Top 5 Ways Landscaping Increases Your Home’s Value

Top 5 Ways Landscaping Increases Your Home’s Value

by | Jul 18, 2025 | Fencing, Flowers, Foliage, Gardening, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Patios, Perennials, Softscaping, Trees, Walkways

When it comes to boosting your property’s value, landscaping is one of the smartest investments you can make. A well-designed landscape doesn’t just make your home more attractive—it enhances curb appeal, improves functionality, and creates outdoor spaces that future buyers will love. In fact, studies have shown that professional landscaping can increase a home’s value by 10–15%.

At A Touch of Dutch Landscaping & Garden Services, we’ve seen firsthand how thoughtful landscape design transforms Stratford and area homes. Here are the top five ways landscaping can increase your home’s value.

  1. Boosting Curb Appeal with Professional Design

Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Professional LandscapingFirst impressions matter. When buyers pull up to a home, the front yard sets the tone. A professionally designed landscape with a healthy lawn, clean garden beds, and well-chosen shrubs or trees instantly signals care and quality.

  • Neatly edged gardens and walkways create a polished look.
  • Seasonal plants add colour and visual interest year-round.
  • Proper grading and drainage protect your property while keeping it attractive.

Learn more about our landscape design services to see how we can enhance your home’s first impression.

  1. Expanding Living Space with Outdoor Features

Modern buyers love functional outdoor spaces they can picture themselves and their families using. Patios, decks, and outdoor kitchens essentially extend your living space beyond the walls of your home. This creates more usable square footage without a full addition.

  • Stone patios and walkways provide elegant, low-maintenance areas for entertaining.
  • Retaining walls and seating walls define spaces while adding style.
  • Fire pits and water features add ambiance and make your yard a retreat.

By investing in hardscaping, you give buyers an outdoor lifestyle they’ll value.

  1. Increasing Energy Efficiency with Trees & Shade

Top 5 Ways Landscaping Increases Your Home’s Value shade livable backyardStrategic tree placement not only beautifies your property but also saves money. Shade trees can reduce summer cooling costs, while evergreens act as windbreaks in the winter. Buyers see the long-term value of lower utility bills.

  • Trees provide natural cooling by shading roofs and patios.
  • Properly placed shrubs and plantings improve privacy and reduce noise.
  • Mature trees are especially appealing to homebuyers seeking established properties.
  1. Enhancing Privacy & Security

Thoughtful landscaping can make your home feel more secluded and secure—something buyers are often willing to pay more for.

  • Privacy hedges, tall shrubs, and fencing create natural barriers.
  • Lighting along walkways and patios improves safety and adds visual appeal.
  • Landscaped borders reduce sightlines from neighbouring homes, giving you a sense of retreat.
  1. Reducing Maintenance with Smart Planting

Low-maintenance landscaping is a huge selling feature. Buyers want beautiful yards without endless upkeep.

  • Native plants thrive in Ontario’s climate, requiring less water and care.
  • Properly designed irrigation systems prevent overwatering.
  • Mulched beds suppress weeds and retain moisture, keeping gardens lush with less effort.

This balance of beauty and practicality makes your property more appealing to future homeowners.

Landscaping: An Investment That Pays Off

From stunning curb appeal to functional outdoor living, professional landscaping is one of the most reliable ways to boost your home’s value. Whether you’re planning to sell soon or simply want to enjoy your space more, investing in your landscape pays dividends now and in the future.

Key Takeaways: How Landscaping Increases Home Value

  • Landscaping can increase a home’s value by 10–15%.
  • Curb appeal improvements (healthy lawns, clean garden beds, trimmed shrubs) make a strong first impression.
  • Outdoor living spaces (patios, walkways, fire pits, water features) expand usable square footage.
  • Trees and shrubs reduce energy bills by providing shade and acting as natural windbreaks.
  • Privacy landscaping (hedges, fences, lighting) makes properties more secure and appealing.
  • Low-maintenance designs with native plants and mulch attract buyers who want beauty without extra upkeep.

