A greener yard doesn\u2019t have to mean losing green from your wallet. Whether you want to design a new yard or transform your current one, these tips will help you get the most out of your budget. <\/p>
No backyard is complete without flowers and shrubs, but homeowners often miss out on saving money and time by choosing the wrong ones. When you\u2019re picking out your next showstopper bloom or creeping vine, think about these three criteria: duration, native origin, and functionality. <\/p>
Duration refers to whether a plant will die during the winter (annuals) or come back next year (perennials). Perennials are the gift that keeps on giving. Instead of repurchasing and installing the same flowers over and over, buy them once and get your money\u2019s worth. Perennials are slightly more expensive than annuals, but you\u2019ll save in the long run by not having to repurchase flowers every spring.<\/p>
For some plants, their duration depends on what climate you live in. Check your USDA Hardiness Zone<\/a> as well as the plant\u2019s preferred zones. <\/p> We love native flowers, shrubs, and trees because they\u2019re low maintenance and good for the environment. Because they\u2019re adapted to your climate, they require less intensive care and have a better chance of survival, which means fewer costs for things such as fertilizer, herbicide, and repurchasing plants.<\/p> Some of the benefits of choosing native plants are:<\/p> If you are a practical person, choose plants that are pretty as well as useful. Herbs like mint, lavender, and sage provide visual interest as well add great flavors to some of your favorite dishes. Some plants repel pests like mosquitoes<\/a> and fleas<\/a>. A vegetable garden adds color<\/a> to your landscape, puts healthy food on your plate, and saves you money at the grocery store. <\/p> Pro Tip: <\/strong>Plants with multiple seasons of interest give you more bang for your buck. Look for trees with summer flowers and autumn colors, flowers that produce beautiful seed pods in the winter, or anything with eye-catching bark. <\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Perennials can be anywhere from $3 to $50 or more per plant. <\/p> If you need to break up space in a big backyard or want a smoother transition from turfgrass to garden, consider a walkway. A path made of stepping stones or pavers is an easy, budget-friendly project that combines style and functionality. <\/p> To elevate the design, add some moss or ground cover that can take foot traffic like sedge. A gravel pathway will add a more seamless look.<\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Pavers cost between $1 and $15 each. Gravel is around $4 per bag which covers 3 square feet at a 2-inch depth. <\/p> Why stop at a walkway? A rock garden <\/strong>is an area where boulders, stones, and rocks are arranged in unique designs. Rock gardens don\u2019t require much care and provide a calming sanctuary to enjoy alone or with friends and family. <\/p> They\u2019re especially great landscape features for locations prone to drought. With a rock garden you\u2019ll save on the cost of water and fertilizer compared to having a traditional lawn.<\/p> Rock gardens also make your yard appear larger and increase your home\u2019s curb appeal. And rock gardens are an investment that can increase your property\u2019s value by up to 14%. <\/a><\/p> Add drought-tolerant plants, sand, and mulch to your rock garden to create a xeriscape<\/a>, a type of landscape design that focuses on water conservation by eliminating the need for irrigation.<\/p> Is your landscape trying to establish boundaries? Edging can help. <\/p> The best way to save money is to work with what you already have. Think of all the possibilities on how to design with:<\/p> You can use any of those edging materials to contain mulch, highlight a tree, or make any landscape feature stand out. Edging also helps prevent erosion by interrupting runoff. <\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Professional installation can cost between $70 and $1,500, depending on the scale of the project. You can use scrap wood or leftover stones to cut costs and do this project yourself. <\/p> There\u2019s nothing like a beautiful magnolia or oak tree on the border of your property. We know homeowners are eager for their landscapes to fill out and look mature, but a little patience will pay off by saving you big bucks. A fully grown tree can cost as much as $200, whereas a sapling can be as little as 50 cents. <\/p> Cost: <\/strong>50 cents to $2 per sapling.<\/p> If you would love to grow a garden but don\u2019t have a green thumb, a raised garden can help. How is it different from a regular garden? A raised garden is off the ground and isolated, so you\u2019re less likely to deal with weeds and pests<\/a>. If you don\u2019t have weeds and pests, you don\u2019t have to spend money on pesticides and herbicides. <\/p> You can use a number of materials to create a raised garden bed including wood, cinder block, and brick. If you\u2019re comfortable with a drill, you can easily create one yourself using cedar boards. <\/p> Cost: <\/strong>A DIY raised garden bed can cost as little as $35.