12 Landscaping Investments That Provide the Best ROI for Your Property
Strategic landscaping upgrades can significantly boost property value, but knowing which projects deliver the strongest return on investment requires careful consideration. This guide examines twelve high-impact landscaping improvements that consistently provide measurable financial benefits, backed by insights from real estate and landscaping professionals. From hardscaping elements to water-saving systems, these projects offer practical ways to enhance both curb appeal and long-term property worth.
Build A Hardscape Patio
For me, it was a proper outdoor entertaining area. A hard, usable space. We invested in a paved patio with good drainage, lighting, and power points. It turned the backyard from something we looked at into somewhere we actually used.
The return showed up in two ways.
First, day-to-day life. We ate outside more. Friends stayed longer. The space worked year-round instead of only on perfect days. That matters more than most people expect.
Second, resale value. Buyers could immediately picture how they would use the space. No imagination required. Agents leaned on it hard during inspections because it photographed well and showed lifestyle, not maintenance.
Install Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting
After 40 years working with small business owners and managing my own practices, I've seen countless properties come across my desk for estate planning purposes. The single best landscaping ROI I've witnessed? Strategic outdoor lighting--specifically low-voltage LED pathway and landscape lighting systems.
I had a client doing estate planning who mentioned they'd spent $2,800 installing professional landscape lighting around their Jasper property. When we later updated their estate documents after selling that home, they shared the appraiser specifically noted the lighting added $6,500-7,000 to the valuation. That's roughly 240% return, but here's the kicker--it also reduced their homeowner's insurance by 8% annually because it qualified as a security feature.
From my CPA side, I've seen clients write off portions of outdoor lighting as security improvements when it illuminates business home offices or rental properties. The tax advantage combined with the property value boost makes it uniquely profitable compared to most landscaping investments.
The real lifestyle benefit came up repeatedly in client conversations--people actually felt safe using their outdoor spaces at night. One couple told me they went from never touching their backyard after 7pm to hosting evening dinners regularly, which strengthened family relationships during their retirement years. That quality-of-life factor doesn't show on a balance sheet, but it matters tremendously when you're planning your legacy.
Choose Native Drought-Tolerant Plants
In my experience as a real estate investor and property buyer in the Greater Toronto Area, professional landscaping with native plants has consistently delivered the strongest ROI. We invested approximately $8,000 in drought-resistant native shrubs, perennials, and a well-designed mulch bed system for a property we were preparing to sell. This investment returned about 150% of its cost at closing, adding roughly $12,000 to the final sale price. Beyond the financial return, the low-maintenance landscaping became a major selling point during showings—buyers repeatedly commented on how the outdoor space felt like a private retreat that wouldn't require constant upkeep. The native plants thrived with minimal watering, which was particularly appealing during Toronto's increasingly hot summers, and the professional design created distinct zones for entertaining and relaxation that helped buyers envision their lifestyle in the space.
Construct A Backyard Porch
Building a porch was definitely a great investment. I own a few investment properties, and one that I bought didn't have any kind of seating area in the backyard. So, I had a porch built. This made the backyard area much more livable and enjoyable. Basically, it was like adding an entire new room to the home. Interest in the property increased notably after that point.
Prioritize Drainage And Grading
I've been in excavation for over 20 years, and from everything I've seen with hundreds of properties, **proper drainage and grading** gives the best ROI hands down. It's not sexy like a pool or fancy landscaping, but it protects everything else you invest in.
We had a client in Indianapolis who spent about $8,500 on regrading their yard and installing a French drain system. Within two years, they sold the property and the inspector's report showing zero water damage or foundation issues became a major selling point--they got $15K over asking because buyers felt confident the home was protected. Meanwhile, their neighbor had to drop their price $20K due to basement moisture problems.
The outdoor living benefit is immediate too. One homeowner told me they finally started using their backyard after we fixed their drainage--before that, it was a swampy mess half the year. No standing water means you can actually enjoy your property, your landscaping thrives instead of drowning, and you're not dealing with mosquitoes breeding in puddles.
From a pure numbers perspective, drainage work typically costs 50-70% less than fixing foundation damage, basement waterproofing, or landscape replacement from erosion. It's boring infrastructure work, but it's the foundation that makes every other outdoor investment actually last.
Shield The Swim Zone With Greenery
I have a pool in my backyard, and something I did to enhance my outdoor living experience specifically with my pool was planting privacy plants. Since I use my pool all of the time and constantly have friends and family over who use it too, I wanted my yard to have a little more privacy. It's easier to enjoy a pool and fully relax while using it when you don't feel like your neighbors are watching you! Planting privacy plants has made the space a lot better and more comfortable.
Replace Chain-Link With Wood Fence
In my years flipping houses throughout the Cleveland area, the single best landscaping investment hasn't been a patio or expensive sod. It is ripping out old chain-link fencing and putting up a solid wood privacy fence.
I remember a project we did on a street where the houses were stacked right on top of each other, which is pretty common here. The backyard was decent sized, but it had a low, see-through metal fence. You couldn't drink a coffee on the back steps without feeling like you were in the neighbor's conversation. It made the house feel smaller because the yard wasn't usable space, it was just exposed grass.