At A Touch of Dutch Landscaping & Garden Services, we’ve been helping homeowners in Stratford and Southwestern Ontario create beautiful, functional landscapes since 1985. Let’s design a space that adds value to your home—and your lifestyle.

Contact us today to start your project.

Increase the Usability of Your Yard

Increase the Usability of Your Yard

by | Jul 4, 2024 | Fencing, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Patios, Ponds, Retaining Walls, Softscaping, Walkways, Water Features

Landscaping is often seen as an aesthetic endeavor, but it’s much more than that. Properly designed landscaping can significantly increase the usability of your yard, turning it into a functional space for relaxation, entertainment, and everyday living. Whether you have a small urban backyard or a sprawling suburban garden, thoughtful landscaping can transform your outdoor area into an extension of your home. Here are some ideas and tips to help you achieve a practical and beautiful yard.

Assess Your Needs and Wants

Increase the Usability of Your BackyardBefore you start any landscaping project, it’s crucial to understand what you want from your yard. Consider the following questions:

  • Do you need a play area for children?
  • Are you looking to create an outdoor dining space?
  • Do you want to grow your own vegetables or herbs?
  • Are you interested in creating a habitat for local wildlife?

Identifying your priorities will guide your landscaping decisions and help you create a yard that meets your practical needs.

Define Functional Zones

Outdoor relaxation sitting area a touch of dutch landscapingDivide your yard into functional zones based on your identified needs. For example:

  • Play Zone: A safe, open area with soft ground cover, such as grass or rubber mulch, for children to play.
  • Dining and Entertaining Zone: A patio or deck with seating, a dining table, and possibly a grill or outdoor kitchen.
  • Garden Zone: Raised beds or designated plots for growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
  • Relaxation Zone: A quiet corner with comfortable seating, a hammock, or a water feature for relaxation.

Creating distinct zones ensures that each area serves a specific purpose and helps organize the space efficiently.

Incorporate Pathways

Add natural stone pathways to backyard to increase usabilityPathways are essential for navigating your yard comfortably and safely. They connect different zones and add structure to your landscape. Choose materials that complement your yard’s style, such as natural stone, gravel, or pavers. Make sure the paths are wide enough for easy movement and, if necessary, accessible for strollers or wheelchairs.

Take Advantage of Vertical Space

Maximize your yard’s usability by leveraging vertical space. This is particularly useful for small yards where horizontal space is limited. Consider the following ideas:

  • Vertical Gardens: Use trellises, wall-mounted planters, or vertical garden systems to grow plants upwards instead of outwards.
  • Climbing Plants: Train climbing plants like ivy, roses, or clematis to cover fences, walls, or pergolas, adding greenery without taking up ground space.
  • Hanging Baskets: Add hanging baskets for flowers or herbs to free up ground space while adding beauty and functionality.

Choose Multi-Functional Elements

Multifunctional landscaping elements retaining wall with raised flowerbedsOpt for landscaping elements that serve multiple purposes to make the most of your space. Some examples include:

  • Seating Walls: Low retaining walls can double as seating areas during gatherings.
  • Planter Benches: Benches with built-in planters provide seating and greenery.
  • Pergolas: Pergolas can offer shade, support climbing plants, and define outdoor rooms.

Install Water Collection and Efficient Irrigation Systems

An efficient irrigation system ensures your plants get the right amount of water without wasting resources. Consider drip irrigation or soaker hoses for garden beds, and opt for smart irrigation controllers that adjust watering schedules based on weather conditions. Efficient watering not only keeps your plants healthy but also saves you time and effort.

Embrace Low-Maintenance Landscaping

Low-maintenance landscaping with perennialsLow-maintenance landscaping allows you to enjoy your yard without spending all your free time on upkeep. Here are some tips:

  • Choose Native Plants: Native plants are adapted to your local climate and soil, requiring less water and maintenance.
  • Use Mulch: Mulching garden beds helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil health.
  • Opt for Perennials: Perennial plants come back year after year, reducing the need for replanting.

