Garden Improvements That Add Value to Your Home, According to a Former Royal Gardener

As more homeowners invest in garden offices, decking, and outdoor living spaces, the role of the garden in determining property value has quietly grown. Privacy, maintenance and layout are now key considerations for buyers viewing a home. If you're preparing to sell your home, your garden could influence buyer perception just as much as your kitchen or bathroom.

After a neighbouring garden pod changed the sightlines in my own garden, it became clear how quickly a space can feel exposed, and how small adjustments can restore balance. That experience raised a broader question: what actually adds value to a garden when you're preparing to sell?

What's in Savoo's Guide to Garden Improvements That Add Value

1. Does a Garden Add Value to a House?
2. Biggest Garden Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing Your Garden for Sale
3. Garden Florals
4. Labour-Intensive Plants
5. Plant Research
6. Box Plants
7. Does Decking Add Value to a House?
8. Garden Tips to Increase House Value
9. Decorate Patio Areas Carefully
10. Garden Layout
11. Small Garden Design
12. Does a Garden Shed Add Value?
13. Are Hedges or Fences Better for Garden Privacy?
14. Garden Features
15. Quick Checklist: Garden Improvements That Add Value

Does a Garden Add Value to a House?

Yes. A well-maintained garden can add around 10-20% to your home's value, according to property professional. Features such as decking, patios, privacy screening and usable outdoor space are consistently cited as improvements that strengthen buyer appeal.

With this in mind, I spoke to former royal gardener Jack Stooks, who spent more than two decades working at Highgrove for King Charles, about the biggest mistakes sellers make and the simple upgrades that can make a meaningful difference.

Photo of Jack Stooks from TheRoyalGardener

Biggest Garden Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing Your Garden for Sale

Garden Florals

Speaking to Savoo, Jack explains:

"One of the biggest mistakes people often make when it comes to wanting to up the value of their home is to make their gardens look more floral, so they add lots of borders and apple trees, but by doing that, they're adding a lot more work to a garden. For instance, they might think, 'Roses look amazing, let's put loads of roses in.' But people will then think about how much work roses actually take. Fruit trees also take a lot of pruning, so I would avoid planting them."

High-maintenance planting, while attractive in photographs, can signal ongoing labour to prospective buyers. Consider simple schemes that require little maintenance - think ornamental grasses and hardy low-upkeep evergreen shrubs. In sunny gardens, the dry Mediterranean theme can be quite attractive to buyers.

If you're looking for practical inspiration that keeps upkeep low, these clever DIY garden hacks to transform your outdoor space offer simple, cost-effective ideas that won't create extra work for future owners.

Labour-Intensive Plants

Jack adds:

"Another mistake is planting plants that take over gardens very easily, for example, a conifer plant will take over an area of the garden, which will be hard to maintain. A monkey puzzle tree is also another one to miss out on. It looks unusual, and you can see why people would want to invest in one, but they end up growing a lot, and they're massive, so they'll take over."

Large or invasive plantings can reduce usable space and deter buyers seeking manageable gardens. Before you make any planting decision, consider how much work it would be to maintain.

Plant Research

Impulse planting can also cause problems later.

"Spikey plants could also be a risk, as not all people like them. They're all easy mistakes to make. It tends to be the case of people going to the garden centre and seeing something that looks pretty without doing any research beforehand. It can easily be done with a plant like a Berberis, which can look amazing, but it has loads of spiny material. I've cut them before, and even just handling it with gloves, you get tiny thorns in your hands, so that's more hassle than it's worth."

Box Plants

One particular popular choice raises concerns.

"A popular plant that many people opt for is a box plant, but this is probably the top one I wouldn't recommend doing, due to box flies and the box caterpillar. The plant will just be wiped out by these. A buyer could come and look at the garden for the first time and it looks amazing, then a month later, the whole thing is dead. That will end up decreasing the value of the home."

"These are the common mistakes people make. They may think these plants will make their homes look beautiful and different, but some can create problems further down the line."

Another problem with box is box blight, which will also destroy the plant quite quickly. Box is often used as low, decorative hedging or topiary - especially trained into impressive ball shapes. If you have box, and it's still alive, it's definitely worth replacing it with a blight-free alternative like lavender or yew.

Does Decking Add Value to a House?

Decking can add value, but only if it's done properly.

"Adding decking is a great thing to do if you can. But DIY decking can be quite problematic. When it isn't done properly, it's going to look bad and decrease the value of your home definitely. But if it's done really well with anti-slip decking, especially in the winter, then it's a really good move to make."

