Skip The Renovations: There's Another Way To Add Value To Your Home

When most folks think about adding value to their house, their mind jumps to some sort of internal renovation, such as a kitchen remodel or adding in a new bathroom. However, there are easier ways to add both value and curb appeal to your property, all while saving thousands of dollars on renovation fees. For instance, one of the most impactful changes you can make is to plant a large shade tree. A fully-grown, soaring tree is a lovely sight in any yard and provides a number of benefits outside of attracting potential buyers.

Many studies have been performed on exactly how much the presence of trees increases a home's value. Scientist Kathleen L. Wolf compiled some of those studies, and found that trees can boost the price of a home by anywhere from two to 15% (per Arborist News), with mature trees being especially appealing. Depending on your location in the U.S., that can mean an extra of around $15,000 once you decide to sell your house. Considering the materials you need to plant a tree on your property average less than $400, it's clear that they provide a good return on investment, just like these other features that add value to your home.

Along with boosting your home's value, large shade trees provide important shelter to your property. According to American Forests, shade can cut the amount of heat a person feels in half, which is a particularly important feature if you live somewhere with high temperatures and intense sun. Extreme heat can be deadly, so having a refuge on your property is definitely worth it. Plus, a large enough tree can also shade your home, cutting down your electricity bill during hot months.

Shade trees come in a number of shapes and sizes so you can choose one that will fit your yard. If you're looking for a relatively smaller tree and live between hardiness zones 5 and 9, consider a flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida). Maxing out at 30 feet tall with a 30 foot wide canopy, dogwoods are large enough to provide plenty of shade for a flower bed or walkway without overpowering the rest of your landscaping. Alternatively, if you have a lot of space to fill up, try your hand at raising a towering Quercus alba, or white oak. This mighty tree thrives in zones 3 through 9, and can grow to be a hundred feet tall — big enough to provide shade to your entire garden. If you're on a time crunch, you could also try one of these fast growing shade trees to cool off your hot backyard.

The process of actually planting a tree is simple enough. Essentially, all you need to do is dig a hole a bit larger than the big ball of dirt and roots that will come on the end of your tree sapling. Place the sapling in the hole, then gently loosen the root ball; this may involve cutting away any wire or twine that was used to hold the roots in shape during transport. Once you're satisfied with the tree's position, you can fill in the hole with soil and mulch. Maintain a strict watering schedule, either with irrigation bags or with this easy method to ensure your new tree has the water it needs, and you should be rewarded with a majestic, eye-catching shade tree that will add value to your home.