Conventional wisdom says that the first rule of curb appeal is a lush, green, beautifully landscaped lawn.

Curb appeal is often top of mind for people preparing to sell a home and that usually means an investment in landscaping. The question is, does conventional wisdom hold up in Santa Barbara, where we’re in our third year of serious drought?

At a time when driving a dirt-caked car has become a new kind of status symbol, utilities are issuing large fines for heavy water use, and many are letting their once pristine laws die out, I’m often asked about the impact of the drought and what to do about landscaping.

Should I water the lawn? Or yank it all out and plant succulents?

For a long time the answer was always the same: Water your lawn. Make lush, green, grass.

These days, we talk about drought tolerant plants and “xeriscaping” which basically means “the conservation of water through creative landscaping.”

In today’s final post in my series on home improvements for sellers, we’ll explore whether investing in traditional landscaping or choosing to xeriscape is right for Santa Barbara homeowners.

Xeriscape Anxiety

Many of us have a special connection with our gardens. Maybe you had a hand in selecting the plants and flowers, or cultivated seedlings from last year’s harvest. Perhaps you spent Sunday afternoons pruning and nurturing a cherished rose garden.

Or perhaps you invested heavily in your dream landscape a few years ago and all that work has finally paid off – your plants and flowers are mature and thriving. It’s finally perfect, except now, there’s a drought.

 

 

When we talk about ripping up soft green lawns and treasured flower beds in exchange for things like gravel and succulents, common reactions often resemble low level and completely understandable anxiety:

• I’ll miss the grass! We’ve always had grass.
• What’s a succulent?
• I don’t want a yard full of rocks and cactus.
• It’s going to rain, and this will be for not
• Where will the kids play?
• I don’t like change

The great news is that xeriscaping can produce beautiful results. The kind of results that may even make your home more attractive to environmentally conscious Santa Barbara buyers.

Drought-Friendly Curb Appeal

There are so many beautiful plants that can thrive on their own with very little maintenance. Since a lush green lawn can increase water usage by up to 60%, you may find comfort in knowing that it’s not necessary to sacrifice beauty to conserve water (and money).

If you’re preparing to invest in a new landscape and wondering whether xeriscaping is for you, here are a few things to consider:

#1: Family Life

Is your neighborhood the kind that families with children like to call home? If so, you might want to consider a partial xeriscape plan – something that preserves enough grass so that there are safe surroundings for outdoor play.

 

#2: Spacing Your Stones

Wonder why a drought tolerant garden makes use of stones? So that the water can return to the ground more easily and not be trapped or pooled by concrete. Be sure to keep your stones to less than half of the total space to avoid creating a “hardscape.” You can use gravel as an accent or for pathways, and mix different types for more visual appeal.

#3: Hire A Professional

When done right, your new garden will be beautiful, easy to maintain, and have a wonderful aesthetic with proper sense of scale.

If done poorly, it can look like a real mess. Like all home improvement projects, it helps to get referrals, interview past clients, and see a portfolio as part of your research.

#4: Consider Rebates

Many California communities including Santa Barbara will issue rebates for the work you do to reduce water consumption. Some programs are geared irrigation systems, others for drought-resistant plants. Have the city do a pre-inspection to help you sort through your options. Click here to find more information about Santa Barbara’s Smart Landscape Rebate.

Decisions

As you consider new landscape and talk with designers and landscape architects, be sure to include a consult with your Realtor to get feedback on your plans. We work with buyers every day, and we understand their concerns and what they’re looking for when it comes to drought-tolerant landscapes.

Let us help you make the right decision for your property and avoid mistakes that affect the marketability of your home. If you’d like to discuss it with me, conveniently click below for a day and time that works for you to schedule a time to speak. I’m happy to help!

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