Tuesday 6 December 2011

Backyard Landscaping: 5 Ideas to Landscape on a Budget

The backyard is one of the most important aspects of any home. Property owners everywhere take pride in how their lawn looks to visitors. It's a site of family gatherings and events, where you congregate with loved ones to acknowledge important accomplishments. It does take some investment in time and financial resources to have a proper backyard landscaping design, but you don't have to empty your 401(k) in order to make your lawn look like it was done a professional. There are several things you can do on a budget to make your plants look great.

Take advantage of freebies

Cities often give away free trees, mulch and compost, while demolition sites are a great for bricks and stones (you should always get permission before removing any items). If you look close enough, you can find a lot of great, free plants out there.

Know when to hire a professional

There will be times during your project that you'll find it just easier to hire a professional landscaper. Get help for the jobs that might take more muscle or design skill than you have available. You shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. While there is a great amount of pride in doing the work yourself, you don't want your yard to look like you needed assistance.

Put the project in your phases

Don't buy everything at once, as you'll just drain your bank account. Dividing the project into phases will allow you to review your progress and adjust plans, as well as save you costs. It will also save you the stress of thinking, "How will I get all of this done?" Rome wasn't built in a day, and your yard shouldn't be landscaped in 24 hours. Take your time to make sure the job is done right.

Find other resources

Look beyond the stores, and check out botanical centers, plant societies and other organizations that often hold plant sales. You can usually find a good bargain on perennials and other plants. Schools often hold plant and tree sales, and not only will you get them at a great price, you'll also be supporting great causes.

Make your own compost

Use yard waste and food scraps to save on the cost of fertilizer. You can easily make compost piles from recycled 2x4s and chicken wire. Retail outlets charge on average $5 per bag of small fertilizer, and it will take many bags to properly fertilize your plants. With your own wasted items, you can save the funds.

Remember: It's your property, so you have the ability to try different things. You might even discover a cost-savings way to manicure your property that wasn't listed here.
backyard landscaping should be fun and not stressful, so save the stress by saving money.

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