It is possible to create beautiful landscaping without spending a lot of money. Although landscaping can be expensive, there are ways to offset the costs. If you have landscape dreams but a limited budget, here are some ways to make it happen.
The balance between time and money
You need to be aware of the balance between the amount of time and effort you are willing to spend and the amount of money you are willing to spend when trying to landscape on a budget. You can save money by spending more time and effort doing it yourself. Or you can get it done with less time and effort by hiring out the job.
If you only have a limited amount of money to spend on your landscaping project, consider hiring someone to do the tasks that you’re not comfortable with or capable of doing yourself. This can be cheaper than hiring someone to do the whole project and it will still result in a high-quality outcome.
1. Prioritize your projects
Since you are now privy to the fact that time and money must be balanced in a project, we can discuss priorities. Just as there is a balance between beauty and function in landscape projects, so too is there a balance between your financial needs and wants. It isrecommended that you place more importance on meeting the functional requirements of the project over making it visually appealing. This may mean that some beauty must be sacrificed in order to make the landscaping project functional. You can’t make it pretty until it is working.
In order to figure out what is most important on your landscaping to-do list, here are some ways to help:
What parts of your landscaping are already working?
Are you happy with the spaces in your landscape? Could you make them even better with a few slight changes? This may be a simple, budget-friendly project that requires very little time and effort but could have a great impact on your enjoyment of your space.
Putting what you like about one area of your yard into other areas can help make your whole yard more attractive and comfortable.
If you want to save money on your landscaping project, try using leftover materials from your previous project.
What’s definitely not working in your landscape?
Do you have any parts of your yard that you can’t stand? You should put your time, effort, and money into fixing these areas. To save money, you can try temporarily blocking the view of these areas until you have more time and money to invest in them. Can you block, hide, cover, or disguise these areas instead of actually landscaping them?
If you’re looking to start landscaping your yard, be sure to check out my post on how to get started. You’ll learn everything you need to know to make your first landscaping project a success.
Where do you spend the most time?
Think about which areas of your yard you use most often. Do you spend time walking across your lawn, relaxing in your garden, or looking at your flowers? Allot more of your landscaping budget to the spaces you use most often.
For example, think about how you go from the street to your front door, or from your parking area. Is the path wide enough? Do you like walking to your front door? Are there any things that could make you trip? Is there good lighting? Is it clear for visitors how they should get to the front door from the parking area?
If you are looking to improve your landscaping on a budget, a great place to start is with your property entry. You can enjoy the improved function and aesthetic appeal of your entry every day, and it will also increase the curb appeal and value of your home.
What landscaping projects will increase the value of your home?
What are some landscaping projects that will give you a good return on investment? A well-kept landscape with curb appeal is always a good investment. If you are landscaping on a budget, consider focusing your priorities on the areas that will give you the biggest return for your money.
Updating your front entry and foundation planting are two of the most important landscaping projects you can do to increase your home value, according to landscape economist John Harris. A well-maintained landscape can be responsible for 28% of your home’s overall value.
2. Take the time to create a plan
Now that you’ve decided on a budget and how much time and energy you can dedicate to your project, you need to create a plan.
Before you try to save money by doing your landscape project yourself, create a plan and take the time to understand how to do it. Otherwise, you may end up creating more problems.
If you are planning on doing some landscaping, my printable project worksheets can help you stay within your budget.
Pick your plants last
The order in which you select your plants is not as important as you might think. Plants are like the icing on a cake – they can be added last without harming the overall design.
- Start with a good plan (a recipe)
- Execute the plan (bake)
- This will create a solid foundation (cake)
- Once all of this is done, you can ice and decorate (plants)
If your cake is crooked, you may be able to cover up some of the problems with frosting, but it will probably look bad. However, if you didn’t follow the recipe or bake it long enough, it won’t taste good either. It’s difficult to fix this without making a new cake, which can cost you not only money, but also time and effort.
In my opinion, it is crucial to start with a plan and carry out the plan. Many people believe that they can choose their plants last, but if you want the project done right, you need to choose your plants beforehand. Having a plan ensures that you won’t have to waste time or money fixing things that went wrong.
When you are ready to choose plants for your landscape, check out my article on Landscape Layering.
3. Fill with flowers
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to improve your garden on a budget is by planting flowers. Whether you plant seeds, bulbs, or ready-bought bedding plants, taking the time to add some color to your garden will pay off in the long run.
Pansies, Violas and Chrysanthemums can be bought for as little as a pound and have the potential to flower again the following year if given the right care and kept away from frost. Unlike seeds and bulbs, these flowers are pretty immediate.
The flowers that will bloom in about 60 days are petunias, nigellas, and sunflowers. The bulbs that will bloom in early spring are daffodils and tulips, and should be planted in autumn.
