Homeowners in the Sunshine State know a thing or two about warm weather. Spring is just another season that offers optimal plant growth along with mild temperatures. Caring for your landscaping in the spring can be a bit more complicated when trying to sell your home. Check out these spring landscaping tips for Florida homeowners that are sure to attract potential buyers.
Keep It Mowed
Mowing the lawn properly and on a regular basis is an essential part of improving the curb appeal of your home. You should mow the grass every week at a minimum. You may have to mow more often if a recent rainstorm has boosted grass growth. Using a pole edger or weed eater to edge the lawn is another basic lawn care task that keeps a yard looking manicured. Consider hiring a local professional if the lawn maintenance becomes too much to do between showings. A well-trimmed lawn will boost curb appeal and show potential buyers that you care for every aspect of your home.
Care for Bare Spots
Photo: John Kaminski
Some lawns don’t come out of winter unscathed. There are plenty of reasons why a yard will have bare spots or thinning grass. Sometimes the grass fails due to too much water or foot traffic while other times a common lawn disease can take hold. Knowing how to spot these problem areas in the lawn, and treating them, is essential in making your yard look great. Look for telltale signs of disease with circular patterns or unusual spotting in the grass. Identify what is causing the bare spot and address the issue quickly.
Clean Up Debris
Although winter isn’t particularly cold in Florida, it does bring some issues to the landscaping. Take care of your lawn by picking up those branches, twigs, and debris that may have fallen or blown into the lawn over winter. Check out all areas of the yard and throw away any trash that may have gotten stuck between branches or under plants.
Green It Up
Florida lawns need constant energy throughout the year. Consider adding fertilizer to your yard to help boost the color and encourage healthy growth. Feeding the lawn will help fill in thinned areas. If you use a quick-release fertilizer, be certain to follow package recommendations. The last thing you want is a burned spot because you've added too much of a good thing. Due to the risk of water pollution, Polk County has also enacted fertilizer regulations.
Add Organic Mulch
Spread a thick layer of organic mulch, like bark dust, around your landscaping tokick your curb appeal up a notch or two. Mulch helps create an updated and modern look that can help boost the yard's appearance. Mulch offers also cuts down on weed growth to make for more manageable landscaping during the busy spring selling season. Don’t forget to surround trees and large plants in the yard as well.
Add Some Color
Native Florida flowers will add the finishing touches to your yard, and most require little care. Plants such as milkweed and purple coneflowers will attract butterflies, bees — and potential homebuyers — to your yard. Red sage and firebrush make great borders along the walkways.
Staying on top of the yard work is an integral part of selling your Florida home. Potential buyers will appreciate the time and energy that you put into your landscaping. They're also more likely to picture themselves enjoying the yard in the future. Consider these spring landscaping tips for Florida homeowners when putting your home on the market.
Courtesy of Susan Mackey
Lawnstarter
Susan Mackey is an interior designer and home stager as well as a freelance writer who focuses on the latest home fashion trends. She loves taking older homes and turning them into the envy of the neighborhood.
Posted by Florida Realty Marketplace on
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