Budget Friendly Landscaping
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These days, accomplishing a project “on a budget” is more important than ever, landscaping included. If you’re thinking about sprucing up your landscape but don’t have a lot of money to spend, consider these tips to get your yard looking great without breaking the bank.
Have a Plan: Starting out with a plan will help you prepare a budget thus minimizing surprises during your project. Drawings with measurements will allow you to prepare an accurate material list to help you cost things out. A good design also gives you the ability to prioritize projects as your budget allows with the end product in mind.
Plant Perennials instead of Annuals: Although the upfront cost of perennials is sometimes more than annuals, perennials will come back year after year. The important thing to remember is to buy perennials well suited to your climatic zone so that they overwinter. The lower the number, the more tolerant to cold they will be. In and around Lethbridge, a zone 3 perennial (or lower) is safe. If you have a very sheltered spot you may be able to overwinter a zone 4 or maybe even 5. Most perennials prefer to be divided on a regular basis, so take advantage of this and expand your flower gardens as you divide plants. Even better, consider trading plant divisions or seeds with friends and neighbours to gain some variety in your yard.
Plant a Tree: There are a wide variety of trees to choose from and prices to suit almost any budget. Think of a tree as an investment in your yard. Not only will they become a focal point in your yard, trees can provide shade and reduce your need for an AC unit. Reduce your grocery bill by planting a fruit tree. Forego that privacy trellis and use a tree instead.
Grow an Edible Garden: Vegetable and herb gardens can look great, providing greenery and interest in your yard, and are suitable for most spaces in your garden. Of course, the best part will be the reduction in your grocery bill with the fruits and vegetables you’ll harvest.
Mulch your Planting Beds: Probably the simplest, most cost-effective way to immediately improve the look of your yard is to add an organic mulch in your planting beds. There are many types to choose from, some of them for free. Not only will it look better, mulch will ultimately help your soil retain moisture, reduce weed emergence, prevent soil compaction and keep your plant’s roots happy.
Add a Water Barrel: Although this may not improve the look of your landscape directly, capturing rain water will save you money when it comes to watering your plants and healthy plants will improve your landscape. In addition, studies have shown that plants grow better with rain water than tap water.
Use Paving Stone or Retaining Wall Block: Contrary to popular belief, using paving stone or retaining wall blocks for your hardscape projects can actually save you money in the long run. Poured concrete will often be the first choice for budget-conscious people, but when considering their longevity and reusability, bricks are better for your wallet. First of all, there are many different types to choose from, suitable to most budgets. If you like the look of pricey natural stone, there are even bricks that convincingly mimic it at a fraction of the cost. Secondly, pavers are DIY friendly which means you may not need to hire a contractor for installation, and the work can be done whenever the homeowner has time available. Once the bricks are installed, they can be used and reused for decades to come. If plans change in your yard, bricks can be removed to be resold or reused as warranted and you won’t have to pay to dispose of them as is the case of broken concrete. Depending on your creativity, various discounted or broken bricks could even be laid together to form a mosaic.
Reuse, Repurpose: Just like paving stone and retaining wall blocks, many other items can gain a new lease on life in the landscape. Use pallet wood to create garden furniture or planters. That old bathtub beside your garage could become a whimsical planter for annuals, a flower pot transformed into a water feature. Not only will this help your budget, it will also help the environment.
Know your own Limits and Expertise: Although landscaping and gardening are often DIY-friendly activities which can help extend your budget, making mistakes can become costly. Doing projects more than once will take up more of your valuable time but may also mean wasted products and the need for more. More serious issues such as improper sloping and drainage can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property. Improper plant selection and placement can cause the frustration of dead plants but could lead to more serious problems such as sewer-line and foundation issues or structural damage to fences and buildings. Sometimes hiring a reputable professional to install your landscape or consult on your plans will save you money in the long run. The same goes for where you choose to buy your product. Absent or incorrect advice can cost you more on unnecessary products or when you need to fix something incorrectly installed.
If you’re unsure where to begin, you can always count on the expert advice available at Hilgersom Inc.!
