Out & About Magazine Autumn 2020

GARDENING

The most desirable outdoor plants that increase your chance of selling your house

A recent survey of housebuyers put hydrangeas at the top of the list of most desirable plants to enhance the outside of a property. The survey also discovered that 67 per cent of people are more inclined to view a house if the garden is up to scratch, as it means less work and better views. When asked what they look for in a front garden, 53 per cent stated that easily-maintained plants are important. Only 24 per cent would be willing to upkeep their garden more than once a week. Surveying 3,400 people, OnBuy’s Garden Furniture sector presented images of 20 similar-looking houses with different plants in the front garden and asked respondents to rank the houses from most to least desirable Hydrangeas rank first, with 78 per cent choosing them as most desirable. The bold flowers are perfect as the ever-changing blooms bring a new sense of character to the front garden. Lilies came second in the survey with 71 per cent of potential buyers thinking that they make a home’s exterior more attractive. Lavender is the third most desired choice, with the fragrant flowering plant attracting 64 per cent of respondents’ attention. Another popular choice was shrub roses as they bring a country feel to the home, followed by mimosa/acacia dealbata, petunia and lilac dwarf flowerfest. OnBuy found that 67 per cent are more inclined to view a house if the garden is well maintained and one in five believe it is among the most important features of a home OnBuy asked all participants in the survey to choose their top five favourite front garden flowers out of shrub roses, marigold, sweet asylum,

Feng shui and garden plants

hydrangea, ferns, buxus topiary, dwarf butterfly bush, lavender, boxwood, arborvitae, petunia, calibrachoa, acacia dealbata, acer palmatum, dwarf oriental thuja, lilac dwarf flowerfest pink, orchid, lily, pine tree and rosemary. The most desirable front garden plants: 1 Hydrangeas – Although their gorgeous appearance can seem high maintenance, with the correct care, they are fairly easy to grow 2 Lilies – The flowers return year after year and require minimal care, so they’re definitely worth planting 3 Lavender – The Mediterranean evergreen shrub repels bugs due to its fragrance and it’s easy to grow, as long as it is kept away from moist, wet areas 4 Shrub Roses – No other shrub is so elegant, scented, continuously in flower and available in every colour except true blue. They can be in flower for at least six months of the year produced against a backdrop of feathery foliage. In spring the scented blooms provide a valuable source of food for bees 6 Petunia – Versatile, easy to grow, resilient and great for so many locations 7 Lilac dwarf flowerfest – Hardy, easy to grow and low maintenance 8 Buxus topiary – Picking the right variety is the first step in growing Buxus topiaries and hedges 9 Orchid – Hardy orchids are perfect for outdoors 10 Rosemary – Thrive in warm, humid environments and cannot take extremely cold temperatures 5 Mimosa/Acacia dealbata – Yellow mimosa flowers are

Six out of the top 10 front garden plants are recommended by feng shui experts due to their positive effects on the home and body. It appears that Brits have jumped on the trend, as feng shui-related Google searches have increased by 1,450 per cent in the last 12 months. Clutter is the biggest obstacle to the smooth flow of chi – without a clear space the flow is unbalanced and will not travel freely, reversing any feng shui progress made inside of your home. Although many people recognise the rules indoors, there are those who seem to neglect outdoor space where the principles of harmonising individuals with their surrounding environment are just as important. Having the correct plants in the correct places is a major key to encouraging good energy into your life. Colourful plants are welcoming, and each colour has individual meaning so you must pay close attention when purchasing. For example, red can strengthen loving relationships, passion and desire, however it can also evoke bursts of anger and overstimulation if overdone. It is important to encourage a large variety of plants in your front garden to balance out nature’s five elements, not letting one type outweigh another. The shapes and sizes of leaves, plants and spikes all contribute to different aspects of feng shui and are necessary to keep in mind when gardening.

Survey commisioned by www.onbuy.com/gb/garden-and-patio-furniture~c4879/ and www.sellhousefast.uk

O&A AUTUMN 2020 60