The most common reason why homeowners add landscaping to their home is for aesthetic appeal, and to add an extra pop to their home’s exterior appearance. While curb appeal is an important area to focus on, there are actually several other benefits of landscaping that fall under the categories of environmental, social, psychological, physical, and economical.
Environmental Benefits Of Landscaping:
Natural coolants – Grass and plants create a cooler surface than hard surfaces like cement. Lawns can be 31 degrees cooler than hard surfaces and about 20 degrees cooler than bare soil. Tree shading can also save on cooling bills (potential to reduce attic temperature by as much as 40 degrees).- Natural cleaners – Grass captures dust, smoke particles, and other potentially damaging pollutants, while also producing oxygen, helping to keep the air clean. They also absorb carbon dioxide, breaking it down into oxygen (a 50’x50’ lawn can produce enough oxygen for a family of 4).
- Water cleaners – Healthy lawn and landscaping can absorb dirty/polluted water that may have otherwise run off into important bodies of water.
- Minimize noise – Can reduce noise pollution by decreasing levels by about 20-30 percent.
Social Benefits Of Landscaping:
- Creates an attractive and useful space for entertaining and relaxing
- Noise reduction
- Heat reduction
- Enhance livability in high density developments
Psychological & Physical Health Benefits Of Landscaping:
Helps to foster an active lifestyle (landscaping maintenance)- The environment (beautiful and relaxing) can help to relieve stress. Studies have found that people find stress relief and even healing when interacting with nature. According to Harvard Health Publications, being outdoors has even proven to help children with ADHD to focus.
- Creates privacy
- Filters out pollutants to provide cleaner air
- Improves attention and memory, according to a study by Marc Berman of the University of Michigan.
- Improved quality of life
Economical Benefits Of Landscaping:
- Increases the value of your home (the most obvious benefit)
- Increases curb appeal which is more attractive to potential buyers
- Helps aid in reduced time on the market when trying to sell
- Can reduce heating and cooling costs
When you are planning your landscaping project, it is important to consider all of these vital benefits your landscape can provide to you and your family, in addition to the aesthetic appeal it can create. While there are some DIY landscaping projects you can likely complete on your own without hiring a professional, consider the importance of having a job with such benefits done correctly, especially for the larger aspects of the project. A professional will possess the knowledge and expertise to not only incorporate the most visually appealing features for your style and property, but also to incorporate the most beneficial landscaping features and species that thrive best in your home’s environment. Contact Red Cedar today for your free consultation and begin reaping all of the benefits of a professional landscape design build!