There's nothing like a lush garden to improve your home's curb appeal. An established flower garden or vegetable garden can actually add value to your home and property. For many regions, now is the time to begin planning your garden strategy.

In cooler climates it's a good idea to start some vegetables and flowers indoors. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1.      Don't start your plants indoors too soon. If you are new to the area, research the traditional date range for the last spring frost and plan accordingly.

2.      Eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplants, leeks, head lettuce, and onions are just a few of the vegetables that will benefit from an early start indoors.

3.      Flowers slow to mature can also be planted indoors in order to make the green thumb next door green with garden envy. Some of these include impatiens, petunias, snapdragons, and fibrous begonias.

4.      Be careful not to start plants with sensitive roots indoors. Vegetables such as peas, beans, corn, and sweetpeas like to settle in to their summer homes and not be disturbed. You can stunt the growth of these by replanting them after they have already taken root.

5.      Reuse containers each year, but keep your indoor planting containers clean. Commercial flats can be used over and over and they usually come with trays to catch runaway water.

6.      Try a mixture of vermiculite, perlite, and peat moss for seed starting. It's easy to overwater indoor starts and rot their roots. Make sure your seedlings have plenty of air circulation, a warm (but not hot) environment (70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is just about right), and plenty of strong light.

7.      Don't overcrowd seeds. Encourage them to grow freely by giving them plenty of room.

8.      Don't let containers and plant medium dry out completely, but don't over water them either.

9.      Label and date containers. You could forget what you planted, and when you planted it!

10.  Gradually toughen plants so they can survive drying winds and changing temperatures. Brush your hand gently across them daily. As they get older, consider using a fan do simulate wind for a few hours every day.

If you're looking for a home with a beautiful garden spot, contact us today! We're your area real estate specialists.