You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
Many people think of the basics when buying a home; 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a 2 car garage, walk-in closets, location. However, I added a few more must have items to my list that you might want to consider also. The pictures in this article are from homes that we have worked with in our last 10 years as real estate agents.
The real estate agent simply stared at me. Now that I am a real estate agent myself, I totally understand "the look". The look could be read like this; "I can't believe that this woman wants me to look at every house to see if it has a tree before she will look at the house."
Now that I know how much work real estate is and how time consuming it is, I wouldn't dream of asking a Realtor(r) to check out the back yard now to see if at least one tree is growing on the lot. However, since pictures are worth a thousand words, I can easily see the local tree population on the internet.
I told the Realtor(r) that I would not look at a house unless it had a least one tree. I also said that if the house had plants, including flowering bulbs and fruit trees that I would be more likely to be interested. One of my other requirements was that the home be built on a bigger than average city lot. We downsized and I call my home an ugly house, but the lot is beautiful. The lot had 2 trees on it when we purchased it, but in the first week we added a tree and we have added at least one tree or shrub every year since.
My husband and I visited a vacant house about every week because I fell in love with the garden. The foundation was seriously destroyed and the home was in a city that I did not want to live, but I wanted that garden. This was about 9 years ago, but I still see the garden in my mind. A huge Mulberry tree loaded with the sweetest White Mulberry berries graced the front side yard. Near the Mulberry tree was a medium size Red Cherry Tree. Yes, I tried the fruit...after all, I had to be sure that it was good before I bought the house. Behind the house was a plethera of what I felt was surely a Garden of Eden. Every sort of herb and tree and edible plant had been lovingly planted and labeled. I felt like a child in a candy store, excitedly calling out; "Here is a fig tree, chives, an Olive tree, Chocolate Mint, Green Peppers, Tomatoes...". I wanted that house, but the foundation report showed that multiple interior and exterior piers were needed. My husband won, but the garden lost. Someone, (the city, the Real estate agent, the seller?) did not understand the treasure garden and they mowed the whole back yard. I cried. My only reason for wanting the house was gone, although a lot of it would grow back, given time.
The next house I found had a big yard, great trees and tons of flowering plants, although not any edible plants. It was sold before we decided it was "the one". I settled for the house we own now.
Here is a list of the Outside requirements when we purchased our home:
The lot must be very large for a city lot. (Our lot is about 1/3 of an acre, in the city)
At least 1 tree MUST be already on the lot and there must be plenty of room to add trees.
If there are already flowering bushes, plants and trees, the house is a possibility.
If there are already fruit trees and grape vines planted, the house is a huge possibility, regardless of the inside of the house.
I must live in an area where dandelions are not looked upon as evil; where Mocking birds sing and Robins still dare to peck at earth worms.
I must live in an area where chemical herbicides and pesticides are not seen as the answer to every ill that ever touched a green blade of grass.
The back yard must be reasonably flat, easy to plant and must not puddle water.
My next house? I'm going to add that the dirt must be Sandy Loam or some other nicely plantable soil...not clay soil like our current property.
Before you go on your house shopping spree, write out a list of "must-have"s for your garden area. These might include the lot size, the garden area, the number of trees, the already planted flowering bushes and shrubs, the neighborhood requirements and any community common areas that include green spaces and mini lakes.
I have a hard time being happy when I look out the back door and my view of the world is simply a fence. Our current property is on a pie shaped lot. My back door faces the skinny part of the pie, so I have the illusion that my piece of the world is a little bit bigger than it actually is. Although many wonderful plants can be grown in containers and in mini garden areas, I needed a lot of room to feel free. The garden is a wonderful place; decide where you want to live, plant your plants and enjoy your world.
About April Campbell
Writer, Realtor(r), Speaker, Accountant, Gardener, Teacher, Sign Language Interpreter, Friend.
