4 Low-Lift, High Reward Trends Landscaping Professionals Love

It’s true that what’s on the inside counts — except when you’re selling a home. To potential buyers, a home’s curb appeal is often the first factor that turns “I like this house” into “I absolutely need this house!” (The backyard’s definitely important, too.) And while there are many ways to catch the eye of a passerby — or late-night Zillow lurker — landscaping should be a key component of your strategy.

But let’s be honest: The thought of spending a ton of time, money, and energy zhuzhing up your home’s exterior is probably less appealing than, well, anything you could be doing outside. Thankfully, the newest trend in landscaping is here to help: Super-easy moves that’ll spruce up your yard without requiring a ton of maintenance. Don’t believe me? I talked to some professionals for their best tips and tricks: Here, their favorite four.

“When the weather outside is perfect, people can never turn down two words: fire pit,” says John Lynch, founder and president of Lynch Landscaping in Norridgewock, Maine. 

Not only are fire pits are great for entertaining, making s’mores, and simply enjoying the warmth of a crackling fire, Lynch says, but they’re also pretty good for increasing your home’s value. According to a 2018 joint analysis from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape professionals, fire pits can recoup 67 percent of their build cost when the home’s sold.

Additionally, they’re pretty simple to DIY and, according to Lynch, can cost as little as $400, depending on the materials you use.

If you weren’t born with a green thumb, consider xeriscaping: a form of water conservation-focused landscaping that’s based on seven principles. According to John Riggs, founder of West Texas-based Lawn John, there are no complicated tools required. All you need to pull off this effortless aesthetic is mulch or soil, rocks, drought-tolerant and/or native plants, and a shovel.

Still seem like too much work? You can call what some people call “zero-scaping,” which is essentially the same concept as xeriscaping—but with fewer plants. There’s also “no-scaping,” which uses no plants at all!

Prefer a lush looking exterior but can’t remember to water your plants to save your life? Landscape using plants that need little to no watering. Mike Falahee, owner and CEO of Midwest-based Marygrove Awnings, suggests sprawling vines or perennial flowering plants and shrubs that will come back year after year. 

Ariel Richardson, interior designer and founder of ASR Design Studio in San Diego recommends planting easy-to-care for herbs, too. Not only do they look pretty, but you can use them in recipes and cocktails as well.

When all else fails, fake it. According to former Christopher Totaro of Warburg Realty, the easiest way to get a golf course-green lawn without the time, money, and effort is to invest in turf paint. The environmentally-friendly dye mimics the look of a well-maintained lawn, but without all that water. Think of it as like an at-home root touch up for your yard. Totaro says it’s relatively inexpensive, costing about $60 to cover 1,000 square feet.

Actually love spending time getting your hands dirty in the great outdoors? Make sure you avoid these mistakes professionals see all the time.