High-rise apartments are getting more in touch with nature. Living on the 40th or 45th floor, for example, can make tenants feel far away from it—and since the pandemic, apartment dwellers are craving closer ties to greenery. In response, more plants are coming to rooftops, lobbies, and balconies.

The Wardian London development in London features two newly built towers of 50 and 55 stories that have greenery cascading over each balcony. The lobby contains 100 different species of exotic plants all across the globe. The swimming pool is lined with palm trees.

During pandemic lockdowns, Kenny Yeo, 32, told The Wall Street Journal that he felt “almost a desperate need to reconnect to nature, and having all the plants in the building is very calming and relaxing.” In his previous apartment, he did not have any greenery. Now, he has added about 16 plants of all different types.

Renters and homeowners alike are embracing biophilic design—which is integrating natural elements into everyday living spaces. Features may include plantings and greenery, outdoor space, large windows, and natural ventilation.

“It is about making our buildings more symbiotic with nature,” Mat Cash, a partner at Heatherwick Studio, the British company that designed the Eden development in Singapore, told The Wall Street Journal. Each of Eden’s balconies is filled with tropical plants. “There is a human desire for the restorative and calming benefits of nature. It is something which is innate in humans. It is not just about planting but about fresh air and natural light, and even in a very hot and humid climate natural ventilation works very, very well.”

U.S. developers are also noticing the desire. One Beverly Hills will begin construction next year and will be a 17.5-acre neighborhood that centers on biophilic design principles. Two apartment buildings will contain 300 homes. Each home will have sliding glass doors that lead out to a curved terrace filled with plants. The development will also feature an 8-acre botanical garden. The development is to be completed by 2027.

“The connection to nature starts when you look out of the window,” says David Summerfield, head of the architectural studio at Foster + Partners, which has planned One Beverly Hills. “The residence lower down will look straight out onto the park, and as you go up there are huge terraces. It is almost like the park is coming up the building and into your apartment.”

Optima Inc. has been adding biophilic design principles to its communities for more than 40 years. It has been offering green roofs, courtyards, and gardens. A vertical landscaping system is on display at its Optima Camelview Village in Scottsdale, Ariz. Several colorful plants grow up and over the ledge of private terraces on each floor of the building.

“This system helps enhance the natural beauty of our projects by allowing a palette of vibrantly colored plants to grow up and over the edge of each private terrace on every floor of the building,” David Hovey Jr., president and COO of Optima Inc., told Multi-Housing News earlier this year.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Key Takeaways:

• More efficient and lighter solar modules help to lower energy bills.
• Experienced installers and module manufacturers recommend how many panels a roof needs based on how much power residents use and other factors.
• Federal tax credits are still available.          

Installing solar panels or modules to convert sunlight into electricity and conserve energy is not a new concept. Back in 1954, researchers at Bell Laboratories demonstrated the first practical silicon solar cell.

But solar power has been heating up over the last 10 years, with a 50% average annual growth rate in the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. This is due, in part, to the Solar Investment Tax Credit put in place in 2006 that now reimburses 26% of the cost for solar systems on residential and commercial properties. Other factors have also played a role, including low interest rates. Homeowners can bundle the cost of panels into their mortgage, says Amy Tovel, marketing manager of Ichijo USA, a company that installs modules on many Pacific Northwest homes.

Many homeowners are becoming more energy conscious, says architect Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, LEED AP, whose Kipnis Architecture + Planning offices are in Chicago and Boulder, Colo. It’s rare for one of his company’s major projects not to include solar panels or wiring for installation later, largely because of increasing efficiency, he says.

Still another reason is that more areas are enacting mandates. California regulators recently voted to require builders to include solar power and battery storage in new commercial and high-rise residential projects, as of Jan. 1, 2023. The state of Washington now requires new homes to have energy credits, as of Feb. 1, 2021, and solar panels represent one option to attain them. Homes greater than 5,000 square feet require additional credit. To meet those criteria, MN Custom Homes doubles the amount of solar panels for its larger homes, says vice president Ben Brittingham.

