I realise that your garden might not be the first thing buyers see when they’re looking around your home, but it still plays a huge role in how your home feels overall. In any home I’ve looked at, I’ve found that when a garden looks tidy and cared for, it sets a tone, suggesting that the rest of the house has been looked after too.
That’s why estate agents say this particularly simple yet effective April lawn tip can actually make your home more attractive to buyers. And it turns out that learning to straighten lawn edges for a manicured lawn and investing in one of the best cordless strimmers can completely transform how your garden looks and make everything else feel that little bit more intentional.
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Why do neat lawn edges transform a garden?
CEO of Yopa, Verona Frankish, explains that ‘a tidy, healthy lawn is one of the first things buyers notice and it can have a huge influence on that all-important first impression.’
She explains that crisp, defined edges instantly make a garden look more cared for and can make the whole outside space feel smarter and easier to maintain. ‘In fact, even a modest garden can look far more appealing if the lawn is neatly cut, free of weeds and clearly separated from flower beds and pathways.’
And estate agent, Luke Saywell, partner at Gascoines, explains that buyers don’t just look at the size of your garden, but also notice how a space is maintained.
‘Whether you’re a passionate gardener or you’ll never be green-fingered, having an outdoor space is one of the top requirements for homeowners,’ explains Luke. ‘However, how you present your garden can mean the difference between getting the maximum value for your home or being bartered down.’
And Verona concurs that the key is to keep things simple and well-maintained. ‘Buyers are far more likely to be put off by an untidy, overgrown or overly personalised garden than they are impressed by expensive landscaping. A garden that feels neat, practical and easy to look after is far more likely to help a home sell,’ she adds.
Ideal Home‘s content editor, Lauren, even says that neatening up her garden was well worth the effort, as it really did add value to her house when she sold it recently.
And both estate agents agree that straightening up your lawn borders is an easy fix you can do quickly, and gives the impression of a well-looked-after outdoor space, even if there’s the odd weed or two popping up in your borders. You might say it’s the garden equivalent of fluffing cushions before guests arrive.
So, this is what you’ll need to get those clean lines around your lawn.
Neat lawn edge essentials
Ryobi
OLT1832 18V One+ Grass Trimmer
This Ryobi cordless strimmer is the best overall in our guide for its value for money and easy operation.
CORE EDGE
Flexible decorative corten steel edging garden border edging
If you don’t have a defined garden border, you can create one easily by laying flexible edging like this decorative corten steel finish.
Hardys
Carbon steel lawn edging border cutter & garden edging tool
A good half moon edger will cut through unruly grass and neaten things up easily and this one is a best seller on Amazon.
How to get neat and tidy lawn edges
April is an ideal time to neaten up your edges because the grass is softer and grass is actively growing, making it easier to reshape edges cleanly.
‘Trimming lawn edges with a half-moon edging iron (like Hardy’s edging tool, £14.99 from Amazon) or flat-bladed spade makes a surprising difference to the lawn’s looks and reduces the busy spring workload,’ suggests Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulturist.
You can then run a strimmer along the border you’ve created with a good strimmer like Ryobi cordless grass trimmer. £73.99 at Amazon, which we rated our favourite, to sharpen the look and tidy up any stray blades. Then all you have to do is maintain it with a quick trim with a pair of edging shears like these razor-sharp Spear & Jackson edging shears, £20 at Amazon.
So there you are, if you do one thing to your garden this April, make it sharpening your lawn edges, whether you’re selling or not. It’s a quick job that makes everything look instantly neater and more cared for. It’s a small detail, but it’s exactly the kind of feature that helps make your home feel more attractive to buyers and guests alike.
At the same time, though, regular maintenance and keeping a tidy garden are still very much advised. ‘Sellers should focus on the basics, mowing the lawn regularly, treating any patchy or yellow areas, removing weeds from borders and pathways, and trimming back overgrown hedges or shrubs. Fresh mulch, colourful spring flowers in pots, and a clean patio or seating area can also help buyers picture themselves enjoying the space,’ adds Verona.
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