You should take care of each flower differently, according to the instructions on the plant label or seed packet.
4. Plant some produce
You can also grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs in your garden for extra flavor.
According to Laurie Sgroi, who is the Head of Operations at HOS Landscapes, it is possible to grow vegetables even if you have a very small space, and it is also cost-effective.
You don’t need a lot of space to grow your own vegetables. Many edible plants will do well in old pots. Tomatoes, herbs, salad greens, and even squash and zucchini will do well during the summer if you keep them in large pots filled with moist compost. This is ideal for a balcony or a garden with limited planting space.
Seeds from chillies and sweet peppers can be used to grow new plants. Leftover food waste can be used as compost. The plants will need to be watered regularly.
You can make your store-bought basil or cilantro plants last longer by repotting them and watering them properly.
learning about produce Fruit and vegetables are seasonal foods and will only grow at certain times of the year. To learn when to plant and harvest your produce, we recommend checking out Miracle-Gro’s vegetable planting calendar.
5. Perk it up with pots
It is important to be careful about what you plant your flowers and veggies in. Plant pots are a good way to improve the look of your garden without spending a lot of money.
One easy way to change the look of your garden is to use outdoor pots, according to Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director at Dobbies Garden Centres. Pots are often an afterthought when it comes to plants and flowers, but they can make a big difference in lifting up a space.
Investing in plant pots is a cheap way to introduce color to your home.
To create a country garden feel, use terracotta, stone, and soft neutrals. These will all make greenery really pop. To create a laid-back coastal theme, use metal and navy-blue pots. To create a vibrant exotic vibe, use sunshine yellow and cherry reds.
An easy way to recycle aluminum tins is to use them as plant pots for growing herbs. You can elevate them by giving them a new paint job.
6. Look after your lawn
If most homeowners took more care of their lawns, the appearance of these outdoor spaces would improve dramatically. Showing your lawn some love through regular maintenance can make a big difference.
A beautiful, green lawn is usually the result of consistent mowing, watering, and seed dispersal.
The general rule of thumb for lawn mowing is that the more you do it, the better it will look. Experts also recommend mowing your lawn in both directions in order to get a more polished finish.
The amount of water you give your lawn depends on the season. In June to September, you should water your lawn once a week. If it rains, you may not need to water your lawn. Water your lawn in the morning so the grass has time to dry before evening. In spring and autumn, you may not need to water your lawn as much. You may not need to water your lawn at all in winter.
According to gardening guru Kate Turner from Miracle-Gro, lawn seeds or grass food is an easy and inexpensive way to perk up your lawn.
After you rake your lawn, you may notice some bald spots that need fixing. Gently poke the ground with a fork in those spots and spread some topsoil or compost over them. Scatter grass seeds over the ground, following the instructions on the seed packet, and lightly sprinkle more compost over the seeds. Water the seeds sparingly with a watering can.
7. Get rid of weeds
You will be glad that you took ten minutes to remove the uncontrolled weeds in your garden. It will make the space much neater.
You can follow the old-fashioned method and pull them out yourself. But if weeds are scattered all over your garden, you might want to save yourself the physical effort and try one of these weed-killer recipes:
- Vinegar – Banish weeds and dandelions by pouring pure white or apple cider vinegar on them. Perfect for getting rid of weeds sprouting around your patio or in awkward cracks.
- Vodka – mix 30ml of vodka with 2 drops of washing up liquid or hand soap and add water. Mix together and spray on stubborn weeds in direct sunlight. The alcohol in this concoction will break down the weed’s waxy cuticles causing them to dehydrate and die.
- Mulch – organic-made mulch from things like grass or bark clippings, leaves or straw can be generously applied on top of weeds. They stop the weed’s source of sunlight preventing them from sprouting.
- ROUNDUP NL Weed Control – This tried and tested weed-killer is natural and Glyphosate-Free, with visible results in three hours.
8. Reupholster, repaint, rejuvenate
Give your old garden furniture, fences, and sheds a new lease on life with a fresh coat of paint.
Marcus Eyles of Dobbies Garden Centres suggests that using neutral colors like white or cream can brighten up a dull area and create the illusion of more space. He also notes that these colors can make shady gardens appear more lively by making the plants and flowers stand out more.
While white is a popular choice for gardens, don’t be afraid to go for a more daring color scheme to make a bigger impact.
Use garden paint instead of regular paint to make it last longer.
Wrapping Up
It’s important to stick to a budget when you’re trying to save money. While it’s okay to have big aspirations, try to break the down into smaller, manageable steps. You can also save money by choosing plants that will spread and fill up a space, and using free or low-cost resources like mulch, compost, and blogs. Finally, don’t forget to ask your friends for help!