Lastly, the panels have become less of an eyesore due to improved aesthetics, whether on a roof or in a yard stationed on the ground—sometimes preferred due to the absence of trees—says Suvi Sharma, founder and director of Solaria Corp., a Fremont, Calif.-based solar manufacturer focused on the residential market.

But as the field grows crowded with manufacturers and installers touting longer-lasting solar systems with greater efficiency and less cost, deciding which one to choose requires research.

“The promises some companies make are wildly flowing,” cautions Madison, Conn.-based architect Duo Dickinson. Another caveat is the cost fluctuation of panels due to tariffs on imports, now at 18%. Though these are set to expire next February, China remains a top location for manufacturers.

But home buyers seeking a new home may not have to make choices as more developers and builders incorporate solar during construction.  

That’s the case with Pearl Homes’ new community, Hunters Point, in Cortez, Fla. Owner Marshall Gobuty wanted to construct the first NetZero LEED certified community in the U.S. “Anybody can build a house but not everybody can reduce the carbon footprint,” Gobuty says, adding, “Our goal is to build homes that generate more power than they consume.”

Hunters Point home rendering.

When completed by early 2022, all 86 homes, averaging 3,300 square feet, will have roof panels, WaterSense plumbing and fixtures, and GE EnergyStar appliances. Though the company is still deciding which panels to use, they are going with installer my-RESI out of Millstone Township, N.J., and sonnen’s ecoLinx energy storage system, which Gobuty believes offers the most efficient, safest battery, and a 25-year warranty. Homeowners will pay a fixed fee to the HOA for a set amount of power and backup.

But homeowners should be aware that having solar power doesn’t eliminate an electric bill since there’s still a fee to be connected to the grid, says James O’Connor, director of marketing for Salt Lake City-based installer, Go Solar Group.

Here’s what home buyers who are working with a builder or architect on a new home—or retrofitting an existing home—should consider when choosing components from various providers to make solar work.  

1. Roof and house orientation. How much surface solar modules cover on a roof or how big the installation is on the ground makes a difference in the amount of energy produced. Generally, they are placed facing south or west to be exposed to the most sunlight, optimizing power, says Dickinson. Pearl Homes’ will cover 88% to 92% of a roof surface. Covering 100% may produce more power than occupants can use.

2. Panels. In recent years, panels have become more efficient, thinner, and better looking, thanks to monocrystalline designs that use a single photovoltaic cell rather than several cells that the older polycrystalline designs relied on. As a result, the updated panels can occupy less roof space because they pack in more power, O’Connor says.    

The number of panels installed is generally based on the amount of electricity occupants use, which is why an installer often asks for 12 months of electric bills, says Mike Koehler, vice president and solar business developer for Gardner Capital, St. Louis. If the next owner of a solar powered house uses more electricity, they might request a larger array, he says.

What this means for a homeowner who chooses a newer 400W panel, for example, versus older 370W panel, is that they may only need to install 38 panels instead of 41 and save about 33 square feet of roof space, Koehler says. And because the 400W panel is more efficient, it will generate more electricity, he says.

Installers also need to know local ordinances. For example, Evanston, Ill., doesn’t allow panels to stick up past a roof’s ridge line or be visible from the street if the roof is flat, says Kipnis. They also need to know local utility rules since some will buy back excess power, Koehler says. Rocky Mountain Power, which services most Utah customers, gives credit for excess energy, says Scott Cramer, president of Go Solar Group.  

3. Batteries. Extra energy can be stored in batteries. Different solar panel manufacturers prefer different battery companies. For example, Solaria buys batteries from Sonnen, Sharma says.

