Having a yard is great, but it doesn’t exactly keep itself up. There are several distinct aspects to landscaping that all require attention to make the space look its best at all times. Some of these include mowing, planting flowers or vegetables, irrigating plants, and clearing away dead foliage in fall and winter, just for starters.
If you don’t have much money to spend but still want an attractive yard, landscaping can be much more affordable than you might think. There are several ways homeowners can reduce the amount of cash they spend on their yards while still getting the look they desire. Here are just a few of them.
Saving with Grass Types
One way to save money on landscaping is by the type of grass you plant. Couch turf, a tough, low-maintenance perennial grass, works well as a lawn replacement for those who don’t have the time – or money – to keep up with a traditional lawn.
This type of grass requires between one and two cups of water per week during the summer months and requires infrequent mowing over time. While not as low-maintenance as some other types of grasses, such as buffalo or zoysia turf, this type of grass still has a relatively easy upkeep schedule compared to vegetation like bushes or flowers.
Saving with Mulch
Mulching is one of the easiest things you can do to prevent weeds from popping up in your garden, and it’s also one of the most cost-effective too. For around $30 per yard or less, you can prevent weeds all season long by applying mulch to plant beds.
This will not only save you money on weed treatment but also prevents the soil from eroding after heavy rains. Mulch can be purchased in bulk for much cheaper than bags of mulch that are sold at home improvement stores.
Saving with Fertiliser
Another very cost-effective way to avoid spending big bucks on landscaping is to fertilise plants yourself. Ensure to
purchase the correct fertiliser for the plants you are growing, and avoid overfertilising them – it can cause more damage than good.
If done correctly, fertilising plants will make them grow quickly and require less water than they would otherwise. The cost of adding fertiliser all around your yard can be as little as $20 per application.
Saving with Watering
Many homeowners end up overpaying for their landscaping due to watering it too often and using the wrong type of irrigation system. Even if you use good drip irrigation or sprinkler systems, water between 6 am and 10 am to prevent evaporation and ensure that your plants will be as healthy as possible.
Doing so can save you over $100 per month on water bills, which is a significant amount of money. If you are worried about saving too much water, or if it’s hard for you to wake up early enough in the morning to water your garden during these hours, install a timer that will allow you to save water and still water your plants at the time that’s most convenient for you.
Saving with Professional Services
While they might seem expensive, certain landscaping services can save homeowners money in the long run. Hiring a professional landscape designer to help you plan out your entire yard can be a great way to save money in the long run.
Doing so can help you avoid costly mistakes, such as planting bushes too close together and creating wasted space in your yard. While a landscape designer might charge a pretty penny for their services, they may advise against doing something that ends up costing homeowners even more money in the long run.
Saving with Plants
Many types of plants can be used for landscaping purposes, and most homeowners end up wasting their money on flowers or vegetation that doesn’t grow very quickly or effectively. Before planting anything in your yard, it’s important to do some research about what type of plant is best suited for your climate.
Doing so can help you avoid spending more money on plants that don’t grow very well and might end up dying within a few months or years. Also, make sure to plant flowers in large groupings instead of only planting one flower in each bed. Doing this will ensure that more of your yard is covered with vegetation rather than dirt, which can improve the overall look of your yard.
At the end of the day, many landscaping mistakes are made because homeowners don’t do enough research before buying things for their yards. It’s best to spend time planning out your landscape design before actually implementing it so that you have a better understanding of what types of plants will work best for your yard.
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