Attractive landscaping is one of the best ways to make a solid first impression on prospective buyers, and to show that a home is well loved and cared for. Appealing landscaping can be simple or more complex, involving an intermingling of elements, from colorful flower beds and unique trees, to irrigation systems, hardscaping and thoughtful accent lighting. Home owners can transform their properties through informed choices-- the benefits will be reaped whether they're selling or have just moved in and plan to stay for years. Either way, it is worth taking the time to draw up a landscaping plan that will improve the resale value of your home, and your home's overall enjoyment value.

Before jumping into any project, it is recommended that you have a general knowledge of the kinds of plants and greenery that will thrive in the area you are living in, and in the kind of soil you are planting in. You should do some research and learn about your yard's various components:

Soil Condition:

To analyze your soil's current condition, you can purchase a kit from a local garden center, or consider contacting a local college extension service. Your analysis will determine the soil's PH balance. It is important to note that most plants thrive in near-neutral PH conditions, but some like slightly acidic soil.

Sunlight

Draw up a map of your outside property and record where the sun strikes your yard at different times of day. Get to know the effect of the sun on your property throughout the year.

Drainage

The type of soil you have will effect the drainage. For example a clay soil may drain poorly. Poor drainage prevents nutrients and oxygen from reaching plant roots. Of course, soil is a variable you can change and replace- unlike sunlight!

Climate Zones

Climate zones, are guide to help you know which plants will grow where you live, so you don't plant materials that will soon die as they can't survive the region's temperatures. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is what you should refer to. This map factors in average winter minimum temperatures. The collection of information starts with Zone 1, where minimum temperatures can go down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and ranges to Zone 11, for the lucky gardeners in Hawaii and extreme Southern Florida, where lows don't drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once you have an idea of the plants you can and want to use, and have established some basic ideas, you should decide if you would like to hire a landscape architect to draw up a plan for you, or, if you feel confident enough, you can draw up your own plans.

Here are some helpful tips:

- Opt for year round color. If you want a landscape that retains character and punch year round, there are plant/shrubs you can purchase that will achieve just that. Some examples of plants that offer year-round color are: evergreen aborvita, junipers and boxwood. You can also mix things up by planting shrubs that bloom in the winter months, alongside the many choices for summer bloomers. Some plants and shrubs that will give you winter color are: witch hazel (blooms yellow, orange or red), dogwood arctic fire ( has bold red stems), Japanese pieris ( blooms red,white or pink).

- Plant Trees! Trees offer shade, privacy and protection from the elements, and they look pretty. Properly placing just three trees can save an average household between $100 and $250 in annual energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. And a report from Arbor National Mortgage found that 84 percent of practitioners believe that a house on a treed lot would fetch at least 20 more than one on a lot without trees.

- Imagine ways to make your yard more livable. A yard can be transformed into livable outdoor "rooms" Envision the potential for well-equipped outdoor kitchens, pizza ovens and fire pits. Likewise, a simple bench that takes advantage of a sunny spot, or a view can add the simple value of peace and pleasure to any yard.

- Think of hardscape elements that will add an interesting dynamic in terms of color and height variance. For example, consider building a pergola. A pergola is a set of columns supporting a roof of trellis work on which climbing plants can grow, A pergola like other hardscape elements, adds architectural interest, vertical growing space for colorful plants, and shade.

- If you are on a budget, container gardens are an inexpensive approach to gardening. Pots are an affordable, portable way to embellish an entry, line a path and to decorate the inside or outside of your home. You can add a great color scheme by choosing pots in colors that compliment the flowers/plants/herbs growing inside them. Pots that match or compliment the color of your front door add visual flair and curb appeal.