4. Installers. Installation costs have dropped as more installers have entered the niche and become more experienced, says O’Connor. Besides the modules and batteries, homeowners who go solar need an inverter to hold panels, wiring in place, and a meter. Sharma suggests homeowners ask installers which modules they use, the price of each panel, number needed, what they look like, how much shipping to the site will be, and if permits are needed.

5. Costs and return on investment. A typical panel system might run between $15,000 and $25,000, which includes ancillary equipment and labor, Koehler says. Yearly savings vary greatly depending on the utility and if it offers incentives, he says. The good news is that a typical warranty lasts a long time; Solaria’s is 25 years, Sharma says.

How much money is saved also depends on how a purchase is made. “If someone pays out of pocket, it may take seven to 10 years for a payback, but if someone leases the system, the savings will be less per month, but the homeowner has no upfront investment,” Koehler says. 

One caveat relates to whether a solar system will increase a home’s value. One study from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that the panels are viewed as upgrades and home buyers have been willing to pay a premium of about $15,000 for an average-sized solar system. Additionally, the homes sell faster than those without solar.

Brittingham of MN Custom Homes thinks that the ethical rather than financial reasons are becoming a bigger buyer incentive. “A return on investment is still longer term since there are still big out-of-pocket expenses,” he says.

Another caveat is that not all homeowners benefit equally from having a solar system. Those who live in a house with a lot of trees that block sunlight will see less benefit, as will those who already use little electricity or have inexpensive electricity.

Increasing energy costs are spurring more homeowners to go solar, but an abundance of choices in the field can make the decision daunting. Help homeowners weigh the options with these five considerations.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Many homeowners are still reluctant to work out in gyms as COVID-19 remains a threat. Here’s how they can outfit a space without spending a bundle.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need a dedicated, tricked-out space to get fit.
• New exercise apps, a little floor space, and a few pieces of equipment can help get your clients moving.
• Homeowners should keep essentials organized so the room can function for other uses.

In the 1980s and ‘90s, when houses were getting bigger and fancier with all sorts of specialty spaces—theaters with stadium seating, giant aquariums, rathskellers, and sports courts—some homeowners would bring in dozens of pieces of gym equipment, install cushioned flooring, line a wall with mirrors, and add a TV or sound system to create a home workout space that could rival a commercial fitness center.

That’s a costly investment, especially when some folks lose motivation and interest. Worst case scenario: Their treadmills and ellipticals machines become a clothing rack.

Then came the pandemic, and at its peak, six out of 10 members stopped going to their local gym. Two-thirds of those pursued a fitness routine on their own, according to a study by ClubIntel of 2,000 U.S. gyms.

Thanks to technology, there has been a huge uptick in Zoom and livestreamed workout options offered both by gyms that have designed hybrid in-person and online classes, as well as a host of entrepreneurs’ and manufacturers’ new exercise apps.

These make it easy to exercise at home and on the go and have inspired many homeowners to clear a room or space to do their jumping jacks, downward dogs, and bicycle rides—sometimes competing against strangers across the country or around the globe.

In fact, Houzz, the online home site, says since the beginning of the pandemic, it has seen a 156% increase in searches for home gyms.

But in this go-around, fitness experts say having a large, swanky space expensively outfitted with the latest cardio, weight training, and core-enhancing equipment is not essential.

Moreover, those items won’t guarantee added value to a house for resale except to those specifically looking for a finished workout room or an area where they can create one, says Linda Bright, a premier luxury specialist with Illustrated Properties in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. If the room’s over-the-top, and buyers have no interest, it could be the first thing dismantled, says real estate salesperson Barb St. Amant of Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International Realty.

However, having a smaller, appointed space offers benefits for those interested, says Nora Crosthwaite, a salesperson with RE/MAX Precisions, who also owns the online staging company, Stagerie. In her Des Moines, Iowa market, Crosthwaite says homeowners like to fix up basements for this purpose in the area’s many ranch-style homes. Homeowners should be sure a basement is dry before investing in any remodel.