<\/p> You don\u2019t have to have traditional turfgrass to have a green yard. Traditional grass needs regular maintenance and detailed care, and that means regular fertilization, herbicide, and watering, not to mention equipment upkeep for lawn mowers and other equipment. <\/p> Ground covers<\/a> are a great, low-maintenance alternative. They\u2019re cheaper than traditional grass too. These low-lying plants have a creeping, spreading habit that can (you guessed it) cover a lot of ground. You can use them to cover your whole lawn, mixed in with traditional grass, or as an accent around hardscaping. <\/p> Ground cover options include: <\/p> Choose a ground cover that suits your landscape. If you have a lot of shade, Corsican mint is a good option. If it\u2019s always sunny at your house, try creeping thyme. Creeping phlox tolerates high foot traffic, making it perfect for those who spend a lot of time entertaining outdoors. <\/p> Cost: <\/strong>The only cost is the plant itself which ranges from $5 to $25. <\/p> Who said every plant needs to be in a 12×12-inch terra cotta pot? Anything that can hold soil can be repurposed into a planter. Not only does it save you money buying planters, but it also gives your yard a unique flair.<\/p> Here are some things you can find around your home to use as planters to create garden centerpieces:<\/p> If your object doesn\u2019t have drainage holes, pick plants that don\u2019t mind sitting in a little moisture. Otherwise, you can drill in a few holes yourself. <\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Your only cost is soil and the plants themselves. A 50-quart bag of potting soil costs $15 while plants will be between $3 and $50.<\/p> An easy way to take your outdoor living space to the next level is budget-friendly outdoor lighting. The right lights can make your garden magical. There\u2019s no need to go all out for professional landscape lighting if you don\u2019t want to \u2014 all these ideas can be DIY.<\/p> Lighting for your front yard should be focused on illuminating pathways and spotlighting your home. Small lights on stakes are an easy way to illuminate walkways. Add some strategically placed solar lights to highlight a well-landscaped area of your yard, your home, or just add ambiance to your outdoor space. Remember, you need fewer lights than you think unless you have particularly rocky terrain. <\/p> Backyard lighting sets the tone for your outdoor entertainment. Twinkling string lights create an inviting space for dinner parties. Hang paper lanterns from trees to highlight their beauty. If you have a deck or patio, point soft spotlights to objects around it. This will eliminate glare while still providing light. <\/p> Pro Tip: <\/strong>If you\u2019re willing to spend a little more now to save in the long run, think about solar landscape lights. They come as string lights, stake lights, spotlights, and even hanging mason jar lights. It won\u2019t take them long to pay for themselves in energy savings.<\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Simple lighting installed yourself can cost as little as $15. Solar lights range from $25 to $60. <\/p> Consider a rock garden or ground cover. You\u2019ll save money on repurchasing plants and irrigation, and maintenance. <\/p> Focus on edging to define your lawn. Add a walkway to bare patches or shady areas and to add some dimension to your yard. <\/p> Add simple lighting and a statement planter. This will add a little character to your landscape.<\/p> Plant a sapling in an area where you\u2019d like to get some shade like next to your entertainment area. <\/p> Time is just as precious as money. If you\u2019d rather spend yours doing something other than landscaping, <\/em>call a pro<\/em><\/a> in your area to take care of design, installation, and maintenance. They also can help you maximize your landscaping budget.<\/em><\/p> Native origin<\/span><\/h4>
Functionality<\/span><\/h4>
2. Add a walkway<\/span><\/h3>
3. Build a rock garden<\/span><\/h3>
4. Get creative with edging<\/span><\/h3>
5. Plant a sapling<\/span><\/h3>
6. Raise your garden bed<\/span><\/h3>
7. Go for (ground) cover<\/span><\/h3>
8. Repurpose found objects for planters<\/span><\/h3>
9. Light it up<\/span><\/h3>
Front yard lighting <\/span><\/h4>
Backyard lighting<\/span><\/h4>
Things to consider when designing your landscape<\/span><\/h2>
If you live in a drought-prone area…<\/span><\/h3>
If you want to keep your turfgrass…<\/span><\/h3>
If you just want to spruce things up\u2026<\/span><\/h3>
If your yard gets a lot of sun\u2026<\/span><\/h3>