Smart Planting: The Best Trees and Shrubs to Increase Your Home’s Value

Why Landscaping Moves the Market

First impressions sell. Professional photos pop when there’s structure (evergreens), color (flowering shrubs), and shade (well-placed trees).
Comfort = value. Shade trees can reduce summer heat gain and make outdoor spaces usable longer. Wind-breaks (evergreen screens) help in winter.
Low maintenance wins. Buyers love “set-it-and-forget-it” landscapes: drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, and tidy year-round.

DMV quick facts: Our area generally spans USDA Zones 6b–8a. Many neighborhoods have clay-leaning soils and varying deer pressure. Choose plants that handle our summers, brief cold snaps, and occasional drought.

Planting Principles That Pay Off

Right plant, right place. Match sun, soil, and moisture to the plant’s needs.
Think in layers. Canopy tree → understory tree → evergreen structure → flowering shrubs → groundcovers.
Mind the distances.
- Large trees: 20–30 ft from the house/septic lines.
- Medium trees: 15–20 ft.
- Shrubs: 3–6 ft from foundations/fences for airflow and future growth.
Call before you dig. Contact 811 to mark underground utilities.
Mulch right. 2–3″ of mulch, pulled away from the trunk (no “volcano” mounds).

Best Small & Ornamental Trees (Great Near Homes & Walkways)

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Spring flowers, heart-shaped leaves, multi-season interest. Handles clay. Low water once established.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
Four-season star: early blooms, edible berries, great fall color, graceful form.
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Fragrant flowers, semi-evergreen in much of the DMV, tolerates damp sites.
Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) / Hybrid dogwoods
More disease-resistant than some natives; lovely blooms and fruit for birds.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica & hybrids)
Summer color when others are quiet; drought-tolerant. Choose dwarf/medium cultivars for tight lots; avoid hard “topping”—light, proper pruning only.

Best Medium–Large Shade Trees (Energy Savers & Value Builders)

Black Gum / Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
Brilliant fall color, strong structure, deep roots; great street or yard tree.
White Oak / Swamp White Oak (Quercus alba / Q. bicolor)
Long-lived, supports local ecosystems, excellent shade; deep roots = foundation-friendly when sited properly.
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
Elegant, slow-to-moderate growth, handles part shade; great near patios.
River Birch (Betula nigra)
Beautiful peeling bark; best sited away from drains—it seeks moisture.
American Elm (disease-resistant cultivars like ‘Princeton’)
Classic vase shape; pick resistant varieties only.

Pro tip: Plant shade trees on the west/southwest side to cut summer afternoon heat.

Evergreen Structure & Privacy Screens (Year-Round Curb Appeal)

American Holly / ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Holly (Ilex opaca, Ilex hybrid)
Dense, glossy foliage; berries for birds; great as a screen or specimen.
‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae (Thuja standishii × plicata)
Fast, hardy, tall privacy wall with fewer disease issues than Leyland cypress.
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’, ‘Compacta’)
Boxwood alternative—tolerates clay and moisture, holds a neat shape.
Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica)
Tough, fragrant foliage, salt-tolerant; informal hedges and coastal-style gardens.
Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’)
Narrow, shade-tolerant screening; protect from harsh winter wind where exposed.

Flowering, Low-Maintenance Shrubs (Color Without the Fuss)

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Spring bottlebrush blooms, red fall color, handles wet or dry once established.
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Fragrant midsummer blooms (pollinator magnet), thrives in part shade.
Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ / ‘Bobo’ (Hydrangea paniculata)
Sun-tolerant, reliable bloomers; great for front corners and anchor points.
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
White spring flowers, berries, fall color; good for hedges.
Red/Black Chokeberry (Aronia)
Tough natives with spring flowers, fall foliage, and bird-friendly fruit.

Boxwood note: Beautiful but boxwood blight is a reality. Mix in inkberry holly or small hollies to reduce risk and maintenance.

Drought-Tolerant & Pollinator-Friendly Picks

Trees: Redbud, serviceberry, crape myrtle, black gum.
Shrubs: Bayberry, inkberry holly, chokeberry, viburnum, spirea.
Bonus groundcovers/accents:
- Perennials/Grasses: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), little bluestem, echinacea, rudbeckia.
- Groundcovers: creeping thyme, ajuga (for sun/part shade), woodland phlox (shade).

Trees & Shrubs to Avoid (or Site Carefully)

Silver Maple, Weeping Willow, Lombardy Poplar
Aggressive roots/weak wood; risky near foundations, sidewalks, and lines.
Bradford/Callery Pear
Invasive and prone to storm breakage.
Tree-of-Heaven, Norway Maple, Mimosa
Invasive, self-seeding; hard to control.
Running Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)
Spreads rapidly; can damage hardscape and neighbor relations.
Leyland Cypress
Fast but disease-prone; short lifespan in our climate.
Ginkgo (female trees)
Spectacular fall color, but messy fruit—choose male cultivars only.

When to Plant in the DMV

Best: Fall (Sept–Nov) — warm soil, cool air = strong root growth.
Second best: Early spring — plant before heat sets in.
Summer planting: Possible with diligent watering and mulch.

Watering & Care (Low-Maintenance Starts Here)

Year 1: 1–1.5″ water/week (rain + irrigation). Deep, infrequent soakings.
Mulch: 2–3″ ring, not touching trunks.
Pruning: Late winter for structure; light deadheading on flowering shrubs after bloom.
Fertilizer: Focus on soil health (compost) vs. quick salts. Test soil before amending.
Deer pressure: If your area is deer-heavy, protect young plants and choose deer-resistant species.

Budget Playbook (Good → Better → Best)

Good (Weekend Refresh): Two accent shrubs + fresh mulch + edge beds = immediate photo uplift.
Better (Curb Appeal Plan): 1 small ornamental tree, 5–7 shrubs, foundation bed redesign, path lighting.
Best (Value Build): 1–2 shade trees (sited for energy savings), evergreen screen for privacy, four-season color layers, irrigation zones.

Quick Curb-Appeal Recipe (One Weekend)

Pick one ornamental tree for the front corner (redbud or ‘Limelight’ hydrangea tree form).
Add evergreen anchors (inkberry holly) at the foundation corners.
Layer 3 flowering shrubs (sweetspire/summersweet) under windows.
Tuck in pollinator perennials (echinacea/rudbeckia) and fresh mulch.
Finish with simple path lighting and a clean edge.

How This Translates to Higher Offers

Listings with mature trees and tidy beds photograph better, get more clicks, higher showing-to-offer conversion, and communicate “well-cared-for.”
Buyers perceive privacy + outdoor living as premium features—especially in close-in DC and NOVA.
Thoughtful planting around patios, decks, and fences expands “usable square footage” outdoors.

Ready for a “Curb Appeal Audit”?

At CENTURY 21 Envision, we help you choose DMV-smart trees and shrubs that look great on day one and perform for years.

Our Services (DC • MD • VA):

Pre-List Landscape Strategy: What to plant now vs. later for the best ROI.
Buyer Consults: We evaluate yards for shade potential, privacy options, drainage, HOA limits.
Pro Network: Trusted arborists, landscapers, and irrigation pros.
Photo + Video Marketing: We showcase outdoor spaces that make buyers linger (and book showings).

Let’s plan a landscape that adds value, cuts maintenance, and sells the lifestyle.

Reggie Butler
Broker/Owner, CENTURY 21 Envision
1318 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD 20716
240-938-1244 | reggiebutler333@gmail.com
C21Envision.net