In the case of homes without a basement or a separate room, clients can use a multipurpose space where equipment can be organized, Bright says. “It gives potential buyers an idea of how they might use the room in different ways to show its flexibility, which is what many buyers are after, especially now when there is such low inventory,” she says.

All sorts of rooms offer this potential, including an oversized bathroom, sitting area off a bedroom, home office, walk-in closet, garage, accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or outdoor area in good weather, says Melissa Wirt, founder of Connexusliving, which brings amenities and fitness classes to multifamily communities through content from the company’s base in Murrells Inlet, S.C.. “What’s important,” she says, “is that a homeowner can enter a space or area and focus on the programming they choose rather than specific equipment.” 

What also helps make an indoor room suitable is good ventilation, natural or artificial lighting, a proper floor—rubber matting, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) planks, carpeting, or wood flooring with cushioning underneath, and a mirror to maintain proper form and alignment, depending on the activity, says Wirt. Any of these items should be easy to switch out to make the room function for another purpose. Ceiling height is also important, and why some basements shorter than 8’ won’t work, Crosthwaite says.

In setting up the room or area, homeowners should arrange items to be accessible. “They shouldn’t have to move the coffee table every time they work out,” says Cathy Spencer-Browning, vice president of programming and training at Atlanta-based MOSSA, which provides group fitness programs and MOSSA on Demand, including a range of classes via streaming for homeowners.

Minneapolis-based Wellbeats offers more than 900-plus classes in a range of exercises for close to 2,500 multifamily buildings and other wellness-minded businesses, says Tim Bowen, senior vice president of sales. “The digital world is meeting the need for knowledge and versatility in working out, not with equipment that replicates a gym but by offering people great instruction and a way to be both movement and mindfulness oriented,” he says. “Consumer behavior has changed. They may not race to a gym then to work, but if working from home they may want a break, even a one-minute breathing exercise.”

Establishing an exercise routine that appeals is critical, says Spencer-Browning. “The best workout to do at home is the one they’ll stick with because they enjoy it,” she says. They should ask: Am I a self-directed exerciser or prefer to be told exactly what to do? If they’re not sure, they should try out a few choices and if they like it, support it with a few accessories that help pursue it such as a mat for yoga, along with music, a TV, or candles, she says. “Otherwise, they won’t continue. This is why there are so many bikes for sale on eBay!” she says.

Wirt also suggests finding content with a trainer whose workouts appeal and offers new challenges to make exercising fun. “We can’t lose sight of the social aspect of feeling connected with people,” she says.

Hudson Valley, N.Y., fitness trainer Regan Szczepanowska, a former professional dancer, says it’s important that the trainer—whether virtual or a person they meet with live—has proper training, which can be checked by looking at their credentials such as from an organization like the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Association of Sports Medicine. “Then, they should make it part of their lifestyle to be diligent,” she says.

By making careful selections, a homeowner can meet all their workout needs, whether cardio, strength training, flexibility, mobility, or mindfulness.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

One of the newest amenities builders are including in housing developments to attract buyers is electric vehicle charging stations. Learn more about this feature that’s growing in popularity among your clients.

Key Takeaways:

• Developers are including charging stations in new multifamily buildings to future-proof their investment.
• Even if they’re not installed in a new development, more builders are adding wiring to homes and buildings so charging stations can be added later.
• Options and costs vary so the amenity warrants good research.

As more car manufacturers add electric vehicles to their fleets, those who own or lease them know the value of having a charging station in their single-family house, multifamily condo, or apartment building. 

And their popularity is only expected to grow. A recent report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance shows that by 2040, electric vehicles will make up the majority of new car sales worldwide and account for 33% of all light-duty vehicles on the road.

Another factor fueling numbers may be the increase in companies manufacturing charging stations, says Cassie Layton, senior director of marketing at El Segundo, Calif.–based EV Connect, a firm that develops software for the stations—what she calls the “brains behind the units.”

