Knecht's

‘For most people, their house is their most valuable asset. Wisely managing this asset to preserve and enhance its value is one of the keys to successful personal finances.

Because a house can both consume and yield money, making good choices on home improvement expenditures is important. Investing in things that will provide long-term appreciation is a sound plan.

An important feature of investing in anything is to have a plan. A plan requires choices, including some things and excluding others. This is a strategy for limiting expenses and targeting items that have high potential for appreciate in the value of the property.

Studies have shown that good landscaping which is visually appealing and functional in practical ways can add a great deal to the value of a house. Of all the possible investments in landscaping, good quality trees well placed and properly cared for can be one of the items that will result in the largest appreciation in value.

Part of the reason trees are such a good property investment is the way time can work in your favor. Just as compound interest over time will substantially increase the value of savings, each growing season can add value to a quality tree.

Over time, trees get larger and can add a more mature, polished look to a property. Over time, good pruning can add beauty, shape, proportion and strength to a tree.

When a property with top quality trees is compared to a similar property without trees, the property with excellent trees is very likely to bring a significantly higher price, and sell faster.

If your budget is tight, tree planting can be an even bigger item for appreciation. Small trees are less expensive, but with two or three extra years, the small tree can become a beautiful and valuable landscape tree with a little tender loving care, just like a larger more expensive tree.

Save money and get more appreciation when planting small trees. Plant larger trees and get instant impact. Both approached yield good results, with timelines being the main difference.

A beautiful tree in the wrong spot may not be much of an asset. A little expert advice from a knowledgeable nursery professional or a landscape designer may be a very big part of getting the most value out of your investment in trees.

For a reasonable fee a designer can add a great deal of long term value by helping to arrange all the components of a landscape in a way that is both functional from a practical standpoint, and beautiful from a visual perspective. This as much as anything else can give a house the kind of
curb appeal that helps prospective buyers envision it as a home.

For maximum appreciation, plant trees early on, rather than later. For maximum beauty and value in your landscaping, consider hiring a nursery professional or landscape designer to put each landscape element in its best location.

Plant Spotlight: Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple. “King of the Shade Trees” is a label often applied to sugar maples and the new variety called Fall Fiesta looks as if it will live up to the lofty title. This Minnesota selection of sugar maple (also known as hard maple) has a dense shapely upright oval form in youth and broadens gradually with age. A nice mix of yellow, orange and red fall color enables Fall Fiesta to brighten the landscape each autumn. Avoid wet areas with this variety. Well drained, but not excessively sandy soil is preferred. Mature size – Height – 50′ to 70′ and width – 40′.’