Last Updated on February 20, 2026 by Sa’dia Luallen-Blattert
When you’re trying to sell a home, first impressions make all the difference.
Potential buyers have already formed a strong opinion long before they step through the front door:
- They’ve browsed through photos online.
- They’ve driven past the property.
- They’ve made an emotional assessment.
That’s why curb appeal sets the tone. It can determine whether your home gets a quick offer or sits on the market longer than it should.
And when it comes to creating a welcoming, memorable front exterior, more and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of landscaping with native plants.
Why Curb Appeal Matters
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 97% of members say curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer.
REALTOR® Amy Hunsaker-Williams with the EA Group at Keller Williams in Springfield, Missouri, sees this play out every day. “Curb appeal is the first thing buyers see, not just in person but also online,” she says.
When buyers first encounter a home listing online, a lack of curb appeal may actually deter them from viewing the home. On the other hand, strong curb appeal makes buyers more likely to schedule a showing.
And while landscaping typically doesn’t change the home’s appraised value, it significantly impacts a buyer’s perception of value. That perception often translates into stronger offers and faster sales.
“When it is clear that a homeowner has put effort into the exterior, buyers assume the same is true inside the home,” Amy explains. “They assume the home has been well cared for and maintained.”
The Role of Landscape Design in First Impressions
Builders and remodelers tend to focus on interiors first, with landscaping often becoming an afterthought. However, your home’s exterior is where that all-important emotional connection begins.
At Pollen to Petal, we emphasize that landscape design is about more than just planting flowers. The exterior is the first opportunity to make a stunning impression that sets your home apart from the competition.
Poor landscaping makes a home feel uncared for and hurts your chances of attracting a buyer, even if the inside of the home is in pristine condition. Here are some of the biggest turnoffs:
- Overgrown shrubs blocking windows
- Trees crowding eaves
- Walkways hidden under tangled growth
Good landscape design preserves views, allows light into the home, and keeps access points clear. Appealing features include:
- Clear sightlines to windows and entryways
- Balanced proportions between home and garden
- A sense of welcome and openness
- Charm and memorability
And when pollinators flutter through a thoughtfully planted garden? That gives your home a one-of-a-kind personality that buyers will remember.
The Advantages of Landscaping with Native Plants
Buyers want to imagine what it will be like to live in the home. They want to dream about entertaining family and friends, having lovely things to look at, and feeling comfortable with a beautiful landscape that doesn’t require much work.
Native landscaping supports that vision beautifully. For homeowners looking to boost curb appeal, native plants offer many benefits.
#1: Natural Beauty that Fits Where You Live
Native gardens reflect the rhythm of the local region, providing layered textures, seasonal blooms, seed heads in winter, and movement in the breeze.
With proper planning, a native landscape offers year-round interest, so the exterior looks fabulous whether a home hits the market in April or October.
As an added bonus, native plants attract pollinators including birds, butterflies, and bees. This adds a unique vitality that appeals to potential buyers.
#2: Savings on Watering and Maintenance Costs
Did you know that native plants can reduce water usage by 60% to 80%?
Because they are adapted to the local climate and soils, natives require less supplemental watering, less fertilizer, fewer pesticides, and greater resilience during heat or drought. Over time, that translates into dramatically lower maintenance costs for natives compared with traditional turf or exotic plantings.
An established native landscape gives you beauty that holds up well under stress. This allows for optimum curb appeal even for vacant properties. Exotic plants, by comparison, are more likely to wilt in high temperatures without constant watering.
#3: Long-Term Enjoyment of Your Home’s Exterior
Amy doesn’t recommend installing major new landscaping features right before listing a home for sale, because the cost is unlikely to be recovered.
Instead, always design your landscape for yourself first. “I absolutely encourage homeowners to improve their landscaping over time while they live in the home.”
That means choosing and installing landscaping you love. Enjoy it, maintain it, and let it mature. When the time comes to sell, that established, thriving landscape will speak volumes to potential buyers. Popular elements that buyers will appreciate include:
- Outdoor seating areas
- Thoughtfully placed trees
- Pollinator beds
- Layered plantings
Simple Ways to Improve Curb Appeal
If your current landscape design feels a little drab, there are many easy things you can do to spruce up your home’s exterior.
#1: Clean and Define
For starters, refresh your mulch regularly to maintain a crisp, finished look. A quality mulch does so much more than just improve the appearance of your exterior. It also suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and enriches the soil as it decomposes.
Other items for your to-do list include:
- If you’ve got shrubs or trees growing a little too close to the roofline, simply trim them back to maintain attractive sightlines.
- Remove dead branches or unsightly overgrowth for an instantly better appearance.
- Clear debris and wood piles from beds and foundations.
#2: Add Color and Life
Attractive colors bring your front yard to life and create a welcoming appearance.
- If you’ve got reblooming flowers, deadhead them for extended color and beauty.
- Don’t leave broken or empty containers sitting out. Remove and replace them.
- Want more seasonal vibrancy? Incorporate native flowering perennials into your landscaping.
#3: Avoid Overcrowding
Amy cautions that more isn’t necessarily better when it comes to choosing plants. “Declutter your front yard,” she advises. “Avoid overcrowded designs. Too many plants or sculptures can make the front look busy.”
Instead, go for a strategic landscape design that evokes a sense of calm and balance, not chaos.
Ready for a Landscaping Makeover?
The most compelling landscapes aren’t rushed weekend projects. They are thoughtfully planned, well-sited, and allowed to mature.
A resilient native garden takes about three years to fully establish, but once it does, it becomes an asset that continues to give back in terms of beauty, lower costs, less maintenance, ecological health, and increased perceived value – whether you plan to sell in two years or twenty.
At Pollen to Petal, we specialize in landscape designs with native plants, for gardens that feel welcoming, sustainable, and distinctly connected to our region here in Southwest Missouri.
Reach out to us if you’re ready to enhance your curb appeal. We’d love to help you design a landscape that grows more beautiful with time.