But exactly how important are charging stations to home buyers as they shop for their next home?

“It’s a plus but not a necessity—yet,” says real estate salesperson Stephanie Mallios, with Compass RE NJ in Short Hills, N.J., who works with buyers of single-family homes, townhomes, and condos. Many equate it to a hip amenity like a Nest thermostat, wine refrigerator, or yoga room, she says. “It shows the homeowners are cool, and that future buyers will have one less thing to do,” says Mallios, who built two charging stations into her own home’s garage.

At the same time, it’s wise to share with buyers that the amenity’s appeal may be greater with cohorts of certain ages and certain geographic markets. For example, in San Diego, salesperson Ayush Vats with Willis Allen Real Estate says he is seeing more first-time millennial buyers actively look for houses with charging stations.

It’s among the top five features 60% to 70% of these buyers want, in part because they own an EV or intend to purchase one in the next year or so, Vats says. But it’s also because of their ideology that they want to be green. As a result, he finds it’s easier to market a house with at least one station, he says. 

But Vats finds that if a house lacks a charging station but has everything else a buyer wants, it doesn’t kill the sale. Most stations he sees are located in a garage, but some are on the side of the house.

Architect Joshua Zinder, a managing partner at JZA+D in Princeton, N.J., is among those who think a station is a good investment. “The developers and builders we work with are considering support for EVs for all residential projects, both single- and multifamily,” he says.

Zinder also finds that EV-ready homes command a premium in most markets. He added to his home a charging station with a 110-volt outlet, providing an overnight charge for a range of 30 to 50 miles, which suits most of his day-to-day needs.

However, salesperson Jeff Rosenbloom, with Red Oak Realty, has found that buyers in his East Bay area of San Francisco rarely make a station one of their top five criteria. If a home happens to have green features, that’s good, but they’re not seeking them out, he says. “Maybe, they’ll add one once they own a house, but usually only if it has solar panels,” he says. 

When it comes to the multifamily housing market, charging stations seem to command a high level of interest, and more developers are including the feature or at least wiring buildings they’re constructing so they can be added. “It’s less costly to do so at the start of a project than as a retrofit,” says developer David Goldman, co-CEO of Chicago-based Belgravia Group, whose firm now designs all its multifamily buildings with stations. “It’s not even a question if we do it anymore,” he says. And Dranoff Properties, in Philadelphia, included four at its One Riverside project and will have eight at its Arthaus development.

Another reason developers are installing stations is that they’re relatively inexpensive at the time of construction as long as the building or home has the electrical capacity. Then, it’s the cost of the system, plus an electrician’s hourly labor charge.

However, in an existing building, installation costs more. Architect Jay Szymanski, a principal at The Architectural Team (T.A.T.) in Chelsea, Mass., says the cost to install a two-port charger in some urban areas can be as much as $20,000. That may include an upgrade in capacity for the electrical load, according to Seth Cutler, senior vice president of technical operations at EV Connect, who says the typical upgrade costs between $1,500 and $7,500.

Still, there are other reasons developers add them: In some municipalities and states, for example, it’s become a requirement that new buildings include some, says Layton. Keith Gillan, president of Maryland-based Murn Management, part of Murn, which also does development and construction for multifamily communities, says that’s the case in Howard County, Md.

Szymanski of T.A.T. says some cities and towns in Massachusetts are also mandating that developers include them in new multifamily properties, whether in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill, mixed-use rental complexes, suburban settings, or senior and assisted living buildings. “We’re now seeing projects where our team is asked to build in capacity and infrastructure for adding more stations in the future as well,” he says.

Manufacturers and utilities are also offering reimbursement incentives to make it enticing for building owners and homeowners to buy a station, though their programs differ, Layton says. Many developers take the attitude of maximizing savings for capital expenses and provide them to future-proof a building, she adds. “It’s also a way for them to gain a competitive advantage in the same way individual washer-dryer units do in many markets,” Layton says.