We spent the money to install a six-foot shadowbox fence. We didn't add a deck or a fire pit, just closed off the perimeter. The change was instant. It turned that fishbowl into a private retreat.
When buyers walked through, they immediately commented on the privacy. For families with dogs or kids, that is a huge selling point. It effectively added another room to the house. I'd estimate that fence alone added five figures to the value because it removed a major objection. In this market, privacy usually outweighs pretty flowerbeds.
Lift Tree Canopies For Curb Appeal
Creating a canopy look through proper tree trimming is a simple upgrade that pays off.
In upscale neighborhoods, trees are almost always groomed this way because it frames the home, highlights the landscape, and improves walkability.
Beyond appearance, lifting the canopy helps sunlight reach the ground so lawns stay healthier under trees.
Buyers may not articulate it, but they notice the difference, and it often changes how polished and valuable a property feels from moment a potential buyer is walking up to the house.
Add Solar Pool Heat
I have been installing energy-related systems that give real-world value to residential homes throughout California and Nevada.
Homeowners can expect the highest rate of return on any outdoor investment they make (excluding pool construction) with solar pool heating systems. The cost to install a solar pool heater ranges from $3,500 to $7,000 based upon the size of your pool. Homeowners will save this amount in 2-4 years by eliminating their pool heat bill. Once you have paid back the cost of installation, the savings will continue at approximately $150-$400 per month for the remainder of the 15 to 20-year life expectancy of the equipment; little to no maintenance will be needed to maintain these savings.
Adding a solar pool heating system will increase the value of your home anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000, since potential buyers in California and Nevada view longer swimming seasons without additional energy costs as important features of a home. As a result, real estate appraisers consider solar pool heaters to be permanent upgrades to your home that decrease operational costs, and therefore increase the overall value of your home. Pools are typically used for 6-8 months in the majority of the country due to colder water temperatures, while heated pools using solar power extend the swimming season to 10-11 months in warmer climates.
In addition to financial benefits, solar pool heating creates a different experience for families. They can use their pool year-round, from March to November, transforming a relatively unused amenity into a common meeting place for family members. With the ability to swim early morning through fall evenings, homeowners can enjoy their outdoor space much longer than previously possible. Ultimately, it changes how homeowners utilize their outdoor space rather than simply making it aesthetically pleasing like many other landscaping enhancements do.
Refresh Parking Lots To Signal Quality
I've been managing commercial properties in the Mid-Atlantic since 1987, and while I focus more on parking lots and building systems than residential landscaping, I can tell you what moves the needle for property value: first impressions through your parking lot and common areas.
The best "landscaping" ROI I've seen isn't flowers--it's parking lot maintenance. Fresh striping, pothole repairs, and proper drainage cost maybe $10-15k for a typical commercial lot, but they immediately signal to tenants and buyers that the property is well-managed. I've watched properties command 8-10% higher rents simply because the parking lot looked professional instead of neglected.
For actual greenery in commercial spaces, strategic tree placement for shade over parking areas pays off. Tenants notice when their cars aren't baking in summer, and it reduces our HVAC load on the building perimeter. The key is low-maintenance native plants that don't require constant replacement--your ROI disappears fast if you're replanting every season.
The takeaway: focus on durability and maintenance costs, not just aesthetics. A $20k investment that lasts 10 years beats a $5k investment you redo every 18 months.
Set Up An Outdoor Shower
One of the best landscaping investments for ROI is installing an outdoor shower. According to a Zillow study (https://www.zillow.com/learn/exterior-home-improvements), homes with outdoor showers sell for about 2.3% more, making it a surprisingly high-value upgrade.
Beyond the resale boost, it instantly elevates your outdoor living — perfect for rinsing off after swimming, gardening, or beach days, and it adds that resort-like feel buyers love.
At Watrline (https://watrline.com), we offer a wide collection of outdoor showers to fit any outdoor space and budget.
Invest In Smart Irrigation
I tell customers that they will get the largest ROI out of an Irrigation System first and foremost but 2nd to that would be Landscape Maintenance.
Irrigation systems are necessary to keep your landscape healthy and can allow you to add plants that will flourish with not much more care. Without irrigation invasive plants will take over your lawn, your trees and shrubs will be stressed and will not grow full. With the technological advancements in irrigation technology, it is easier than ever to apply the correct amount of water to any plant at the proper time and precisely where needed. Weather sensing controllers measure precipitation and adjust your timer accordingly, HE nozzles and sprinkler bodies don't leak a drop of water and mimic light rainfall allowing every bit of water to be as efficiently absorbed as possible. Newer systems are lasting up to 25 years or more when maintained.
I had to mention Landscape Maintenance because it is surprising that a service would yield an ROI, Most would classify this as a cost of ownership. It's a little different maintaining something that gets better over time and is alive over something like your daily driver. Poorly Maintained properties cost thousands to correct. I make a living renovating residential properties. Homeowners generally don't have the time or the proper equipment or schedule to perform regular maintenance properly. On average $1800 a year in maintenance will save you from the $20-100K Inevitable landscape installation.
