I've actually learned so much as a homeowner myself about home landscaping and gardening. I'm out there just about every day trimming, watering, and making sure everything is "happy".
If you're prepping your home for sale, one of the things you really want to focus on that may really separate you from the competition is making sure a good percentage of your landscaping are the type of foliage that will thrive in the fall and winter.
A large percentage of plants and shrubbery that thrive in the spring and summer will lose their leaves and/or become dormant during the fall and winter months.
This really can make your home look unnattractive (and even spooky in some cases).
The key is to replace them with evergreen bushes and trees, and if they are blooming types, then make sure they are either those that will bloom in the fall and winter, or are perennial bloomers.
For example, pansies will bloom in the fall and spring. Their delicate flowers and fun colors are quite deceiving because they are a very hearty plant.
Also shrubbery such as Carolina cherrys or Carolina compacts are evergreen trees and bushes that look stunning all year long.
Now is also the best time to re-seed your lawn as you will get some rains and the severe cold will come when the new grass has matured and started to root.
Also remember to set your sprinkler systems back a little as less water is typically needed in the fall and winter months due to less evaporation by strong sun.
Depending on the region where you live, most local nurseries will give you the info you need as far as which plants grow best and that are more native to your region.
If you pay attention to your landscaping, your house will really pop in the face of many other listings that look half-dead!!
