As you go about your spring planting and summer landscaping, you may think you’re merely making your property more attractive. But, you’re also making an investment by increasing the value of your home.

In fact, an attractive, well-maintained landscape can add as much as 10 percent to your home’s worth, according to HGTV.com. So the money you spend on landscaping can come back to you — 100 percent or more, in fact, according to a Clemson University study.

Trees can bring the most value, although smart shrub and even flower placement can also add to the bottom line, according to Better Homes and Gardens:

  • Trees can perform the most functions: providing beauty, sanctuary for wildlife or shade (which can cut down on air-conditioning costs).
  • Larger trees, like mature oaks, have more value than smaller ones because they’re harder to replace.
  • A tree that’s durable, hardy and desirable, such as the Japanese maple, brings the most value.
  • A tree or shrub that’s healthy will have more curb appeal than any kind of landscaping that’s damaged.
  • Strategically placed landscaping, whether for function or aesthetics, also adds value — such as hedgerows or any greenery that frames the house.

Landscaping can also bring another sought-after feature: privacy. A fence can give you seclusion, but trees and shrubs can, too, with much more style.

And if you’re still not sure how best to capitalize on landscaping, HGTV.com recommends hiring a professional. With a landscaper or landscape architect, you can create the ideal plan for your property.

Do you consider your property value when you landscape? What kind of landscaping have you added to increase your home’s curb appeal?