When a prospective buyer pulls up to your home, it’s your yard that greets them. Don’t get off track, then, in your outdoor efforts. Here are a few things not to do.

1. Ignore maintenance
Many people love the idea of a beautifully landscaped yard, but they aren’t willing to put in the work to maintain it. Make sure that any updates you make won’t require an intimidating amount of upkeep for buyers.

2. Forget that seasons change
When planning your landscape improvements, remember to include appealing elements for each season and not just a yard full of flowers that will wither in September. Evergreens add color through the winter, deciduous trees will flower in spring and turn color in autumn, and annual and perennial beds can bloom with color in the warmer months.

3. Neglect growth
Keep your trimmers sharp. Overgrown shrubs and trees can make your home look rundown. And a well-edged lawn suggests that the rest of the property is as well-maintained as the yard.

4. Let clutter sprout
Kids’ toys, athletic equipment and excessive lawn furniture can ruin the effect of even the most well thought-out landscaping. Keep it neat.