When it's time to list your house, sod the entire backyard. Until then, use it as it makes sense to you.

Yep.

so improved, sunny, organic gardens are not a selling point?

Sure, but to a smaller pool of buyers than the buying pool that would prefer sod.

I'm shocked that sodding over that whole area is the advice.

What about just installing sod in the area that is currently wood chips? I think it would still be appealing, but also show the gardening potential. However, I'm a gardener in drought CA, so the thought of a sod-only yard is sad to me. I probably am not a person in the majority.

I'm with melle_sacto (but, yes, also in CA!) I'd sod the wood chip area but leave the gardens. (Actually, with an unlimited budget I'd put a stone patio down where the chips are and leave the garden!) I imagine this also varies based on where in NOVA you are. Closer in, I haven't seen too many townhomes with yards to speak of, so if you're competing with properties in Arlington/Alexandria/etc., not a big deal. If you're further out and competing with single-family homes or condos that would have large yards, the grass might be more important. I'd consult a realtor (or three) when it comes time to sell and go from there.

Thanks to everyone with their insights. I do plan to consult a few realtors a year prior to selling, but was interested in hearing from the many posters here. I like to plan far in advance!

I seem to live in my "gardening world" and assume that anyone would love an improved sunny garden. I think I realize now that most people want a green grassy lawn and no yard work. my area is more suburban, but with many townhouses. My neighbor has flagstone in her back yard, so I will keep that option open also.

I'm going to put this out there--I wouldn't want my dogs using the area next to my garden as their "space." Frankly, if I saw this in a home I was looking at, it would leave a bad impression for me. Maybe it's just me.

I would appreciate the organic, but that is not an improved garden in my book. Frankly it is cold and unattractive. The wd chips are just part of that for me. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but you have apparently improved it to your needs and are happy with it, but it will not be seen as a plus. It will be especially disappointing if the front yard looks great. If you enjoy it as it is, leave it until you are prepping to sell.

In the meantime, do some research and look into garden ideas -- home and garden magazines, books, online resources. You can incorporate any of the ideas you see into an organic garden, but you need to have a variety of colors, heights and textures. You can use plants, pots or other features to help accomplish that. You can even keep a focus on veggies and herbs so that you can market it as an organic kitchen garden, but it still needs to look pleasing.

The center doesn't have to be sod, but most folks will appreciate some grass. If it were mine, I would create a patio space for seating, at least a small bistro table and a space for grilling (essential in the south - maybe not up there). You could have open pavers with a ground cover filling them in, a rockscape patio, solid pavers or brick -- lots of options that can be DIY, and I would have some grass or ground cover filling in between that and border beds. I might also introduce some curves into the .garden design and place a couple of planters or pots at the bottom of the steps. (I'm guessing the owner enters from the back gate -- make it welcoming.)

It doesn't take a lot to make a huge difference, You can make fairly simple and cost effective changes that will add value instead of disappoint.

I think what you have to do is count the cost. Is the front and inside of the home so amazing that people will overlook the back? What will the sod cost, and what is the return on your investment? When we sold our last home the realtor's advice was to make everything look good and keep it all neutral. The current trend is to outdoor kitchens, and if you put in the sod and make it all gorgeous, your house may sell faster, but your buyers may have dogs too.. Just make sure you don't spend more than you will get at selling time.

I just sold my home in a high in demand area. My suggestion is to keep it clean and streamlined.. so yes sod the backyard. I had to house my own animals elsewhere when it came to house viewing. I also know how smells can affect a sale.

Remember that buyers are not interested in how you decorate a place, but you want to encourage buyers to see how THEY can decorate a place. If they can picture themselves putting their own touch to the place, there's a good chance they will buy. So keeping the lawn simple is the best approach. Dont bother with elaborate and expensive decors.

A good front yard is the important one. It attracts buyers. That can bring up the value of a property by the thousands.

It doesn't have to cost a lot -- $200 or less could have a huge impact on that yard space.

lascatx, not sure where you live, but I can tell that it's a spring garden. It gets green as things grow! I think it's perfect, but understand how putting sod in just before you sell is the correct thing to do.

keep this website in mind when it comes to listing your property. http://www.mls.com/search/virginia.mvc You can view homes in your area for sale and compare notes.

The most important is getting buyers into your house to view it. Keep the interior design simple. keep the paint neutral. Keep the clutter at bay. The external parts are easily attended to (albeit you didn't install heavy stones or a swimming pool there.). Dpnt stress it too much. Sod is the simplest approach. Don't do flagstones etc.. Make sure everything is good. roof and basement. bathrooms must really really clean. In fact during viewing times, remove the garbage can and remove everything from shampoo, the toothbrushes..

For as long as you can get buyers to imagine themselves decorating your property, it will work. Also, timing to put in your place for sale is key.. For me that was early in spring before other houses (competitors) come on market.

I hope I've given you some good pointers here.

thanks for your support ottawavalleygardener! most of my garden area is veggie and by improved I mean clay removed and compost added over a 20 year time period. This is a spring time photo. you can see the garlic showing through on the right. The peas are not yet visible on the left. some of the flowers are blooming, but most of the perennials are just popping up.

