6 min readHaving your own outdoor retreat is one of life’s true pleasures. It sets the scene for laid-back picnics, milestone celebrations, or simply stretching out with a good book. And just like your home’s interior and façade, the condition of your backyard can significantly influence your property’s overall value. That doesn’t mean you need to rush into installing an elaborate water feature, tearing out your concrete patio, or overhauling your landscaping before listing your home. It does mean, however, that dedicating a bit of extra attention to your yard this season can pay off—whether you’re planning to sell or staying put. Enhancing your outdoor space benefits both your lifestyle and your home’s worth.
We turned to several landscaping experts for their best advice on projects that can be tackled in about a month, and they delivered plenty of inspiration. From approachable DIY upgrades to larger-scale professional improvements, the ideas ahead can elevate any yard, no matter its size. These updates won’t just enhance curb appeal and potential resale value—they’ll also make coming home feel that much sweeter.
Additional copy by Stefanie Waldek.
Update Your Shed
Roger Seifter, a partner at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, says his biggest tip for creating a beautiful, expressive garden is to remember that even the most utilitarian-feeling areas can be transformed. Your outdoor space, even if it doesn’t yet feel lush, can still achieve the look you want, and it should feel intentional and well-designed.
“My own driveway is a narrow strip of asphalt that runs between the north side of our house and a fairly utilitarian garden shed,” Seifter says. “We dressed up the shed with a cedar shake roof and painted the walls in colors to match our Queen Anne house—an eye-extending trick if you’re looking at the house and shed from the side.” While a new shed roof can be an investment, it makes a huge visual difference. And, on the flip side, paint is one of the most affordable ways to change up the look and feel of an exterior—or interior, for that matter!
Install an Elegant Trellis
For something that’s relatively quick to put up but doesn’t provide instant gratification, consider setting up a garden trellis. This elegant garden staple can be more subtle or bold, depending on the style and the plants you choose to grow beside it. Not only does a trellis add visual interest to your backyard, but it also creates a beautiful privacy wall from nosy neighbors.
Seifter installed a six-foot-tal that extends about 25 feet along two sides of his outdoor shed and along the pavement. He and his team planted clematis to climb the trellis, with a continuous border of hydrangeas along the bottom. “The trellis itself added character and established an edge to the outdoor space; the climbing vines and ground planting brought instant charm,” he says.
Add a Raised Herb Garden
Anyone with a yard and even a tiny bit of a green thumb should be growing their own herbs for use in the kitchen. Even though it serves a practical purpose, your herb garden should look just as elevated as the rest of your yard—and accomplishing that is easier than you think with a raised garden bed. "One long raised bed or container will be able to furnish fresh herbs easily," says landscape architect Janice Parker. There are many different types of beds you can opt for, from wooden to steel, to suit the style of your home.
You can even find a ready-to-go kit that does the prep work for you. "The nice thing about a do-it-yourself raised bed kit or planter is that you can put it in the area of your garden where you will get the most sun and where it will be easy to water," Parker adds. While she suggests buying small herbs from a nursery rather than starting from seed, it's definitely possible to grow thriving herbs that way.
Invest in a Fire Bowl
For a relatively quick yard addition, Parker suggests adding a fire bowl to your landscape, especially if you have a smaller yard. "These features are typically gas burning, which is a big plus if you want easy clean up," Parker says. "Plus, they come in a wide variety of sculptural styles that can really enhance your landscape design aesthetic."
Such additions can be seen as functional pieces of art for your outdoor space. But don't forget practical considerations. Parker emphasizes the importance of placing it close enough to the house (without it being a hazard) so you can still reach the WiFi!
Create Rock Borders
Karl Wahlberg of Borst Landscape & Design suggests putting in a river rock installation for an easy landscaping idea that can be completed in less than a month. "River rock controls any soil erosion, especially in the seasons of heavy rain, and helps prevent weeds," he explains. Plus, river rock borders are pretty low-maintenance, and the natural material goes beautifully with any landscape.
Plant a Pollinator Garden
"Installing a pollinator garden is a colorful way to make a positive contribution to the environment," says Deandra Hanke, another expert from Borst Landscape & Design. Choosing to plant species native to your location doesn't just result in a beautiful yard, but it also promotes biodiversity and creates vital food sources for birds and insects.
Install a Privacy Screen
Nosy neighbors exist everywhere—no one wants to be hanging out with their family or friends in their backyard and see their neighbor watching from their own property. Thankfully, green privacy "screens"—created by a row of trees or bushes that block an area from view—can go up a lot faster than you might think. Hanke points out that while installing a privacy border is a larger project, it can easily take less than a month to complete. "Options range from Arborvitae privacy trees to Skip Laurel shrubs, allowing for total privacy to be established in just a few days, depending on the size of your property," she adds.
Plot Beautiful Pathways
The walkways in your yard and garden aren't just for practical purposes—they can provide visual interest too. "Designing transitions from a pool house with exterior hardscape, such as utilizing large-scale stone and steps and pathways, you can navigate grade changes and at the same time create an architectural solution that is softened by landscape beds," says Carol Kurth of Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors. "Details such as pebbles between the pathway joints add a modern Zen touch to the landscape and help to define the aesthetic."
Incorporate Lighting
“An element that adds drama to the landscape is integrating the usage of lighting, which further extends the use of your landscape into the evening hours,” Kurth says. “Creating outdoor living spaces and finding ways to navigate tricky terrain expands your home’s livable footprint, provides enjoyment, and blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.” Remember: You can do this fairly easily with solar-powered lighting!
Plant a Low-Maintenance, Sustainable Garden
"Landscaping is that silent ambassador that speaks volumes about your home, creating that crucial first impression," says Gagan Saini, director of acquisitions at JiT Home Buyers. "An artfully landscaped garden is the X factor that significantly uplifts your property's value." But many potential buyers aren’t going to want to put in too much effort to care for the garden, so low-maintenance features such as irrigation systems can help boost your home's value.
"Here's something most people don’t know: Sustainable landscaping practices can significantly increase property value," says landscape architect Bryan Clayton. "By implementing water-efficient irrigation systems, using native plantings, and opting for organic fertilizers, you demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. This appeals to environmentally conscious buyers and adds an extra layer of value."
Develop Outdoor Living Spaces
Indoor-outdoor living is all the rage, even in four-season destinations, so you'll want to build out an alfresco space for day-to-day use. The key is not to go overboard—just keep it simple. "If you're designing for enjoyment now and ROI later, just think of adaptable, functional elements," says design director Kevin Lenhart of the online landscape design site Yardzen. "In other words, focus on functional features like a fire pit area or flexible space like a patio, deck, or outdoor dining area that's adaptable to many potential buyers versus very personalized features like a putting green, elaborate water feature, or built-in pizza oven."
Make Difficult Terrain Usable
If you have a hilly property, go the extra mile to add retaining walls to create usable outdoor space. "Creating and revitalizing spaces with complicated terrain can transform an underutilized space and elevate a home in terms of enjoyment, lifestyle, and property value," Kurth says.
Keep Up With Maintenance
This may sound obvious, but when you’re ready to list your home—or just to start entertaining outside—be sure all your landscaping is impeccably maintained. Remember: First impressions are everything, and it's all too easy to let landscaping get away from you. "Proper landscape maintenance is essential. Well-maintained lawns, trimmed hedges, and weed-free gardens contribute to a polished and cared-for appearance," Clayton says.
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