Tag Archives: Las Vegas Landscaping

Landscaping for Curb Appeal and Safety

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When you prepare your Las Vegas Home for Sale, even if you haven’t really researched the art of “staging,” you instinctively know that the interior of your house should look well lit, neat and clean, with shined appliances, well-organized closets, vacuumed carpets, polished tile and counter tops, neatly arranged furniture groupings, and, of course, no clutter. Same goes for the garage; cleaned up oil stains and an uncluttered appearance.

But, what about your home’s exterior? Aside from having the paint refreshed or the siding steam cleaned, etc., many people pay little or no attention to the importance of landscaping, other then being aware that the lawn should be mowed and reseeded if there are any dead spots.

It’s important to remember that the potential buyer’s first impression of your home is what is seen from the outside, a feature of the home known in real estate lingo as “curb appeal.”

No matter what the interior of the home looks like, the buyer’s immediate impression of a home that is beautifully landscaped will make the buyer want to look more closely at the property.

Shrubbery planted close to the homes foundation, for example, in particular shrubs that are planted in front of windows, should not be allowed to grow high enough to obscure the view, for two reasons; shrubs that obscure windows make rooms darker and less inviting, and shrubs that obscure windows can make good cover for thieves who can work at prying open a window without being observed.

Similarly, thickly planted groupings of trees and shrubs should not be so close to the home’s foundation as to obscure a clear view of the front and garage doors from the street. Those kinds of groupings can not only hide the homes best features and make the appearance claustrophobic but again make perfect hiding places for bad guys.

From a buyers’ point of view, a home obscured by a dense forest of shrubs and trees could elicit a response such as, “why should I buy it if I can’t see it?”

Well-kept and colorful flower beds make a nice touch, as do strategically placed potted plants and flowers around the home’s entrance and the patio.

Don’t forget the back yard as well. The back yard doesn’t have to be lavishly landscaped, just neat. A play area for the kids is nice, a few trees and neatly trimmed shrubs, and healthy, mowed grass will look fine.

If your yard is walled and backs on to a busy street, there is an evergreen shrub called Pyracantha that is ideally suited to our desert climate, -being drought resistant and not affected by hot winds- and is a perfect addition to the backyard landscaping, providing both privacy and safety.

Grown as espaliers on fences or walls, it features small white flowers in the spring, and its berries will attract birds in the fall months. Pyracantha provides privacy, and helps stifle noise pollution with its dense, glossy green foliage, and safety due to its long, needle sharp thorns.

When planting be aware that Pyracantha can reach fifteen feet in height and ten feet in width.  Don’t forget to teach the kids to stay away. The family dog will learn quickly on its own.

Las Vegas Residential Landscaping

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All too often, new residents in the Las Vegas area make the wrong choices when deciding on landscaping for their home.  If you have recently arrived in the Valley from another state, you may want to plant the same shrubs, trees and flowers that you had in your yard back home.  The plantings you enjoyed in rainy, humid tropical Florida or cool and damp Oregon will not thrive in the dry heat of Las Vegas.

Surrounding yourself with the same landscaping with which you are familiar sounds wonderful in theory but in practice, here in the Mojave Desert, it will not work!  We have a specific type of climate here that presents a challenge to gardeners:  poor soil and very dry conditions with only 4 inches of rain per year.

However, our growing season is long with approximately 265 days from the last killing spring frost in early March to the first fall frost in early November.  Here in the hottest region of Nevada at an elevation of 2,162 feet, summer temperatures of 105 degrees are common – with occasional highs reaching from 110 to 116.

Before beginning your landscaping, be aware that if you have any allergies, these are some of the plantings that contribute to distribution of pollen:  Bermuda grass, privet and the lovely flowering oleander which blooms from spring through fall but is a poisonous shrub.   Two other types of trees that have made a heavy contribution to Las Vegas allergies are the olive and mulberry, which were not native to the area but were brought here by new residents.

By the way, statistics and our local allergists tell us that at this time, approximately 25 per cent of Las Vegans suffer from seasonal allergies.

Researching the Las Vegas desert plants should be considered and Sunset Western Gardens Books offer a wealth of information for gardeners.  Also, there are several good local nurseries that will answer questions about what plantings are best for this area.

Cacti, of course, are always a good bet for our climate since their need for water is minimal and they thrive in our dry heat.  These native plants come in a large variety of sizes and shapes and many of them put forth striking blooms.   They are easy to grow and usually grow very fast.

Some other trees to be considered – which are native to the desert – are palm trees such as the Sago and Desert Fan Palm.  Like the hardy cactus, these trees do not require much water and will work with our local landscaping environment, instead of fighting it.

If you live in a home in a community that is governed by a home owners association, you will be required to submit a landscaping plan to the board of directors to ensure that your plantings are in harmony with the overall landscaping of the neighborhood.

Las Vegas Landscaping

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Landscaping is an important aspect of a home. Not only does is it reflect your personality and bring enjoyment to family and friends, it also enhances your neighborhood, increases property value and can even help to reduce energy bills.

If you have just purchased your home or are looking to transform the look of your current home, there are many things to consider while trying to come up with the perfect design to fit your needs. Not only do you need to come up with the perfect look, but you need to consider what type of landscape will thrive in the desert of Southern Nevada.

The Colorado River basin is main source of water for the Las Vegas Valley which has been facing the worst drought on record. Because of this the Southern Nevada Water Authority has developed a Drought Plan. This should also be taken into consideration when designing the landscape for your Las Vegas Home. There are certain limitations and restrictions that apply based on the drought status.

In order to help you conserve water and save money, the Southern Nevada Water Authority offers a Water Smart Landscape Rebate program in which they will provide a rebate of $1 for every square foot of grass you replace with a more water-efficient landscape. According to SNWA every square foot of grass replaced with Water Smart trees, shrubs, and flowers saves 55 gallons of water per year which also saves you, the homeowner, money. Here are some other landscape tips provided by SNWA to help manage your bill and maintain a healthy yard:

  • Set your sprinklers to three four minute cycles a day. It is best to set the cycles one hour apart to allow the water to soak into the ground.
  • All three cycles should be done early in the morning before the sun comes up to avoid water loss due to evaporation.
  • Avoid watering on windy days and rainy days.
  • There are warm season grasses that require less water (such as Bermuda grass).
  • Check irrigation system often and replace broken parts immediately. Sprinkler heads that water driveways, sidewalks and walls cause a water waste.

If you are planning on new landscaping or sprucing up your old landscaping, take the time to research what it is you want to accomplish. We recommend contacting a licensed Landscaping Company to assist you as they know what will flourish in the Las Vegas Desert.