Although many homeowners landscape their properties for the aesthetic appeal they enjoy, landscaping is actually important for many more reasons. Did you know that a well-landscaped house can add 20% more value to your property, fetching a higher price when you want to sell? It adds value simply because of its curb appeal. There are many more reasons, however, to have a professionally landscaped lawn and garden.
Landscaping is healthier for you and for the environment. As anyone who has ever gone barefoot knows, it’s a lot cooler to walk on grass than to walk on paved surfaces. Just having ground covering, shrubs, and trees in your yard actually keeps the area cooler. This cooler environment helps lower your air conditioning needs in the summer. Strategically placed trees on the western and southern sides of a house can provide shade and lower attic temperatures by as much as 40 degrees. They also reduce glare, which not only causes discomfort to the eyes, but may actually harm them. Trees and bushes also help reduce energy usage by blocking cold winds in the winter. However, they must be placed strategically to ensure they don’t increase energy use by blocking out warm sunlight in the winter or preventing cool breezes in the summer. Professional landscapers can advise the best tree placement.
All vegetation helps rid the air of carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. But trees are like super-heroes. Through a process called photosynthesis, leaves pull in carbon dioxide and water and convert this into chemical compounds that feed the plants. As a by-product of that chemical reaction oxygen is produced and released. Some studies suggest that a large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people! By helping to filter the air and removing carbon dioxide, trees and other plants help purify the environment. Although they can’t really cancel out your car’s emissions, as some suggest, they do contribute to helping the environment, the stability of the soil, and also of course, the beauty of your property.
Grounds covered by trees and other vegetation also help keep our groundwater, and therefore, our drinking water, free of pollutants. They act as stormwater runoff buffers, reducing the flow of sediments and pollutants such as fertilizers and animal waste to nearby bodies of water. They prevent soil erosion. However, for some properties, vegetation alone is not enough to protect against this. In those cases, lovely rain gardens or retention ponds, using plants native to the environment will prevent erosion due to larger drainage problems.
One pitfall to avoid when deciding to landscape is to lack a coherent plan. Often a property owner will begin a project and do it piecemeal so that in the end, there is an assortment of vegetation that looks very disorganized. The biggest factor that home buyers look for is a sophisticated design that looks well thought out. This is where a professional landscaping company can make a big difference. There is no substitute for years of professional study and experience to plan and execute a beautiful and orderly looking yard within your budget. They will assess your property and help you choose which vegetation is best suited to your lifestyle and region.
And if gardening is not your cup of tea, a professional can choose low-maintenance plants for your garden. Although it is rare that Maryland ever experiences a severe drought, Y&L Landscaping can also design gardens using vegetation that needs a minimum of water, reducing expenses for water consumption.
A professional landscaper will be able to guide you on what is best for your property. With a combined 75 years of experience, let the professionals at Y&L Landscaping design the most efficient and beautiful property for your needs. Y&L Landscaping is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), and the Maryland Nursery Landscape and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA)