"In winter, it's really important that you have things in place to ensure people don't slip and it will make a real difference with competing houses on the market. They're more likely to go for a house that is safe. Make sure you pressure wash it and keep it as clean and tidy as you can. Even when an anti-slip decking gets wet or damp, you will find moss will start to grow, and that can become slippery."

According to online estate agent Yopa, adding a patio or decking can increase a home's value by around £6,671 (after costs) - a solid indicator of how outdoor living space enhancements can pay off when selling.

Photo by Delpixart, under licence from Canva.com

Garden Tips to Increase House Value

While avoiding mistakes is important, Jack says there are also simple upgrades that can positively influence buyer perception.

Decorate Patio Areas Carefully

"If you want to decorate the area so it looks new and fresh, I would be less inclined to use bright colours for this. I would opt for neutral tones and colours, it needs to fit in with anybody's style. They need to be able to see themselves living there, so stay away from anything too out there."

"It also looks way more attractive with subtle colour, as the plants and flowers can give that boost of colour. Even when it comes to gravel, make sure it's a natural stone colour as well as any wood that is on show."

According to the National Association of Estate Agents, in an article in The Standard, a well-designed patio can add up to £10,000 to your property's value.

Garden Layout

First impressions matter - ensure your garden is neat and tidy before viewings.

"Make sure to clear away the weeds, tidy up your borders, and cut everything back, so the garden feels fresh and well cared for. Avoid high-maintenance planting that could mean hard work ahead, such as roses."

"Even a small lawn can make a garden feel bigger if it's open-plan and well-maintained. Overfilling the space can look a little chaotic, so strip things back and keep the layout simple."

Small Garden Design

"In smaller gardens, less is definitely more, and I would stick to that mindset. You don't want to overcomplicate this. Having a clean stone paving or a simple terrace works beautifully and makes the space feel more usable for potential buyers."

If you're working with a tighter budget or a compact space, these cheap budget-friendly garden ideas that still add value show how small, affordable upgrades can significantly improve presentation without overspending.

Does a Garden Shed Add Value?

Practical additions can also increase appeal. General property-value research published by WeBuyAnyHouse suggests that small outbuildings like sheds could contribute around 5% to the overall value of a home.

"A shed can be a huge selling point for a lot of people. It's a place for your gardening tools, so it will avoid clutter building up."

"Larger sheds or outhouses are well worth the investment too, as people may see them as a potential office space or even a home gym."

Are Hedges or Fences Better for Garden Privacy?

With overlooking becoming more common due to extensions and garden buildings, privacy remains a key consideration.

"Privacy is incredibly important to buyers, especially if neighbouring properties overlook the garden. Tall fences or walls can help, but hedging often offers a softer and more affordable solution. Evergreen hedges, like yew, are timeless, provide year-round colour and even help reduce noise."

I have personal experience with this. My neighbour added a pod to the bottom of their garden - it's beautifully done but I worried about how it could affect the value of my property. So I added privacy screening, trellis and planted architectural shrubs and climbers, as well as and creating a woodland garden planting scheme, all to help draw the eye away from the pod.

Garden Features

Finally, a focal point can elevate the space.

"A single standout feature can really transform a garden. Topiary pieces serve as effective visual focal points and lend the garden personality. Once shaped, they become a living piece of artwork and a great talking point."

"I find that yew is ideal for topiary thanks to its structure and longevity."

Also, Outdoor water features are increasingly seen as value-adding garden upgrades. In a survey of UK estate agents, 58% said water features added value to homes, signaling strong professional sentiment toward their positive impact. Overall, integrating water features thoughtfully as part of broader landscaping can enhance curb appeal and marketability, contributing to higher sale prices.

Quick Checklist: Garden Improvements That Add Value

• Keep planting low-maintenance
• Improve privacy with hedging or screening
• Ensure decking and patios are safe and clean
• Add practical storage such as a shed
• Create one clear focal feature

Gardens are no longer an afterthought in the selling process. Buyers increasingly view outdoor space as an extension of the home, and often assess maintenance, privacy and usability within minutes of stepping outside.

As Jack's advice makes clear, increasing value isn't about overdesigning a garden. It's about restraint, practicality and understanding what buyers really see. If you're planning improvements, it's worth checking the latest deals in the Savoo Home and Garden category before you start. You'll often find savings on practical upgrades, from Wickes decking and garden building supplies to Homebase outdoor furniture and garden décor deals - helping you refresh your space without overspending before a sale.