on cost recovery lists, but they protect everything else. Water that flows toward the foundation can lead to wet basements, cracked foundations, and failed patios.

Signs you need drainage work:

• Standing water near the foundation after rain
• Soil that slopes toward the house
• Downspouts that empty right next to the foundation
• Erosion or bare spots where water runs off

A landscaper can regrade soil, extend downspouts, install a French drain, or build a rain garden. Fix drainage before you install patios or planting beds.

How to Get the Best Return on Landscaping

• Start with a plan. A University of Florida study found that results varied widely between landscaping projects of similar cost, and a good plan was a major factor in the outcome.
• Fix the basics first. Lawn, beds, and pruning cost the least and return the most.
• Focus on the front yard if you plan to sell. Buyers see the front first.
• Choose larger plants for key spots. Plant size adds perceived value.
• Match the neighborhood. A $40,000 backyard in a neighborhood of modest homes will not pay back.
• Hire for quality. Poor base work and the wrong plants lead to repairs. Read why a low bid can end up costing more.

How to Choose a Landscaper

Before you sign a contract, check:

• Proof of insurance, plus any license your city or state requires for the work
• Photos of similar completed projects
• References from recent customers
• A written estimate with materials, quantities, and a timeline
• Plant warranty terms
• Who handles permits and the 811 utility locate

Ask how the landscaper will protect your lawn and driveway during the project and how they handle cleanup.

Get Matched With a Top Landscaper in Your Area

Finding a landscaper who shows up, communicates clearly, and does quality work can take weeks of calls. My Licensed Contractor makes it simple. Describe your project once, whether it is a new patio, a front yard makeover, or a full drainage fix, and get matched with the best 5% of landscapers in your area.

Submit your landscaping project on My Licensed Contractor and connect with a screened, top-rated landscaper near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which landscaping project adds the most value?

Based on cost recovery, a standard lawn care program returns the most for each dollar. Landscape maintenance, a front walkway upgrade, and a paver patio also recover all or nearly all of their cost.

How much should I spend on landscaping before selling?

Start with low-cost projects that make the biggest visual change: lawn care, fresh mulch, pruning, and seasonal color. Larger projects make sense if the yard has obvious problems, such as a broken walkway or poor drainage.

Is a patio or a deck a better investment?

In the 2023 NAR report, a paver patio recovered about 95% of its cost and a wood deck recovered about 89%. A patio also needs less maintenance. A deck makes more sense on a sloped lot or a home with a raised back door.

Do trees increase property value?

Yes. Mature trees improve curb appeal and can lower cooling costs when you plant them on the right side of the house. Tree care recovered about 87% of its cost in the NAR report.

When is the best time to start a landscaping project?

Plan in winter and book early. Spring and early fall are the best seasons for planting. Hardscape projects such as patios and walkways can happen any time the ground is not frozen.

Do I need a permit for landscaping work?

Planting and basic maintenance usually do not need permits. Decks, retaining walls over a certain height, gas lines, electrical work, and major grading often do. Check with your local building department or ask your landscaper to handle it.