Just because you don’t have a lot to spend on landscaping doesn’t mean you can’t let in the professional. Linda Jensen of Arrowwood Landscape Design says she works with clients on project at an array of price points. A few tips to make it look like you spent a million bucks on your landscaping:
- Be upfront and honest with landscapers on your the budget. If you have a low budget, a reputable and knowledgeable landscaper will know how to accommodate your it. They should know which plants will work and which ones won’t. And you can always take items out of the design and add them in later if your budget increases.
- Get cheap plants. Hit up your supermarket or even online sites like eBay. If you have time to sort through the plants to find ones that look acceptable (no bugs for example), you can save money. Just be sure to properly care for them as inexpensive plants will need extra TLC such as attentive watering.
- Don’t have enough money for plants? Buy seeds. If you don’t use them all, stash the leftovers for next year. Plant seeds directly into the ground to save money on soil and containers.
- Buy in bulk. Talk with neighbors about combining your orders-you will likely be able to get them cheaper (especially if you order them online).
- Rent your equipment. You can share with your neighbors and not have to pay to own tools you’ll only use once or worry about where you’ll store them.
- Speak to landscapers or nursery specialists about the right plants for you based on your sunlight exposure, climate and watering capabilities.
- Chose specific plants wisely-annuals last one season but perennials bloom year after year. For variety, consider doing a mixture of annuals and perennials so you don’t have to re-plants everything every year.
- Believe it or not, water features don’t cost much but look like they do. Many pumps and ponds are easy to install. Add some stones or build some waterfalls to make it look even more high end.
- Fertilize on the cheap with your own compost bin. Then you can put kitchen scraps, leaves and more in there to produce rich nutrients for your soil. Some cities even offer free compost at designated locations.
- Vary heights of plants. Put the tallest ones at the center or back and the lowest ones in the front. That way you’ll give the illusion that you have a lot of plants. If you have a fence, you don’t need to line the whole fence. You can put a garden in the corner that will still look nice.
- Mulch can give your landscaping a groomed finished look, while being relatively inexpensive at the same time. It holds moisture so you’ll have to water less. It reduces weed so you’ll need less weed killer. Even better, as the mulch breaks down, it enriches the soil. Choose from colors like red, black and more.
- Use seed instead of sod if possible to establish a new batch of grass. It may take longer but it is cheaper.
