Landscaping Your Home On A Budget
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Now that spring has sprung, many people are anxious to get outside to start on their landscaping projects.
Landscaping your home needs to start with a plan and budget.
Landscaping a home can be costly if you make unnecessary purchases and mistakes.
Today, I’m going to share with you my expertise as a landscaper with al of you so you’re better equipped to make decisions.
Find out what tips homeowners can use to keep their landscaping project on budget.
Landscaping Your Dream Home Without Stress
The mere thought of doing landscaping can lead to sleepless nights and visions of empty bank accounts.
Over the years, I have worked with many clients who have fallen into this category; they want to bring their yard to life but are worried about the costs associated with undertaking the project.
In many cases, they are first-time homeowners who have never landscaped before and have heard stories from friends and family of how much their backyard retreats have cost.
They may have wandered into a garden center only to be overwhelmed by names and price tags.
On top of that, many folks today are both budget-conscious and “green” conscious, wanting to bring these items to the table when beautifying their property.
Landscape Design: Planning
As a landscape designer, I first ask my clients about their budget – right away, you need to know how much you want to spend on the project initially and long-term.
Related: Curb Appeal Landscaping For First-Time Homeowners
When you undertake a landscape project, knowing how much money you want to spend on the project is essential when you are done putting everything in the ground (no pun intended).
Some people plan to approach the project over several years and allot “x” dollars each year.
Other people may prefer to approach the project as a “one-time shot.”
Either way, write those numbers down, as that is your initial budget.
Basic Tools For Landscaping
If you have never gardened before, you will need some essential tools to get you started.
For landscape newbies, I suggest visiting Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, or going to garage sales.
Keeping your costs low means finding the tools for a fraction of the cost.
This can be a significant investment and worth buying the right tools the first time rather than replacing them year after year.
- Shovel
- Rake
- Lawnmower
- Garden Hoe
- Spade
- Garden Hose
- Gardening Fork
- Spade
- Pruning Shears
- Garden Gloves
- Wheelbarrow
- Garden Hand Tools
- Ladder
- Garden Water Can
- Twine
- Lawn Spreader
Related: How To Source Free Landscaping Supplies.
Home Before Landscaping
How To Determine A Landscaping Budget
Now in terms of long-term landscaping budget, ask yourself –
- Do you plan to plant annuals in your garden each year? Yes – that will cost money each year, so you need to budget for that.
- Do you want to use city water to irrigate the gardens? If so, that will impact your water bill, so you will want to consider that. If you don’t plan to water or want to rely on rain barrels, you will also want to consider plant materials that are more drought-tolerant or native.
- Do you plan to use decorative mulch in your beds? If so, this will need to be topped up every year to keep it looking fresh and maintain its garden-friendly properties.
- You will also want to budget for regular maintenance costs such as fertilizers.
Related: How to grow beautiful flower beds for your property.
Landscape Design Phase
Understanding Needs vs. Wants
Once you have developed your budget, I suggest drawing up a list of “needs” and “wants.”
This is important because many people get the two confused, especially when planning something as exciting as a new entertaining space, and it is easy to blow through your budget with things you “want” while forgetting the things you “need.”
Sure, you might “want” that lovely fountain, but you really “need” a patio to accommodate your extended family on a long weekend Backyard BBQ party.
Determining what area of your property you want to landscape first is essential.
Is your front yard the area that is most important to you?
This may be true if you are planning to sell soon or if the entrance is a safety hazard), or is the backyard the most important because it will be your “staycation” spot for summer weekends?
Related: How To Get Rid Of House and Garden Ants
Involve the entire family during this process; it can be a lot of fun coming up with ideas and searching out photos!
During this phase, one of the biggest things I advise people to do is to seek professional advice.
Related: How To Build A Rock Garden With Weed Prevention.
Should You Hire A Landscaping Professional?
By searching out a professional’s advice, you will likely save yourself money.
I know this might sound backward, but spending money to save money?
Listen to this – spending the money to have a consultation or have a landscaping plan completed by a professional is worth it.
The landscaping profession knows what plants will do best in a specific area (ie: in that dark, dry shady corner or beside the driveway where you pile your snow).
The professional will also show you how best to design a patio around your windows and doors, saving you both the time and the hassle of trial and error.
I have met people who have spent thousands of dollars on plant material, only to have it repeatedly fail because they had planted it in the wrong space.
A quick 1-1/2 consultation could have saved some of that money and let them spend it on something else.
Landscaping A Home For Resale Value
Landscaping is an excellent asset to your home and will often retain its resale value more than a bathroom or kitchen renovation.
Curb appeal is a significant factor for many people when looking at homes, so many people can’t see a home’s potential when they pull up and see nothing.
When you read house listings, do you notice realtors always mention landscaping?
It’s an important selling feature for any home and why keeping your property tidy is essential.
Client Project
The project below is a simple front yard landscaping renovation that was completed in one day for a client.
The clients had a landscaping budget that they wanted to stick to.
By telling me their landscaping budget and meeting with me to discuss what they wanted to accomplish (give the house curb appeal without having to add annuals each year, wanted year-round and some “feature” plants), I was able to take their budget and make it work for them.
In fact, we came in UNDER budget and included all the features they wanted!
The 2-hour consultation had paid off as they weren’t left guessing which plants to select and where they should be planted.
Related: How to Build A Rock Garden With Weed Protection
After Landscaping The Property
The AFTER- After landscaping, what an Impact on the home!
© Landscape Designs by Jodie Munshaw 2012
Contribution Post By Jodie Munshaw is a Certified Landscape Designer providing her clients with custom landscape designs and garden consultation services that meet both their needs and their budgets.
Landscaping and Gardening Series
- How I Turned My Passion and Skills Into Making Extra Money
- Free Plants And Easy Ways To Save Money On Gardening
- Protect Your Investment: Planting Tips For Your Vegetable Garden
- Garden Growing Guide
- Starting Our Frugal Garden From Seed
- Growing A Garden In A Small Space
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