Posted by texas_rose_mom (from Angleton, TX) on June 4, 2008 at 10:04 AM:
I have a whole different view on purchasing a home. I love the idea of a blank slate. First home was built in East Texas, beautiful huge old Post Oaks graced the property with my husband's very old family cemetary down a lane on the property. Historical value beyond belief. With the blank slate in went a Magnolia, Rose bed, and Peach Trees. Three years later we sold the house with one acre and moved to the Upper Gulf Coast. We still own 21 acres where the house was. Back to the awful black land of the coast where I grew up. Eight years ago after living in apartments we purchased home number two.
When searching for our home we were a realtor's dream. We drove the area, took two years to find the home. We'd find a house we liked from the outside and call our agent. The house was just outside our price range and slightly under market value. Located in a subdivision hidden away with lots from one to three acres with many family's owning several lots. Lots of space for our children now in junior high. The house was 1870 sq. ft & a 32x40 shop for DH. The exterior of the house was a gosh awful mauve pink making the brick pink, a cedar tree on one front corner, pink lantana under the dining room window, slash pines on the west side, a large tree by the road (no shade provided to the house) on one side of the driveway and a crape myrtle on the other side of the driveway. All of which was to me unbelievable awful. The saving grace was the east side landscaping. A gardenia made it wonderful along. I felt I had a blank slate to work with.
What were we looking for, at least an acre, a shop, and a place to build for my daughters national winning rabbitry. It wasn't the house or landscaping.
So eight years later there is a 17 foot live oak and 15 foot burr oak in the front yard, rose bed where the lantana and cedar used to be and the house is painted so it's not pink anymore. The shop has two wings off the side: one side with the rabbitry (oh the wonderful fertilizer needing no composting), the other was used for my daughter and son's show cattle in high school. That side is now a dog kennel for my husband's German Shorthair Pointers.
Still not the dream home. We wanted to be back to rural Texas, preferably a drier climate so we chose to look in central Texas. Two years ago we found our dream place. 274 acres outside of Groesbeck, TX. Once again we drove thousands of miles looking for the perfect place after finding one to look at on the internet. For the most part we wanted a blank slate, and we had an unlivable mobile home now made livable, a torn up shed from wind because it was built wrong, and a old falling down barn. The shed was repaired the barn torn down. Our cattle now reside at the ranch along with an additional thirty and still building the herd of purebred Santa Gertrudis Cattle and fullblood Lowline Angus. Two years into owning the ranch the stock pens are built, 40x100 foot show barn, a rabbit barn and ornate entrance is being built is under construction this summer. The off grid dream house next year. No financing on the house, owned free and clear. I envision an English Style Rose Garden in my front yard. I move this August as our cattle show string and expenses for fitters is gotten too large. The house on the coast starts major updates to be sold next summer. My husband will have a camper to live to run our business. Both kids in college makes for the perfect time to sell the house on the coast. The kids are equally excited to have us move.
Then comes the cistern on the property. An old home place from the original owners that dates back to the 1800's. The cistern has a date of 1918 on it. My home won't be built there but we have plans in the distant future to build a guest house on that same old home place. Another wonderful rose garden around a true wishing well!
I agree with Anna, make a list. Landscaping is always a plus, but if you don't like it, change it. I love blank slates, because I can envision what I want, and with the rabbitry I have a wonderful money saving way to build my beds.
Then there is the huge plus of Bluebonnets in the spring. Pictured is 2007 snow covered Bluebonnets in April the day before Easter.
Kim
...
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on June 4, 2008 at 11:50 PM:
texas_rose_mom,
Wow...very interesting story.
LOL...my grandma's house was pink. We could pick her house out really easily when driving down the highway. It was horrible...PeptoBismal always reminds me of her house.
Gotta love that no $$$ on the house, free and clear! And off the grid. More power to ya! Horray! That is great.
"The cistern has a date of 1918 on it."...The stories that well could tell...hmmm...
You are so right...make a list...almost always a smart thing to do.
Congratulations on find exactly the right fit for you.
...
