Returning home from a walk, a portrait stops me: our stonewall underlines the scene, still warm with the summer drapery of hydrangea vine and the skirt of dark green ferns; a curved branch of burning bush starting to color — later it will flame the hills, yet now, it’s only this subtlest trace of crimson; the arch of dogwood ‘Wolf Eyes’, sage green frosted with cream, flushed with a hint of pink; the purpling in the distance of another, larger dogwood; the red maple, one limb among its russet a brilliant scarlet flame; bright orange berries on the viburnum and the mountain ash; nearer, the oak leaf hydrangea’s olive leaves, slightly infused with wine; and another, flecks of its creamy panicles, tassels ripening on the grasses around it. It is a perfect picture of a perfect September afternoon, only lightly kissed with the taste of autumn.

If I were in the market for a home, scenes like this would help persuade me. As important as the house itself, for me, is the nature surrounding it. Perhaps more so. People select properties for different reasons. Hampton houses are selling like hot cakes – and the main attraction is simply space. After experiencing the pandemic in crowded areas, many urban dwellers want to live where there’s literally more room to breathe. Even though it’s an ideal time to sell, there are measures that increase the price, and landscaping is one of them. In a competitive housing market, landscaping distinguishes a property from others, and increases the value an estimated five to fifteen percent, depending on the extent. Average landscaping expenses ranging from $3,000 to $20,000, which could include installation of lawn, paving, trees and shrubs, as well as construction of decks, patios, walls and fences, result in a far greater return, at a significantly less cost, than renovations even to bathrooms and kitchens. And unlike most home improvements, the value of the investment increases over time as landscape elements mature.

Surveys indicate design sophistication escalates the value of the property, so consulting with a landscape architect is well worth the expense.  They are the experts on installing features that are simple and affordable while appearing professional and established. Peruse books, websites and magazines on landscape design, or drive around to find what you consider attractive on other people’s properties. Don’t make drastic and unnecessary alterations to please someone else, though. People are looking for specific things. Just like the criteria applied to the interior of the house – the amount of bedrooms, the size of the baths, a fireplace – people are interested in certain outdoor features  – a garage, a barn, a tool shed, a deck.  A pool is a plus for some owners, a liability for others.

After design sophistication, maturity is the second factor that escalates the value of the property, though homeowners can’t compensate entirely for this component. Large trees are astronomically expensive, yet it’s surprising how quickly certain varieties grow. Don’t hesitate in their purchase – trees are always a wise investment, and fall is an optimum time to plant them. And if young trees are well placed, it’s easy to imagine the eventual contribution they’ll make to the lawn. Mature shrubbery will also increase the worth of the property, especially where it forms a border. Shrubs, which also grow rapidly, are an effective, inexpensive and attractive method of ensuring privacy. If your yard already hosts mature trees and shrubs, you’re fortunate. Always work with what you have. If a tree’s limbs have become gangly, trim them; if a hedge has become choked with weeds, remove them. The rejuvenation after these simple repairs is extraordinary.

Maintenance extends to hardscaping as well. Driveways and walkways should be navigable and safe.  Elements such as decks and fences are liabilities if they’re in rough condition. These features, when new or preserved, are what elevate the landscape and make it unique – a charming split rail fence delineating the lawn, a deck extending the living space, a stonewall, even a small one, always a wise investment for its endurance and naturalness, especially in New England — they’re always in style and the return is substantial. After all of our efforts and costs in landscaping to our ultimate satisfaction, the stonewall built hundreds of years ago along the front of our property is still the most valuable component of the yard.

When you’re showing the property, make sure that the yard, like the interior of your house, is neat. Not manicured — for that implies a labor intensive fussiness – just tidy. Remove unsightly items, discarded tools and toys and other things that tend to accumulate in the process of moving. Deal with dead trees in the yard, particularly if they pose an imminent threat to the house. No one wants to rid their property of something the minute they purchase it.

Lastly, include seasonal interest that’s visible on entry. The scene I described in the beginning of the article lasted only two weeks, however other plant portraits replaced it. When designing a landscape, plan seasonally. And when the house is on the market, sprucing it up with what’s in season — autumn pumpkins and chrysanthemums, winter wreaths, window boxes and baskets of spring pansies — increase the charm and the hominess immeasurably.

Even if you’re not selling your house, it’s nice to consider the view of it – it’s the first impression visitors have. Our stonewall set the tone for us — a little mystery is always an attractive feature, and catching a glimpse of the lawn and the house through this stalwart stone fence is part of the property’s allure. We’ve exploited its prominence, incorporating stone throughout the landscape – for the sake of unity and necessity alike – in patios and paths, retaining walls, boulders, tumbles of rocks. Early in spring daffodils ramble in front of it, then azaleas burst above it, in summer hydrangea’s lace spills across the stones, in autumn, that scene described earlier fully realizes fall’s glory in the foliage crowning the stonewall, and in winter, the lamp post it hosts will glow gently against the snow, echoed in lanterns suspended from the crab apple’s branches, and candles in the windows, imparting warmth, a lit path, an invitation.