Landscaping Improvement Projects That Offer the Best and Worst Returns on Investment

 1. Adding a deck or patio: Good ROI

Spending time outside with friends and family is much more convenient if you have a deck or patio.

“Patios or decks can provide a gathering place for outdoor entertaining and increase the value of your home,” says Martin Boonzaayer, CEO of the Trusted Home Buyer in Phoenix.

Homeowners who decide to make the investment can expect to recoup about 65% of their investment, Boonzaayer says.

How much should you budget? According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost Vs. Value Report, homeowners can expect to spend about $16,000 on a 16-by-20-foot wood deck with pressure-treated planks. A composite deck is more expensive, but the ROI is comparable.

2. Installing a sprinkler system: Good ROI

A dry, brown lawn is quite an eyesore. Installing a sprinkler system is a great investment that prevents unsightly patches and delivers a killer ROI.

“A sprinkler system can help keep your lawn and plants healthy and looking great,” says Boonzaayer. “It can be especially helpful if you live in a region with drought conditions. A sprinkler system can recoup up to 100% of its value upon resale.”

The cost of a sprinkler system installation, depending on the size of your lawn and ZIP code, can be about $500 on the low end and $3,500 on the high end.

3. Paver walkway: Good ROI

A pretty path from your driveway to your front door can do wonders for your home’s overall aesthetic.

“One project that delivers exceptional ROI, and improves your own quality of life, is putting in a paver walkway,” says Joe Raboine, a former contractor and director of residential hardscapes at Belgard in Atlanta. “Replacing the front walkway is also one of the simplest ways to refresh the exterior of your home.”

You can get creative with a variety of paver styles, from simple cobblestones to more modern, large-format pavers.

Raboine says he has seen such walkways deliver more than 80% ROI.

Costs for a paver walkway range from $1,500 to $4,500-plus.

4. Planting trees: Good ROI

Spending time outside in nature—especially around trees—has been shown to reduce stress and boost happiness. Adding some foliage to your yard can also be a boon to your home’s value.

“Planting trees can help provide you and your home with shade, increase your curb appeal, and help the environment,” says Boonzaayer.

Well-placed trees can boost your home’s value by up to 15%, paying for itself and then some, he adds.

Planting a tree costs anywhere from $100 to $2,000 (including labor) depending on the size of the tree and your location.

5. Planting the wrong kind of plants: Bad ROI

“Thoughtful landscaping in general increases curb appeal,” says Tammy Sons, a horticulturist based in Tennessee.

But in certain cases, plants and trees can undercut the value of your home if you’re planting the wrong kind of greenery in the wrong places.

“Planting large trees near paved drives and sidewalks or patios where the tree’s roots could crack the concrete” is a no-no, Sons says.

Sons also encourages homeowners to focus on native plants.

“Planting non-native, invasive plants can lead to disaster,” Sons says. “Kudzu, for example, can grow up to 18 inches in one day. Plants like this will take over other plants and suck up all of the soil’s nutrients.”

6. Adding a garden: Bad ROI

Having a garden brimming with fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers will sound like heaven if you have a green thumb. But for potential homebuyers who have a propensity to kill any plant they touch, a garden might be seen as a headache that’ll inevitably turn into an eyesore when weeds take over.

“Gardens can be a rewarding hobby, but the ROI isn’t there,” Boonzaayer says.