Subject: how true
Posted by flowerjen (from central, NJ) on March 12, 2008 at 2:20 PM:
I actually had 2 realtors working for me(1 for the south central part of the state and 1 for the north central) and 1 of my requirements was the lot had to have trees(but not too many), more than 1/2 acre but the grass and gardens didn't matter because that I could "fix". That was 3 years ago(over 80 houses looked at) and I now wish we had MORE trees. The trees in our backyard are surrounding the yard so the shade doesn't reach the middle and you get cooked in the summer...Oh well- maybe next house....
...
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on March 12, 2008 at 10:41 PM:
Glad you found one that had some trees! For people that love trees, they are a MUST. Image 103 degrees in Oklahoma w/ no shade. Some people really live like that...I don't understand. Then, I heard of a person that chopped down a plum tree because the plums made a mess on his lawn. Chopped down a perfectly good tree.
Hmph. :-)
Why not plant another tree this year???
...
Subject: it's my dream too
Posted by Yorkerjenny (from Syracuse, NY) on March 7, 2008 at 7:40 PM:
I was just reading "cabin fever" from Lee Anne. How real she described our feelings! Here it's 6F, when Florida is 86F!!! It's so cold I even don't think about going outside. But good news we are moving, somewhere is warm. So, we have to find a house just like you say here, with a must list. My husband is from "if it's taste is not like steak and french fries, probably I will not like it" generation. So my vegetable garden, fruit and nut trees, berry bushes are not so important for him. But he is liberal about it. He gives me an area for vegetables, then I ask him make it bigger in this direction, and that direction. Meanwhile I pull the grass around more. He didn't kill me yet. When I have more plants than I should have, what am I gonna do? I tell him, I do a favor him, so he has to mow much less lawn ha ha ha. All I think about dreaming a new house is if it will have a big enough backyard for my project. I really don't care how and what the house will be. I'mliving in a city which is lack of sun for about 8-10 months a year, so, when I move, I'll be outside all the time anyway. Meanwhile I didn't tell him yet that some trees need to be planted as couple for polination. I think people will think it's not a backyad, it's a new opened nursery ha ha ha.
...
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on March 8, 2008 at 2:28 AM:
Hello Yorkerjenny from Syracuse, NY
Syracuse may be cold but you can't beat those wonderful Sugar Maple trees and all the other wonderful trees that grow so well there!!
Most of our trees here seem smaller than the trees in New York. Of course, maybe I remember them as larger upstate because I was over 30 years younger then.
Plus, I remember dancing in the NY summer rain. We rarely had a storm bad enough to worry about (except for mean Hurricane Agnus). Around here, in Tornado Alley, the thunder and lightening dances in the rain instead.
I do love all the sunshine here. We receive a lot of sun even in the winter.
Hope you find a great place to live!
...
Subject: Me too!!!
Posted by Minime199 (from Topeka, KS) on March 4, 2008 at 2:50 PM:
We purchased our house a year and a half ago, and I too insisted that it had trees and plants (our previous house had next to nothing as it was a newer home). So, long story short we bought an older home for the yard (3/4 acre lot!) and the area, even though the actual house was not the best of all we looked at. (We are working on fixing that though!). It is so nice to actually be able to have trees and shade! AND, I can plant things, and (get this), they GROW! This spring my new project is to try lasagna gardening...Thanks for the article - now I know I'm not the only crazy on out there!
OH! Forgot to mention the bonus! The new house is within walking distance to beautiful botanical gardens at a lake! I spend HOURS there making wish lists of what I want to add next in my garden.
This message was edited Mar 4, 2008 12:56 PM
...
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on March 5, 2008 at 12:39 AM:
Wow! What a beautiful bonus! Thanks for sharing. Yes, it is really nice to have kindred spirits like Anne of Green Gables. Enjoy the green!
...
