By Bob Silverman
It’s not just the beaches and sunshine that attract people to the great state of Florida. Your home is a selling point too, especially when buyers see how today’s landscaping trends highlight the value of living in the Sunshine State. The best part of a well-sculpted, native plant landscape is how much time and effort you won’t have to put into it.
Improving the landscaping of your Palm Coast home will make it sell faster. Along with shade and privacy, a well-designed, low-maintenance landscape is a great investment in today’s real estate market.
Landscaping can add thousands of dollars to the value of your property. But it’s more than planting a few trees here and there. Manicured designs, mature trees, and the diversity of native plants make up a nice ecosystem to attract birds, bees, and butterflies.
Trends in Landscaping
High-Tech
Landscaping isn’t just about the greenery anymore; it’s now gone high-tech. Cell phone apps control outdoor lighting, swimming pool heaters, patio awnings, and barbecues. Artificial Intelligence and voice-to-text now do what we used to do by hand. “Siri, turn on the light.” “Alexa, lock the door.”
Lawn Patterns
Source
Your lawn is likely made up of warm-season grasses like Zoysia or St. Augustine. Spicing up the sod with cut patterns in the turf is a fun way to bring attention to the yard. Rolling and striping kits are available at your local hardware store, so jump on your riding mower and get creative!
Privacy is Paramount
Privacy is a big part of Florida backyard living, especially if you have a swimming pool. Tall living walls, privacy screens, high hedges, and thickly growing gardens are nice around the patio or deck areas. Waterfalls bring lulling sounds of serenity to the living space.
Outdoor Amenities
.jpg){kind=link}
Source
Gazebos and pergolas made of wood or steel add to backyard living. Hang a few flower baskets and pieces of thin, veil material over slatted roofs. Paver stones let friends visit the yard without stepping in the grass.
Celebrating Florida’s Own
Source
Healthy ecosystems start with plants that adapt well to Florida’s soil and climate. Native florals and greenery are the best choices for your front and back yards. Native plants don’t need a lot of water and are resistant to most diseases and damaging insects.
Some of Florida’s most popular landscape plants are
- Crape myrtles (perennial shrub or tree)
- Azalea (perennial shrub)
- Juniper (perennial evergreen tree)
- Salvia (flower)
- Tickseed coreopsis (flower)
- Black-eyed Susan (flower)
- Coral honeysuckle (flower)
Native plants can handle the extreme heat and humidity in summer. They are hardy enough to survive heavy rainfall and severe droughts. Place a park bench, birdbath, hanging feeder, and suncatcher near the flower garden for a place to sit and reflect.
Rain Gardens
Palm Coast neighborhoods have a variety of land types, from waterfront to full landmass. If your property is close to a lake or inlet, there may be poor water drainage in the yard (especially after a hard rainfall). Rain gardens reduce erosion and lessen (or prevent) stormwater runoff to nearby watersheds. They puddle enough to attract thirsty birds, butterflies, and wildlife. Good flowering plants for your Florida rain garden?
- Swamp sunflower
- Spider lily
- Blue flag iris
- Goldenrod
- Milkweed
Add some ornamental grasses like muhly, gamma, and wiregrass. Wax myrtle, buttonbush, and Virginia willow shrubs will also thrive in your rain garden.
Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when visiting your home. Spend a few bucks now, reap the rewards later.
Bob Silverman is a freelance writer living on Florida’s Gold Coast. He enjoys gardening and volleyball, reading, and cruising the beach towns in his restored 1966 Ford Mustang convertible.