Add Lighting

Outdoor lighting extends the usability of your yard into the evening and enhances safety and security. Consider the following options:

  • Path Lights: Illuminate pathways to prevent trips and falls.
  • String Lights: Add a warm, inviting glow to seating and dining areas.
  • Spotlights: Highlight key features, such as trees, sculptures, or water features.

Create Privacy

Privacy is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable yard. Create privacy by using fencing, hedges, or screens to create secluded areas. Tall plants, trellises with climbing vines, or decorative panels can also add privacy without making the space feel closed off.

Incorporate Sustainable Practices

Sustainable landscaping practices benefit both your yard and the environment. Some ideas include:

  • Rainwater Harvesting: Collect rainwater in barrels for use in irrigation.
  • Composting: Compost kitchen scraps and yard waste to create nutrient-rich soil for your garden.
  • Xeriscaping: Use drought-tolerant plants to reduce water consumption.

By thoughtfully designing your landscape with functionality in mind, you can create a yard that enhances your lifestyle and meets your practical needs. Whether you’re looking to entertain, grow your own food, or simply relax, a well-planned yard can become a valuable extension of your living space. Happy landscaping!

Would you like more specific tips or information on any particular aspect of yard landscaping? Contact us for professional landscaping services.

Keep Unwanted Wildlife Out of Your Backyard

Keep Unwanted Wildlife Out of Your Backyard

by | Jan 30, 2023 | Fencing, Lawn care, Maintenance

Last month, we shared tips for attracting wildlife to your backyard. Well, we recognize that not all wildlife is welcome on your property. So, this month we’re sharing tips for keeping unwanted wildlife away.

Keep wildlife out of your backyard with these landscaping tipsKeeping rodent pests like raccoons and skunks out of your backyard can sometimes be a difficult task, but with the right landscaping strategies you can discourage them from visiting. Strategies include lawn maintenance, careful selection of plants, trees, and shrubs, and adding hardscaping to block or discourage entry into your outdoor space. Read on for more details.

Lawn Maintenance

Keeping your lawn mowed to two to three inches high and free of debris, such as leaves, sticks, or logs, can help discourage pesky critters from making their homes in it. Additionally, leaving a perimeter of uncut grass around the edges of your property can act as a barrier to keep them away from the rest of your yard.

Lawn Health

An unhealthy lawn’s root system is a breeding ground for weeds that unwelcome pests may feed on. And your lawn’s poor health may be an indication of an excess number of parasites (like grubs) that skunks and raccoons also find delectable. If your lawn has seen better days, don’t despair. Foundational lawn care practices like aeration, fertilization, and top dressing can help restore your lawn’s vitality. One or more applications of nematodes can help get grub populations under control again, as well.

Plant Selection and Placement

Choosing plants that are not appealing to unwanted wildlife is key when trying to keep them out of your backyard. Thorny shrubs and prickly evergreens like Scotch Pine make great deterrents since animals can’t generally navigate through them easily. Additionally, you should avoid placing wood piles or compost heaps near the edge of your property as they often attract rodents.

Hardscaping

Installing hardscaping features like garden fences and retaining walls can help keep pests away due to their height and lack of access points for small critters. If you don’t want to install a fence or wall, landscape fabric may be an option. When laid beneath a layer of mulch it provides a strong physical barrier that prevents most pests from digging into your yard.

Food Sources

Many consider squirrels unwanted wildlife visitors. Eliminating food sources will help keep them at bay.Reduce or eliminate food sources that may be attracting unwanted wildlife to your property. This includes pet food dishes, bird feeders, fruit bearing trees and shrubs, and unsecured garbage cans. Rabbits and mice like to feed on the bark of younger shrubs and trees. To prevent this, install a guard or fabric around the trunks of younger shrubs/trees during the winter months to prevent this from happening.

Barriers

Installing a chicken wire type barrier around the perimeter of your property or gardens between the bottom of your fence and the soil/lawn and digging it in a few inches into the ground will deter or prevent smaller animals from entering your gardens.

Compromise

Even with the best efforts, unwanted animals will sometimes still be able to enter your gardens or lawn areas. Since your gardens/lawn are their main food source, you might have to share some of your plants with these creatures. A garden or plants do not always have to look perfect if you lose a plant or two during the winter months, replace it with something that may be more of a deterrent or protect it during the winter months.