Subject: Very True
Posted by bsharf (from Palm Coast, FL) on March 3, 2008 at 6:57 AM:
My last 3 houses were newly built, on vacant lots. I landscaped each one (aching back). I decided that my "retirement" house was going to be fully landscaped with mature trees and plants. Our clever realtor understood "where I was coming from". The first house, she showed us, was a fairly modest 30 year old house, with a 20ft Canary Isl. Date Palm in the front yard, and wonderful landscaped beds around the house and back yard fencing, that had been lovingly tended by the former owner. Took a quick walk around inside: 10 minutes late we bought the house. I bet it was the quickest sale the realtor ever made. At my age, I decided to enjoy someone else's gardening vision, instead of having to create my own vision for 10 years down the road.
...
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on March 4, 2008 at 1:02 AM:
Sounds beautiful! I totally understand. Thanks for sharing.
...
Subject: Dream Home - Nightmare yard
Posted by msjuris (from Bernville, PA) on February 28, 2008 at 1:11 PM:
Six months ago, my husband and I bought our dream home on 1.2 acres of HARDPAN!!!! There was no landscaping of any sort. I was thinking 'blank slate for my garden plans'. After attempting to dig my first bed, I realized our dream home was sitting on a gardener's nightmare. Three inches of soil then 8 - 12 inches of rock, clay and more rock. I needed a pick axe to get through it. Now I'm just hoping the bulbs I planted survive the marshland they're sitting in now.
My husband jokingly asked me if I wanted to look for a new house. Without hesitation I said 'Yes'.
Great article, unfortunately 6 months too late for me, but I'm sure it will serve as great advice for some lucky reader.
Thank you.
...
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on February 29, 2008 at 9:07 PM:
msjuris:
I'm so sorry...what a heavy heart for a gardener! Are you going to go for raised beds? I hope the article does help someone and that something good will flourish for you.
...
Posted by dawnsharon2001 (from New York, NY) on March 8, 2008 at 6:20 PM:
Blank slate? Nah, I think slate is softer than hardpan.
I remember many arguments with my mom when I was looking for apartments. She thought access to a yard and planting privileges, or at the very least somewhere to container garden, were a minor amenity; I knew they were necessary to keep me sane. Similarly, I have a friend who feels strongly about owning her own home and making it perfect; I'm fine with renting as long as I can garden. Variety is the spice of life, and mutually incomprehensible opinions are the Tabasco sauce of conversation.
...
Subject: Wonderful
Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on February 28, 2008 at 8:18 AM:
This is just what we are looking for in our next place back in OK. Thank you for putting in words what we have been thinking.
...
Posted by Garden4ever (from Plymouth, WI) on February 28, 2008 at 12:39 PM:
Love the article! Yep, next house I purchase, the yard will be a bigger consideration than the house.
...
Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on February 28, 2008 at 3:16 PM:
What a good article - somehow the fact that our house had a huge mature Traveller's palm was a decisive factor in us choosing it over another similar one. I just didn't know that until I read your article!
...
Posted by chatnoir (from Downers Grove, IL) on February 28, 2008 at 5:54 PM:
I love being among kindred spirits! Just moved last summer. Have half the house I had before size-wise. Have no garage now -- not a good Chicago winter for that! BUT I went from a city lot to 3 acres. And I've never been happier!!
...
Posted by debilu (from Fingerlakes Region, NY) on February 28, 2008 at 7:58 PM:
When I was house hunting, the houses I fell most in love with were the ones with the beautiful gardens!!
...
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on February 29, 2008 at 9:03 PM:
Hello all...
Thanks for your kind words.
MitchF: You are very welcome. Hope you do find exactly what you are looking for and quickly, too.
Garden4ever: Great to know others think the same way.
DutchLady1: There must be a lot of beautiful plants there in FL...the tree whispered your name as you walked by...
Chatnoir: Yes, it is. It is hard for me to remember sometimes that not everyone loves gardens.
Debilu: Hmmm...if your area is anything like the upstate NY area, a few hours South of Niagra...wow...the dirt is great and plants just grow. I miss the soil there but not the winters w/ the lake effect snow!
