I have never been a natural gardener. For years, I struggled to keep basic houseplants alive, only to kill them at the first opportunity. It was difficult and stressful to buy a home with a yard, but I knew that I might be able to learn what I was doing wrong and correct the problem. To start off, I focused heavily on the lawn, and tried hard to keep it trimmed and well-maintained. Next, I cleaned up the flowerbeds. It was a lot of work, but I knew that it would pay off in the end. When I was done, my front yard was gorgeous, and guess what--it even stayed alive. This blog is all about loving your little landscape.
Implementing the right landscape design and finding the most cost effective materials for your home is always a challenge. On top of that, if you're not an expert, you might end up wasting your time on landscape work that simply doesn't function with your space. Thankfully, there are a few tips you can follow to save you money and meet your goals for your specific landscaping job.
One Step at a Time
If you're considering doing a job on your own, think about doing one small part of your lawn at a time. This will also allow you to purchase materials over time instead of all in one shot, helping you reduce strain on your finances. It will also make your project more manageable by breaking down your work into small tasks.
Usually, tackling a landscaping project that involves your entire yard is best left to a professional landscaper, especially if you want a more complex overall design.
Talking to an Expert
Even if you decide not to have a landscaper work on your property, it's not a bad idea to pay for a consultation. A landscaper can give you input on your overall design and how it fits with the budget you drew up.
Landscapers can also provide new ideas along with tips for more difficult jobs, such as building square decks or rock gardens. Ultimately, the cost of a consultation can save you money in the long run.
Buy at the Right Time
You can save money buy purchasing your landscaping materials at specific times of the year. Lumber and other wood-based products are usually cheapest in the winter. Other landscaping supplies such as mulch, shrubs, trees, soil and perennials are also cheaper if you buy at the end of the season.
Consider Alternate Sources
Although big box stores often have the best deals on items such as lumber, they are often lacking in terms of selection and quality. Shopping at places such as arboretums, botanical gardens, and nurseries can provide you unique and quality landscaping supplies and plants.
Although some of these spots can be more expensive in terms of upfront costs, they often offer money-back guarantees on their plants as well as specialized advice and sometimes even installation help.
Buy Cheap for Certain Supplies
For materials such as common plants, stone pavers, plant containers and soil, usually it's best to pick one of the cheaper options, as there is not much difference between an expensive brand and a cheaper brand.
A professional landscaper can also draw up a list of materials for you that will provide you an overview of what to buy cheap for your specific landscaping project.
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