A well planned, colourful garden could add at least 10 to 15% to a property’s value, says Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank.

“Those who neglect their gardens pay a heavy price when they try to sell. It is always worth spending as much as you can afford on your garden and devoting time to its upkeep,” says Steward. “You will always recoup the expenditure several times over when you come to sell.”

However, she warns, these days the preference is for waterwise gardens planted out with indigenous plants, which require relatively little water and maintenance and are resistant to prolonged dry periods.

Steward says particular attention should be paid to the pavements surrounding a home.

“These give the first impression of the home. It is a big mistake to leave them untended and unplanted. A few roses or trees climbing the wall and a neatly cut verge lawn will give the visitor the impression that this is a valuable, well cared for home,” says Steward.