I have an upper and lower deck area that offers grilling and seating areas. the open area of my yard is so small, I plan on keeping it open. The cedar chips are perfect for me and my dogs since they keep their shape and don't get muddy. but I understand how unattractive the chips appear to others. I think I have decided to remove the chips and probably add sod. I'm still pondering the garden size.

Thanks all!

Ianna, that is one slow web site to load!

Whose site is that? MLS is a trademarked name.

its a real estate portal.. http://www.mls.com/. it will show what houses are on sale and for what prices. It will show the interiors of houses. Canada also has this and i used to compare prices before I place my home on sale..

Thanks for the site. We aren't even thinking of selling, but it's fun to see what is on the market.

Across the street from us a house has been on the market now for 90 days. They recently lowered the price from $499,000 to $399,000. A wonderful widower owned it and when he passed, the kids put it on the market. It needs serious updating. It's a big home with no usable back yard (steep slope downhill). The front yard is a big crescent driveway with a tiny strip of dying plants between the driveway and the road. Bordereight, you are lucky you have a backyard! When I looked at the photos, all I saw was how much money it would take to get that place across from us liveable. The son who lives there now told us the main comment from potential buyers is "There's no backyard!" I think it may need additional price lowering.

I like your backyard. It has "potential," and buyers will see that. I like the paver patio idea. That would make your yard inviting. Good luck to you!

I am near Houston and we never lose all the green, but the green and blooms start exploding typically in early March. My views are perhaps skewed, but I still think you can have more texture and interest in a small yard.

Some things we have done -- curved beds, mounding/tiered or raised portions, colorful pots, spilling pots or planters, stacked pots on a stake, espaliered fruit trees (multi-grafted take advantage of limited space by giving you multiple varieties, pollinators and an extended season) , annuals and perennials for color planted together with tomatoes, peppers and herbs, climbing roses or other flowers in the background, a dwarf fruit tree or weeping flowering tree to anchor a corner, a bird bath or water feature, strawberry pots, elevated boxes, hanging boxes or pots (some clip over the top of the fence), decorative stakes, gazing ball (made one ourselves covered in pennies that can patina over time), other yard art -- lots of ways to add visual interest and create a retreat as well as a productive garden.

Can you plant blueberries there? They have seasonal interest, especially if you pick a variety that turns red in the fall. That might anchor one corner. Consider a dwarf fruit tree (might be pruned to keep at 8-10 ft) or weeping flowering tree for the other corner. These can be things that you can grow organically and enjoy and benefit from in the meantime too.

If there are decks above those steps, the yard doesn't need additional seating. Sounds like you have that covered.

Who is your target buyer? Do you think families would want to live there, retirees, young couples?

It seems to me a grassy lawn would be important only if you are selling to families with children.

Or people with dogs who prefer grass to wood chips. Or people who would rather look at green than wood chips.

Obviously, but obviously not everyone agrees with you either and we were asked for opinions. The question was not can I use wood chips and create a nice yard, The question was would more buyers like to see grass and do I need to do some work on this yard for resale. I reply to both in the affirmative, but have also suggested other options to grass -- though grass works great for me with two active med-large dogs.

It is possible to use any combination of materials in a good looking garden. If you've like wood chips in your yard, I'm not trying to talk you out of them, but I've seen dogs with leg injuries because of wood chip yards at a dog park. I have also observed that far fewer people pick up after their dogs with wood chips and found it more difficult to do myself. I want a yard I can walk in, so , not to pick on you or the OP, I will not chose wood chips. And if wood chips were going to be a part of the yard, I would make sure they are a contrast to other colors and textures -- which isn't happening here, and that there is a clean, defined walkway between the steps and gate. Also not happening. This yard is not appealing and too many buyers see landscaping as expensive, hard work and don't know where to begin. An appealing yard, with or without wood chips, will help the house sell. If the OP has a few years before selling, it can be left until time to market or changes can be made now and enjoyed in the meantime.

I am also in NoVa and I just sold my townhouse, townhouses in my neighborhood are selling for $460K-$500K. My agent said buyers for "starter homes" like mine are looking for move-in ready, turnkey homes where they don't have to do anything. So I would think more buyers would like grass because like lascatx said, many people would look at it as a lot of work and an unwanted expense to change it.

Yep...

I would also lose the chips in the center. They are not attractive. Also be sure to maintain your decking and railing with stain/sealers. Nobody wants to have to do that when they buy a place either. Be sure to list it when the gardens are in full bloom or at least have photos of it looking lush and green.

yeah.. personally If I were looking at a property to buy, it would make me think twice if I had that much woodchips to cart away. I got turned off by one home when in looking at the backyard, it was filled with ugly patio stones and design that didn't work for me.

I'm glad I'm not a seller, it will be impossible to please everyone, judging by the comments! Design and materials that some like, others hate ;) However, as I said initially, I can see that it is safest to just plant (boring old) grass.

which is why a blank slate (aka sod) is the way to go..

You never strive to please everyone, but you should strive to please the largest pool of your home's buyers.

I'd make it attractive with the lowest maintenance possible. Plain grass.

I wonder how many people didn't like the look of the woodchips and were too chicken to post on this thread. I raise my wing as one such chicken.