Additional Tip

If you notice there is a particular plant that is attracting pests, try to replace it with something else that won’t be as enticing. This will help reduce the number of rodents on your property and make your outdoor space less appealing to unwanted guests overall.

Although some of our readers are very capable DIYers, we recognize that others may need assistance with the implementation of the above pest-thwarting strategies. If you fit into the latter category, don’t hesitate to contact us for professional landscaping advice and assistance!

Add Privacy with Landscaping

Add Privacy with Landscaping

by | Mar 12, 2022 | Fencing, Foliage, Gardening, Landscape Design, Native Plants, Shrubs, Softscaping, Trees

Often, when homeowners want to add privacy to their yards, they think of walls and fences made from stone and/or wood. And sometimes solid structures like these are needed if the goal is to keep people and animals in or out.

However, if you simply want to break up visual sightlines, add privacy with landscaping including plants, shrubs, and trees. And if you’re looking for inspiration, here are some of our favourites that we incorporate into landscaping projects when clients desire increased privacy from neighbours.

Evergreen Options

Add privacy with cedars emerald blackEmerald Cedar

Although, slower growing than other cedars, the Emerald Cedar is a vibrant green, dense, cone-shaped evergreen that grows quite tall (4 metres) and can survive (preferably in full sun) for 30+ years.

Black Cedar

Although cone-shaped like the Emerald variety, the darker-coloured Black Cedar has a wider base, making it an excellent choice for windbreaks and perimeter hedges. They are a faster-growing shrub and can survive for 50+ years topping out at approximately 5 metres in height.

Add privacy with landscaping juniper hedge

Yew (Taxus canadensis)

The Canadian Yew, the most prevalent of yews in Southwestern Ontario, is a vibrant green with dense limbs of soft, flat needles. While it does grow quite wide (up to 7 feet) it maxes out at only 4 feet in height, making it a candidate for low hedges and topiaries. Bright red berries mature in late summer to early fall, providing visual contrast against green foliage.

Spruce

While Black, White, and Red Spruces are indigenous, the Norway and Colorado/Blue varieties also thrive in Southwestern Ontario (hardiness zone 5). Generally speaking, Spruce trees are quite hardy with dense foliage, and reaching heights of 20-25 metres. This option is better planted away from buildings and other structures, with plenty of room between each, if planting in a row/group.

Upright Juniper

Low-maintenance and hardy, upright Juniper varieties like the Wichita blue and Ontario green juniper mature quickly with dense foliage that makes them a great alternative to fences and privacy walls. Junipers can be planted fairly close together as they are narrow, but grow to approximately 15 feet tall.

Deciduous Options

American Hornbeam

This hardwood can reach 15 metres tall and provides ample privacy with its densely packed leaves, which turn a brilliant red in the fall.

Add privacy with a Hornbeam hedge

English Oak

The English Oak can grow to 60 feet tall and just as wide, though many varieties start out in a more cone-shaped habit before spreading out. These trees can live well beyond 100 years. There’s also a narrower variety more suited to tight spaces.

Privet

The fast-growing Privet makes a great privacy hedge with its dense, glossy, oval-shaped leaves. It flowers in the early summer, and yields non-edible fruit after flowering concludes.

Add privacy with Privet hedge floweringNinebark

A popular hedge choice in landscaping, the Common Ninebark’s leaves are a yellowish-green and grow in dense arrangements with seasonal flowers clusters. It is a fast-growing shrub, reaching up to 10 feet high and 8 feet wide.

Add privacy with a ninebark hedgeLarge Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses that thrive in Southwestern Ontario come in a wide range of shapes, colours, and sizes. Feather Reed Grass and Fountain Grass both grow to about 3 feet tall and make good low privacy screens. But if you’re looking for complete privacy, tall varieties like those of the Miscanthus genus are your best bet. They work great in conjunction with fence panels, planted in a standalone cluster, or lining the perimeter of a deck or patio. A word of warning though, Miscanthus can become invasive, if not managed with regular splitting and cutting back to the ground.