Even some homeowners who don’t yet own an EV gravitate to buildings and houses that have charging stations. “They want to know they can have one if they buy an electric vehicle,” Goldman says.

Calculating the number of stations needed for a multifamily building can require some experience and data. Goldman’s firm is installing 12 spots with EV stations in its Triangle Square Condos development in Chicago, which will have a total of 72 units. The designated EV spots will cost $30,000. But the building is being designed so its electrical system can handle more if needed, even though Goldman anticipates that only 5% to 10% of buyers will opt for one, based on prior developments.

Apartment building developers are hopping on the bandwagon. Gillan of Murn Management includes one station for every 20 apartments. “Younger renters aren’t willing to pay more to have one but expect it,” he says. “We include it as an amenity, not a profit center.”

When guiding home buyers or renter clients, advise them to do their research. The biggest differences between varied charging formats are the voltage and the connection interface, says Szymanski. “With this kind of new and emerging technology, it’s important for developers, owners, and operators to build in as much flexibility and adaptability as possible,” he says. Gillan says it’s also important to know what software a station uses, the rate at which it provides electricity, and how it’s billed.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

More than a third of survey respondents ranked these two colors as their least favorite.

America’s least desired colors for home decoration: orange and pink.

This is the result of a survey of more than 1,500 consumers by Modsy, an online interior design service. More than a third of survey respondents ranked these two colors as their least favorite, Apartment Therapy reports on the findings.

“We associate orange with things that need our attention—traffic cones and construction signs—which can sometimes be overstimulating in a home,” Lindsay T. Graham, a social psychologist at U.C. Berkeley, told Apartment Therapy as a possible reason for the orange distaste in the survey.

Pink may be a calmer hue but “pink has become very gendered,” Graham adds. “We’re conditioned to think of pink as denoting something demure and feminine, and that association is so strong that it feels like a big statement to use it in a space.”

Purple and yellow also were low on the popularity list of consumers using them in home design. However, people who did use these colors tended to report positive associations with the space they live in, the report notes.

Overall, homeowners favored the color blue in home decoration, often attributing a calming effect to the color, according to the Modsy survey. The top five favorite colors to use in home decor are white, green, black, and brown.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

With fall color waning in most parts of the country—and many leaves already on the ground—it’s time to encourage homeowners to put their gardens to bed for the winter ahead.

Landscape designer Michael Glassman started his fall yard and garden work shortly before Halloween. Late October to mid-November is the perfect time to weed, prune, and mulch to prepare for chilly winter and then the spring growing season. Even those homeowners who live in a warm climate have their work cut out for them, says Glassman, whose eponymous firm is based in Sacramento, Calif.

The goal is to take care of flowers, shrubs, trees, herbs, vegetables, and the lawn to ensure they remain healthy as temperatures dip and the plants come back robust in spring.

Flowers and foliage can still look attractive as the season changes. For example, branches should be pruned rather than remain scraggly. Beds should be mulched with a layer of wood chips, tree bark, leaves, or other organic material. Taking the time to do these things also helps keep up a yard’s curb appeal. It’s also the neighborly thing to do.

Here are eight garden tips homeowners should pursue before winter arrives.

1. Plant. Fall is a good time to plant in many locations, says Jenny Rydebrink, CEO and founder of Gardenize, an app and website that helps gardeners organize, track, and share projects and photos.

“Even if plants don’t look very nice in the store, it’s the roots that need to be healthy, not the leaves or flowers,” she says. “Go shopping for ugly but healthy bargains.” 

What’s good to buy now, Rydebrink says, are small herbaceous perennials that are a few inches tall with roots still young and sensitive. “But there is absolute no rule regarding size. The idea is if you have plants, you are not sure will survive the winter, it might not be worthwhile planting them in their final spot,” she says.

If you plant them in pots, you can keep them in a sheltered place where you will see them on a regular basis, Rydebrink says. “Keep an eye on them—that way you remember to water them if the plant gets dry.”

