Attractive landscaping can do wonders for the appearance of a home, just as houseplants add coziness and color to any room in the house. For guidance on choosing plants that complement your home, turn to the National Gardening Association's website. The nonprofit organization's goal is to help people become better gardeners by providing tips, articles, and how-to guides for an array of projects. The site is easy to navigate and is a good source for gardening novices and green thumbs alike.

You can also sign up for a free bi-weekly newsletter which is tailored to your region (enter your ZIP code) and provides year-round tips for both indoor and outdoor gardening.

Greening Raises Property Values by Double Digits

Planting trees and cleaning up vacant lots can add significant premiums to the prices of nearby homes, according to research conducted by the real estate department at the

University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School.

Phase one of the study examined the results of a joint effort between the city of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, called the Green City Strategy. The strategy, employed as part of the city's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, involves "using place-based policies to transform cities from decline to vibrant health". In the Kensington community, tree plantings have raised property values by 9%; while "cleaned and greened" vacant lots have given nearby residential values a 64% boost. Overall, the study has found property values to increase an average of 30% through greening and vacant land management.