Add privacy with Miscanthus ornamental grass

Although these suggestions can help you get started, you might benefit from expert advice and installation, ensuring that the right varieties of trees to add privacy with landscaping are chosen. Contact us any time for assistance with enhancing the privacy of your yard.

Increase Your Home’s Value with Landscaping

Increase Your Home’s Value with Landscaping

by | May 6, 2021 | Fencing, Flowers, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Maintenance, Native Plants, Patios, Ponds, Retaining Walls, Shrubs, Softscaping, Trees, Walkways, Water Features

With the current circumstances – stay-at-home orders and a crazy local housing market – many homeowners are opting to invest in their homes. Money that would otherwise be spent on travel, entertainment, consumer goods, etc. is directed instead to home improvement.

Done right, this can potentially increase a home’s value. However, the value of your home isn’t just about what you can get for it when you sell, but also the enjoyment you get out of it while you live there. So, let’s discuss a few ways to enhance both your quality of life and the monetary value of your home.

Curb Appeal

improve curb appeal to increase the value of your homeIf you search online for ways to increase a home’s value, one method that almost invariably tops the list is to increase your home’s curb appeal. After all, the front of your home provides the first impression for potential buyers, whether they’re passing by or viewing your home online.

Improving curb appeal doesn’t have to be complicated. The most important thing to do is keep things tidy by weeding, edging, and mulching your flowerbeds, pruning your trees and shrubs when appropriate, and aerating, fertilizing, and dethatching your lawn.

Minimal Maintenance

Low maintenance perennials with mulch and stone walkwayIf you’re looking to upgrade your home’s exterior – front, sides, or back – consider updates that will enhance livability, functionality, and practicality. Not only will this maximize your enjoyment, but when it comes time to sell, potential buyers will be able to see themselves relaxing in, rather than working on, the yard and gardens.

One way to add low-maintenance beauty to your landscape, is to include native varieties among the trees, shrubs and plants you choose. Native Ontario plant species are well-acclimated to our conditions, so require very little extra care over that which Mother Nature provides. Native species also attract native birds and smaller pollinators, which is an added bonus.

Hardscaping

Hardscaping stone patio and surrounding flowerbeds improve outdoor living area and add valueWalkways, patios, and retaining walls are gratifying additions to a home’s exterior. In keeping with the theme of minimal maintenance, though – a focus of almost every one of our customers – we recommend being mindful of the materials you use.

Wood decking has historically been inexpensive but does have a limited life span and also can require quite a bit of maintenance to keep it looking good and hazard-free. Poured smooth, brushed, or stamped concrete can make a great patio or walkway, but durability can be an issue and maintenance is required in the form of cleaning and sealing.

For optimal durability and ease of maintenance, precast or natural stone pavers are ideal. The range of colours, textures, and styles is virtually limitless and a stone patio or walkway can be straight/square or round/curvy, so you can be sure to find the right look to complement your home’s exterior.

And if you like the look of stone, smaller-sized decorative stone like river rock, lava rock, quartz, peastone, granite, and dolomite can be used in lieu of mulch in flowerbeds, in between large pavers in walkways and patios, and in and around water features.

Visual Impact

Visual impact adds value to your home lush gardens around poolPlants, trees, and shrubs can be used to camouflage imperfections, add privacy, and enhance the existing beauty around your home’s exterior and yard. For example, an exposed foundation can make a home appear old and unkempt. But, planting a balanced selection of plants and shrubs appropriate for the location’s sun exposure can add depth and colour, providing a welcome distraction from your foundation’s drab, grey expanse.

Exposure to winds or neighbouring properties can make backyard living less enjoyable than it should be. Planting a row of trees, shrubs, or ornamental grass can add shelter and/or privacy. Consider mixing shrubs or grasses with fence panels for increased visual interest.

