(NAPSA)—It’s going to take a while to dig out of the housingcrisis. Some analysts predict falling homeprices this year, while others predict modest gains in somecities. “Your house is the biggest investment you'll ever make, so it’s important to protect that investment inside and outside,” said Lance Walheim, “Landscaping for Dummies” co-author and lawn and garden expert for Bayer Advanced™. According to a 2009 study by Texas Tech, for every $1 you spend to dramatically improve an average landscape, you'll receive $1.35 in increased property value. Painting, updating bathrooms, kitchens and lighting fixtures, and sprucing up cabinets and doors with new hardware will improvetheinterior of your home. Here are some tips for protect- ing your landscaping investment and improving curb appeal: Make a snap judgment: Stand in the front of your yard and look at your house and property. What’s yourfirst impression? If your home doesn’t impress you, then it’s not going to impress neighbors, home appraisers or potential buyers. It’s time to attack the problem areas. Prune your shrubs: Your shrubbery should be neat and natural looking. Make sure you leave about a foot between your shrubs and your houseto prevent mildew, rot, ants and termites from attacking your home. Prune your trees: Remove branches that could fall and cause Improving an average landscape can put moneyin your pocket. injury or property damage. You should also remove diseased or insect-infested wood and prune to enhance the natural look of your trees. Protect against destructive pests: Asian longhorned beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, adult Japanese beetles, gypsy moths and tent caterpillars are some of the most common pests that will destroy your trees or shrubsifleft unchecked. Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed IT (www. BayerAdvanced.com) helps you protect your trees from destructive pests. Mix it with water and apply it around the roots of the tree. It protects for up to 12 months. Always read and follow label directions. e Add some color: Add some pansies, violas, snapdragons and primroses around mailbox posts, driveway and walkway entrances and other sunny spots to make your landscapepop. Finally, it’s a good idea to spotcheck your landscape for any problems while you mow your grass. That’ll save you time and help keep minorissues from getting bigger.
