Thanks to interruptions in the market due to COVID-19 it’s likely that we’ll see a busier than usual real estate market in the Kitchener- Waterloo area in the autumn and winter this year.
As most people know, staging your home to sell is important, and the good news is that this can be done at any time of the year. However, curb appeal is just as important, and that can be a problem as the weather cools, as all those pretty flowers and shrubs that normally enhance your home’s curb appeal are fading away.
One commonly used solution is to plant evergreen trees. They are lush, colorful and thrive even in the snow. But evergreens offer more than just increased curb appeal, as you’ll find out as you read on.
Provide a Home For Wildlife
You may not see as much wildlife during the winter as you notice during the warmer summer months, but occasionally you might spot animal footprints in the snow, hear a birdsong, or catch a glimpse of a squirrel running up a tree.
Grey squirrels are known to build their nests near the top of evergreen trees, birds of all types (the non-migrating kind) will find shelter amongst the branches, and you might even spot some deer prints in the snow (a good reason to make sure that you have deer protection in place for your trees!).
Bird-watching experts will tell you that the trees not only provide a beautiful green backdrop during the snowy winter months, but they also attract different colors of birds. This is a wonderful thing to watch, not just for you but for potential homebuyers as well.
Add Some Home Protection
Much like trees and their leaves provide shade and relief from the blazing summer sun, evergreen trees protect from harsh winter winds. They can also offer some sound proofing (up to 40%) and can act as an air pollution barrier, depending on the location and conditions.
Because they keep their leaves or needles all year, evergreens also provide year-round privacy to your yard, and work as a natural fence.
Introduce Stunning Natural Colour
The colour green is not only proven to produce a calming effect, but it is also shown to relieve eye strain. And some winter plants provide colour of their own, such as bright red berries of holly and the blue of juniper.
Certain types of holly, like winterberry, lose their leaves but leave bright, beautiful berries to bring a pop of coloru. As an added bonus, deer will generally steer clear of evergreen hollies.
Evergreens To Try in Your Yard
There are all kinds of evergreen shrubs and trees that you can make use of to brighten the winter landscape, feed wildlife and/or provide protection, all while increasing your home’s curb appeal.
Common evergreen conifers include shade-tolerant yews (Taxus), pine (Pinus), hemlock (Tsuga), northern white-cedar or arborvitae (Thuja), red-cedar or juniper (Juniperus), spruce (Picea) and fir (Abies).
Some, such as yews and smaller junipers, are excellent foundation shrubs, while arborvitae can make a good privacy screen and Norway spruce can act as a good wind block. And don’t forget the many different types of holly (such as American holly and inkberry) for that extra pop of red or deep purple!