Landscaping Topics for MN
Landscaping, A Sure Investment
In this economy, you may be wondering what is the best home improvement from your pocketbook’s standpoint. Here at Backyard Reflections, Inc., we want to show you that a high quality landscape is a smart long term property investment. A study in Lubbock, Texas, published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture, evaluated 75 homes and concluded that every dollar invested in landscaping returns $1.35 - or a 35% return on investment. The same study found that having high quality landscape compared to an average home increases the sales price of the home by 5.7 percent. This number jumped to a 10.8% increase in the value of a home when comparing an excellent quality landscape to an average landscape. According to a MONEY magazine story on home renovations, “not all improvements will increase the value of a house by the amount they cost to perform.” Landscaping, however, according to their research, has a recovery value of 100% to 200% “if it is well done and harmonizes with foliage nearby.” This compares to a recovery value of 75-125% for a kitchen remodel, 80-120% for a bathroom, and 20-50% for a swimming pool. For all of us looking to extend our homes 
with “outdoor rooms” and to decorate them with attractive plants, outdoor furniture, and appealing features and ornaments, it is very reassuring to know that the time and money we invest will not only give us pleasure but also increase the value of our greatest personal asset. According to this poll, 95% of the residential homeowners believe that good landscaping adds value to their homes; 86% of commercial property owners feel the same about their commercial properties. BobVilla.com says the biggest landscaping mistake is to piecemeal it together. Landscaping without a plan can give your property a disjointed look. Even if you want to do the work yourself, hire a landscape designer to create a plan for you. Then you can follow the plan as you are able to afford the investments.
Pavers: Stable and Green!
The concept of tightly fitted paving units on a granular base is very old. History records that the first segmental roads were built about 5,000 years ago by the Minoans. The Romans built the first interstate system with segmental pavement over 2,000 years ago. Since then, practically every culture continues to use segmental pavements. Pavers have thousands of years behind them to prove their stability.
In addition to being a durable product, pavers fit into our current needs of being environmentally friendly. Stormwater management systems that use permeable pavers and subsurface retention spaces can reduce water runoff by 90 percent or more, helping keep pollutants out of streams and rivers and replenishing ground water. A properly installed storm water management system using permeable pavers meets the storm water management and pollutant discharge requirements of the Clean Water Act - and lends your driveway, sidewalk or other landscaped surface a unique appearance.