{"id":6901,"date":"2025-09-11T14:08:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/?page_id=6901"},"modified":"2025-09-11T14:08:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:08:57","slug":"wanderings-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/resources\/newsletters\/neighborhood-gardener-september-2025\/wanderings-september-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Wanderings September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"fullwidth-text-block\"><div class=\"container px-0\"><div class=\"row align-items-start\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wendy&#8217;s Wanderings<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/wendy_wilber2021.jpg\" alt=\"Wendy Wilber\" class=\"wp-image-2859\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"intro\">Shopping for Curb Appeal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>September 10, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I enjoy looking at home-selling websites like Zillow or Redfin, not because I\u2019m shopping for a new home, but because I like to see the different ways people approach landscaping \u2014 especially what they\u2019ve done with curb appeal. It\u2019s a bit like people-watching, only with plants. Landscaping often reveals the difference between homes that feel inviting and well-maintained versus those where plant choices seem like an afterthought. Here are a few things that tip me off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unpruned shrubs or trees that block windows, doors or walkways are a sure sign that care is needed \u2014 especially if you can\u2019t even find the front door without a machete. Dead or distressed plants also signal neglect. Patchy turfgrass in the backyard suggests that maintenance will be needed right away. Cracked driveways, faded mulch or bare soil give the impression of a work in progress rather than a move-in-ready home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the first lessons I learned about landscaping years ago is that the front door should always be the focal point. Foundation beds with layered, interesting plants help frame the entrance. Low shrubs and perennials provide structure, while seasonal color from annuals or flowering shrubs near the front door creates a cheerful, welcoming atmosphere. Containers, hanging baskets or window boxes are easy additions that make a big visual impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For truly glowing curb appeal, neatly maintained turf or turf alternatives that has been mowed and edged shows care. Healthy trees and shrubs that are properly pruned for shade and safety are not only beautiful, but also appreciated by home shoppers. Even something as simple as a fresh layer of mulch signals that the landscape has been tended to \u2014 and, like a fresh coat of paint, it hides a multitude of sins. Outdoor spaces \u2014 whether patios, firepits or garden beds \u2014 should look tidy and inviting, hinting at the lifestyle a future buyer could enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research shows that landscaping can increase home values by up to 15%. Buyers respond emotionally to homes that feel inviting from the curb, and the landscape makes that crucial first impression. Investing in a Florida-Friendly landscape not only improves resale potential but also provides daily enjoyment for current homeowners \u2014 without the drama of having to redo the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A little planning, pruning and freshening up can make a big difference in how a home is seen and remembered. After all, the landscape is more than decoration \u2014 it\u2019s the living welcome mat that sets the tone for everything that follows.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/curb_appeal_foliage400x267.jpg\" alt=\"An attractive front yard with a large bed of caladiums.\" class=\"wp-image-6909\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/curb_appeal_foliage400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/curb_appeal_foliage400x267-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":6859,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"featured_post":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6901","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6901"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6911,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6901\/revisions\/6911"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}