She defines a sheltered place as somewhere not too windy or sunny. “Depending on where in the country you live, it’s normally good to keep the plant on the side of the house where it gets some sun during the day, but not so much that it dries out too fast.”  

Another advantage of keeping plants in pots is that it buys homeowners time to decide where to plant them in the ground if they’re not sure. You can even plant bulbs in pots in layers, she says. “Start with the bigger bulbs like tulips and plant smaller bulbs such as snowdrops on top.”

Most shrubs can also be planted safely in fall because they won’t experience surface growth that could be killed by freezing temperatures, or damage their root development, says Glassman.

Shade trees, such as maples and gingkoes, can also be planted in the fall, and doing so allows a homeowner to know what colors they will turn. Even two of the same kind of tree may change to different colors, Glassman says.

Katie Ketchum, an offsite farm coordinator for the nonprofit Community Food Share food bank in Boulder, Colo., says she planted her last crop—garlic—on Oct. 21. She also continues to do some cover cropping of winter rye.

“Instead of leaving the ground soil bare, the seeds help to fix the nutrients in the soil and stop the soil from eroding,” she says.

2. Transplant. For those whose plants or shrubs have grown too large for their spot, or they simply don’t like where they are, fall is a good time to transplant deciduous materials, again if the soil and weather cooperate. Glassman says it’s important to wait until leaves have fallen, which signals the plant or shrub is dormant.

3. Weed and cut back. Glassman cuts back his perennials in fall so they don’t look overgrown or wild and topple over. He leaves only new growth showing and removes everything else. When it comes to weeds, he suggests pulling them out by the root to be sure they’re fully removed. “Do so on a day after it’s rained to make it easier since the soil will be softer,” he says. But weeding is also something that can be done all year as the need arises. By removing weeds in the fall, they’re less likely to survive and come back next year, Ketchum says.

4. Prune trees. Generally, November through March is a good time to prune since most trees are dormant by then and less susceptible to insects and other diseases, Glassman says. If branches aren’t pruned, snow may weigh them down and snap them, he says. Rydebrink, however, prefers to trim roses in early spring and trees like cherry in winter. For big bushes like crape myrtles and weeping redbuds, Glassman recommends waiting until leaves have fully dropped off and the tree or plant has gone through its changes of colors and absorbed food.

5. Mulch. Mulching adds a tidy around garden beds and trees. It stops weeds from growing, insulates roots during colder months so they don’t freeze, and prevents nutrient loss. But there are caveats homeowners should consider. Too much mulch can add excess moisture that may rot roots. Too little mulch lets sunlight in to nourish weeds. Glassman likes to layer more mulch by roots, often 3 to 4 inches, and less than or about 1 inch around the crown and stems. He also prefers to use fir, redwood chips, or other organic material and likes a black color that pops in the landscape. Rydebrink uses pine mulch as well as leaves and dead plant materials. For her, the amount depends on how compact the mulch is. Ketchum likes shredded leaf moss, straw mulch, compost, or a combination. Remulch as needed.

6. Turn off the water. Remind homeowners to turn off their outside water sources, including the lines to their in-ground sprinklers, so piping and other parts won’t freeze and burst. Empty all water hoses and watering cans, Rydebrink says. Glassman also advises covering a pool during winter in cold climates. In his area, excess water is drained from pools.

7. Care for the lawn. The final cutting should leave grass 1 to 2 inches high. Leaves can be raked away or cut into small pieces, so they don’t create a slippery surface. Then, let the lawn rest in fall and sleep during winter, Rydebrink says.

8. Store furnishings. Lawn and patio furnishings also need to be protected during winter. Bring in cushions and other items susceptible to damage from nature’s elements, from umbrellas to wood furniture, ceramic and other pots, and any pool toys or wooden croquet sets. “You don’t want anything to get moldy,” Glassman says.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission