Gardening expert, Kendall Platt, warns of the red flag garden features that slash the value of your home by thousands – and some of these may even surprise you
There’s nothing Brits love more than a bit of nice weather, with many now enjoying the sunshine in their gardens as spring rolls back around. But one expert warns that some backyard features bring things down a notch – and could even slash your house value by £21,000.
Kendall Platt, a gardener and founder of Adventures with Flowers, claims that concrete and even using weed killer are huge no-nos when it comes to enhancing your property, while it’s also vital to keep your foliage in check. In an interview with The Sun, she explained: “Many potential buyers when faced with a garden that resembles Jumanji will feel very overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling it.
“With the price of a garden landscaper starting at between £8,000-£10,000 for a small garden (before plants) you can bet that they’ll be mentally taking that amount off their offer.”
On the surface, you may think that weed killer is vital for preventing any kind of ‘Jumanji’ situation. But Kendall suggests its use can take as much as £3,000 off your house price, as it’s dreadful for killing other non-invasive plants too.
This is generally why experts recommend using non-chemical methods to keep weeds at bay – from picking these out by hand, to smothering them with cardboard. The Royal Horticultural Society explains: “In areas containing large numbers of unwanted dandelions, cover the ground with a layer of cardboard and then a 20cm thick layer of organic matter, such as bark or wood chips.
“This will block light and prevent growth, causing the root to die. Keep soil covered for a few years to ensure this method is effective.”
However, these aren’t the only plants you need to be aware of. Kendall also suggests that overgrown trees, bushes and uncared-for plants can slash your house value by £11,000 collaboratively.
Huge trees cast a lot of shade, making it difficult for any house owner to catch some rays outside, while shabby bushes may give the impression that buying this property would be a lot of hard work.
And while concrete patios and decking may be ideal for family barbecues, these can also require some maintenance, which may be another red flag to prospective buyers. Kendall even suggests their presence may take another £7,000 off your home’s value.
“[A deck] needs yearly maintenance to stay looking good which when people have busy lives they may not be able to find the time to do,” she told the publication.
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