Serenity

Water feature bubbling rock serene serenity peaceful atmosphereAdd unique atmosphere to your outdoor living areas, walkways, and/or front entrance with lighting and water. Ponds, streams, waterfalls, fountains, and bubbling rocks add an audio-visual element that has a universally relaxing effect. And including lighting along walkways, trees, water features, pools, and patios enhances outdoor safety and enjoyment after the sun goes down.

There are a multitude of ways to improve your landscaping for added quality of life and value. Starting with a plan can help you get focused and establish a budget. If you’re planning some upgrades this year, but don’t want to go it alone, we’re here to help. Drop us a note to let us know what your goals are and we’ll help you get there.

What’s Your Landscape Design Style?

What’s Your Landscape Design Style?

by | Oct 27, 2020 | Fencing, Flowers, Gardening, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Native Plants, Patios, Ponds, Retaining Walls, Shrubs, Softscaping, Trees, Walkways, Water Features

Landscaping is a fantastic way to upgrade your home’s exterior. Done right, it improves curb appeal and enhances your enjoyment and the functionality of your outdoor environment.

And, like the clothing and home décor you choose, landscaping also provides an excellent opportunity to express your personal style. You may have inherited an already established landscape design when you moved into your home. Or you may have previously defaulted to a style that you thought suited your home’s exterior style.

While matching the style of your home may be a factor you want to consider, the design can be updated to better reflect your personal style as well.

If you haven’t given much thought to your landscaping style, we’ll outline the major styles, their differences, and their defining elements. When we get right down to it, there are really only two principal styles – traditional and contemporary (or “modern”) – with many substyles that can play a role in the overall design.

Traditional landscaping with native plants

An example of a traditional garden design overflowing with a mixture of native plants and flowers

Traditional Landscape Design

The traditional landscaping style tends to be associated with soft or curved lines, more rustic, textural materials in muted, mottled tones, and a balanced mixture of softscaping, hardscaping, and water elements that create a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. More often than not, traditional landscape design tends to be associated with the “informal” style. Because of its more free-flowing lines, a traditionally designed landscape can be more desirable for those wanting a lower maintenance outdoor living area.

Contemporary Landscape Design

On the other end of the spectrum, modern landscape design employs straight lines, clean edges, and sharp angles. Contemporary landscapes offer steep contrast in colour, with lots of symmetry in the shape and size of its elements. Hardscaping materials tend to be flat with a matte or polished finish. These attributes lend to what is generally considered a more “formal” style and also tend to demand more work to maintain the shapes and symmetrical appearance.

modern landscape design clean lines right angles monochromatic hardscaping retaining wall

Elements of modern landscape design – clean lines, right angles, and monochromatic colour scheme

Generally speaking, while most landscape designs may primarily be classified as traditional or modern, they really fall somewhere in between. Besides your personal style, here are many good reasons for a hybrid design, including:

  • Soil conditions and light exposure
  • How you use your yard
  • Your proclivity for garden maintenance
  • Your home’s exterior style

Substyles and Themes

If you don’t want your yard to be purely traditional or one hundred percent contemporary, below are a few substyles/themes you can work into your design.

Native

Plants and trees are indigenous to Ontario/Canada. These not only attract birds, bees, butterflies, and other native wildlife, but also tend to require less maintenance because they’re well-adapted to our climate.

Xeriscape

This type of landscaping reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental watering through the use of above-ground or underground water collection and circulation techniques in conjunction with more drought-tolerant plant and tree varieties.

Asian-Inspired

Elements can include a pergola, gate, trickling water feature, ornamental grasses, koi pond, walkway or labyrinth, and soft lighting.

English Garden

English garden design landscaping style

English garden with lavender and traditional hardscaping elements

Lush green lawns with one or more sitting areas among large, colourful gardens, overflowing with flowers, plants, and trees that attract a range of pollinators.

Natural/Organic

Plants and materials are sustainably sourced and managed. Can be easily combined with Native and/or Xeriscape themes.

Rustic

Incorporates wood and natural stone into decks, patios, walkways, fencing, sheltering structures, and retaining walls.

So, what’s your landscape style? Hopefully, this guide has provided some insights. If you’re having trouble deciding, we’re just a call or email away.