Landscaping Mistakes That Hurt Home Value

Your landscape sets the tone for your home. A well-kept yard can impress buyers before they even step inside, but the wrong choices can work against you. Many homeowners unknowingly make landscaping decisions that lower curb appeal, create future maintenance headaches, and even decrease property value.

A poorly planned landscape can turn away buyers, reduce curb appeal, and lower your home’s market value. Common mistakes include overgrown plants, poor lawn maintenance, excessive hardscaping, and choosing the wrong plant varieties. Correcting these issues not only improves your property’s look but can also boost resale value.

Professional Landscaping Services if You are in Rowley, Ipswich & Nearby

Your yard is one of your home’s biggest value boosters but only if it’s maintained and designed with care. At McLaughlin Bros. Landscaping, Inc., we help homeowners avoid costly mistakes and create landscapes that attract buyers and increase property value. We are serving Rowley, Ipswich, Newburyport, Newbury, Topsfield, Essex & South HamiltonCall 508-801-2841 or visit Contact-us page to schedule your service.

Quick Overview: How Landscaping Affects Property Value

Landscaping is one of the most visible home upgrades you can make, but not all landscaping improves value. In fact, poor design choices, lack of upkeep, or over-customization can do more harm than good.

Here’s why landscaping matters:

• Buyers form first impressions in seconds.

• Appraisers factor landscaping into a home’s value.

• Poor yard care can make buyers assume the rest of the home is neglected.

The good news? Avoiding a few common errors keeps your property looking market-ready year-round. (Which we have discussed below)

How Much Does Landscaping Increase Property Value

Well-designed landscaping doesn’t just make your home look better it can deliver a significant financial return. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 2023 Remodeling Impact Report, a standard yard upgrade can recover 100% or more of its cost at resale. In many markets, strategic landscaping improvements can boost property value by 5–15%, with luxury outdoor features in high-demand neighborhoods pushing that increase closer to 20%.

Even real estate buyers notice the difference. Gregory Asuncion of Boston Investors, cash home buyer in Boston, MA recently shared how well-kept landscaping often strengthens their offers when purchasing homes directly from sellers. While they buy houses in as-is condition, a property with clean, appealing outdoor spaces can create a better first impression, helping both sides feel confident in the deal. And for homeowners who want to enhance their yard before selling, McLaughlin Bros. Landscaping, Inc., offers professional upgrades that can directly contribute to higher offers.

Your actual return depends on factors like:

• The quality and style of your landscaping design.

• How well it matches your home’s value tier and neighborhood.

• Maintenance levels - buyers prefer yards that look good without excessive upkeep.

Understanding these numbers helps explain why avoiding the mistakes below is so important. The more you protect your curb appeal, the more you protect your property’s resale potential.

7 Landscaping Mistakes That Hurt Home Value

Here are the 7 most important mistakes that can hurt your residential value:

1. Neglecting Regular Lawn Maintenance

A patchy, weed-filled lawn is more than just an eyesore  it signals neglect. Buyers and appraisers often judge a property’s overall care by its front yard. Tall grass blocks sunlight from reaching the soil, weakening turf and allowing weeds to thrive. Poor lawn health can also invite pests, from beetles to rodents, which adds another layer of concern for potential buyers. Once weeds dominate, restoration costs climb quickly, making the home less appealing and harder to sell at full price.

Fix: Mow regularly at the right height for your grass type, overseed bare patches, and schedule seasonal lawn treatments to keep turf lush and uniform.

2. Choosing Plants That Outgrow the Space

A towering tree planted too close to the house might look charming at first  until its roots crack the driveway or branches block sunlight from living room windows. Oversized plants can also hide key architectural features, making the home feel smaller or less inviting from the street. Worse, removing mature trees or shrubs can cost thousands. Buyers factor these future headaches into their offers, often lowering the price to cover potential removal costs.

Fix: Choose species that fit the scale of your yard and position them with their mature size in mind. When in doubt, consult a local landscaper who understands plant growth patterns in your climate.

3. Ignoring Seasonal Clean-Ups

Landscaping isn’t a “set it and forget it” job each season brings its own maintenance needs. Fall leaves left to rot can smother grass and invite mold. Winter debris can damage shrubs, and spring weeds sprout fast if beds aren’t prepped. An otherwise attractive yard can lose its appeal if it only looks good in summer. Buyers notice these gaps, especially if they view the home in an off-season.  Fix: Plan quarterly clean-ups to handle leaves, prune plants, and refresh mulch. Incorporate evergreens or seasonal color to keep curb appeal strong year-round.

4. Overdoing Hardscaping

A spacious patio or stone walkway can boost value  but paving over most of the yard creates a cold, uninviting space. Excess hardscaping limits greenery, reduces shade, and can make the property feel smaller. In hot climates, too much stone or concrete also traps heat, making outdoor areas less comfortable. Buyers often prefer a balance between usable hard space and soft, green landscaping.  Fix: Maintain at least 50–60% of your outdoor space as living greenery. Mix stonework with grass, shrubs, and trees to create a balanced, inviting design.

5. Poor Drainage Solutions

Pooling water after rain isn’t just inconvenient it’s a red flag for buyers and home inspectors. Improper grading or missing drainage can lead to soil erosion, plant death, slippery walkways, and even foundation damage. Fixing drainage after purchase can be costly, often involving excavation or regrading.

Fix: Grade the landscape so water flows away from the home, extend downspouts, and install French drains or swales in problem areas. A well-drained yard looks healthier and reassures buyers.

6. Blocking the Home’s Best Features

A front porch hidden behind overgrown shrubs or trees may seem cozy, but it hides the home’s character. Buyers rely on curb appeal to form emotional connections  if they can’t see the architecture, they can’t appreciate it. Dense hedges can also create safety concerns by blocking sightlines to doors or windows.

Fix: Trim and shape plants so they frame the home instead of covering it. Use lower-profile greenery near focal points like the entryway, and keep tall trees for framing the property edges.

7. Skipping Edging and Border Definition

Even the healthiest lawn can look untidy without clear borders. When grass bleeds into flower beds or paths, it signals a lack of attention to detail. Buyers often view this as extra work they’ll need to take on, which can subtly reduce perceived value.

Fix: Define all lawn and garden edges with crisp lines, whether through manual edging, paver borders, or natural stone. This small step instantly upgrades the yard’s appearance and shows pride in maintenance.

Should You DIY or Hire a Professional Landscaper?

While DIY projects can save money upfront, they’re not always the best choice for preserving property value. Professionals bring expertise in plant selection, drainage solutions, and long-term maintenance planning. This prevents costly mistakes, ensures code compliance, and keeps your yard looking market-ready year-round.

How Much Landscaping Mistakes Can Really Cost You

Even minor landscaping oversights can significantly dent your home's perceived value - often more than the work or cost itself. A 2021 survey by Trees.com found that a staggering 78% of real estate agents say poor landscaping and hardscaping negatively impact property value. Specifically, 24% reported a 10% drop, 22% estimated 20%, and 18% said 30% or more of the home’s value could be lost due to neglected outdoor spaces. (southernliving.com, members.aagla.org)

On a brighter note, adding even a single healthy tree can drive value up: about 20% of agents: said one tree in the front yard could increase home value by 30% or more according to trees.com article. 

Real-world example:Removing mature trees or replacing poorly placed plants often costs $1,500–$5,000, an avoidable expense with proper planning costs that directly cut into your home’s net profit at sale.

Final Takeaway

Landscaping isn’t just about looks, it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in your property. Well-planned, well-maintained outdoor spaces can add 5–15% or more to your home’s value, while neglected yards or poor design choices can lower offers and keep a property on the market longer.

The formula is simple: choose plants that fit your space, maintain your lawn and borders year-round, and design a yard that feels welcoming and functional. Avoiding the common mistakes above not only saves you from costly fixes but also ensures your landscaping works as a selling point instead of a setback.

Even local property buyers, such as Boston Investors buying as-is in Massachusetts, recognize the impact. While they purchase homes in as-is condition, they’ve seen how attractive landscaping can strengthen offers by creating an immediate, positive impression.

For homeowners in Rowley, Ipswich, Newburyport, Newbury, Topsfield, Essex, and South Hamilton, McLaughlin Bros. Landscaping, Inc. delivers professional design and maintenance that boosts curb appeal, protects value, and helps your home stand out in any market.