If you're improving Real Estarte for the long-term 3

Cut back the jungle Many everyday yard plants, such as azaleas,
forsythia, hollies and rhododendrons, will fill out with new growth
after a season or so even if you hack them down to stumps, says
Christopher Valenti, a landscape contractor in Lewes, Del.

Be careful, though, of yews and junipers, which won't grow new leaves
on old wood and may need to be removed altogether if they're severely
overgrown.

Add drama with foliage A distinctive yard will make your home more
appealing to buyers, says Los Angeles realtor Dana Frank. So replace
plants that don't flower, or provide interesting foliage with
eye-catching alternatives, like a patch of blackeyed Susans, a
flowering crabapple or a cutleaf Japanese maple.

If you're planning to stay put, you don't need to spend hundreds of
dollars for big plants. You'll save 50 percent or more by buying small
ones and waiting a few seasons to get the full visual impact (when
planting, make sure to space them based on the mature size listed on
the label, not how they look now).

Consider new angles Most yards have almost all the plants along the
foundation and the property lines. But if you place yours throughout
different parts of the property, you'll create a depth of field that
makes your home look farther away from the road, says architect Hoerr.

Try putting some near the house's corners to accentuate its shape,
others near the street to define the yard, and some in between, where
they can block unfortunate views and be admired from indoors. Many
nurseries offer free design help to buyers.

Cover your rear It's nice to wave hello to your neighbors out front,
but the backyard should be a private space. If yours feels
overexposed, fencing can offer a quick fix.

For each eight-foot section, you'll pay about $100 (for a plain cedar
stockade fence) to $300 (for an elaborate Victorian model), plus
another $50 to $150 a section for installation.

You can also achieve the same effect at a much lower cost by planting
small evergreen shrubs, although you'll have to wait a few seasons for
full coverage.

Or, rather than pruning those hulking foundation plants, hire a
landscaper to transplant them along the property line. As long as
they're healthy and evergreen, it's a great way to maximize the value
of the plants