These three common plants can devalue your home by up to 25% when grown in your garden

It's a common thought that adding plants to your garden can only be a good thing, but some secretly do more harm than good. Some species are so damaging to your space that they can reduce the value of your home.

Whilst you might be well aware of the common invasive plants that can ruin your garden, some other popular species under the radar can be just as damaging. And whilst they won't particularly take over your garden like knotweed would, these plants can be such an issue that they decrease your home's value.

If you want to upgrade your garden to boost your home's value, then you'll want to stay well clear of these particular plants.

3 plant species that can devalue your home

When it comes to blocking your neighbour's view on a budget, there's nothing quite as effective as planting a row of hedges in your garden.

However many evergreen varieties, like the ones listed below, can become a major issue for your home and its surrounding land. To avoid devaluing your home, here are the top three species to keep well clear of.

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1. Cherry Laurel

As one of the best plants for privacy, cherry laurel is a very popular choice for homeowners. It's incredibly fast-growing and dense, making it an ideal choice to surround your garden with.

“Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a vigorous, large, spreading evergreen bush, with glossy leaves up to 15cm in length," says Karl McArdle, co-founder of The Property Buying Company.

"If not pruned, it can form dense walls of foliage, and if trimmed poorly, it can suffer from powdery mildew, which can be unsightly and put buyers off. If left to grow large, it can dry out the ground, causing subsidence. A history of subsidence can reduce your home’s value by up to 25%," he adds.

2. Arrow Bamboo

Whilst you might've been debating growing bamboo in your garden for privacy, most types of bamboo are considered extremely invasive.

“Arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica) is a tough, spreading evergreen bamboo, reaching up to 6 metres in height. In warm, moist conditions, this can cause the creeping rootstock to produce new shoots away from the original plant, causing it to spread further than desired," explains Karl.

"Arrow bamboo spreading near neighbours’ fencing or near drains could reduce your property value by 5 to 15%," he continues.

Trying to get rid of bamboo roots can be a real nightmare, too, so it's definitely something to properly think about before you plant.

3. Leyland cypress

Another fast-growing shrub, the Leyland cypress, is popular for its height; however, this is the same reason it can be a real issue for your home and its future inhabitants.

“Leyland cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii) is a large, very fast-growing evergreen tree. If unchecked, they can reach heights of up to 30 metres tall, which means they have the potential to become a nuisance and will therefore require regular trimming to keep under control," states Karl.

"If Leyland cypress smothers and outcompetes other plants in your garden, this could reduce your property value by up to 15%," he warns.

If you've already taken measures to add a little privacy to your home, with a pergola, for example, then adding plants perfect for pergolas can give you that extra layer to keep nosy neighbours away.