To avoid the steep price tag, you can instead opt for a DIY landscaping project. Before embarking on the work, however, be sure to do your research and determine the specific types of plants and landscape elements that will be most appropriate and long-lasting for your property, and region of the country. This extra step will help save you from needlessly wasting money. Here are some of the additional ways to stretch your landscaping budget as far as possible. “Think carefully about how you’d like to use your outdoor space, or how you already use it: Do you need a path to the front door?” asks Mary Jane Duford, gardening blogger and creator of Home for the Harvest, who has landscaped several properties on a budget. “What about an outdoor sitting area? Would some privacy hedging or shade trees make a big difference? Get outside and start dreaming about your outdoor space, so you can put together a solid plan,” she adds. Once you’ve developed a rough outline of your plans, begin researching costs. Knowing approximately what the price tag will be for various elements of your project can help you eliminate wishlist items that simply don’t fit the budget, says Duford. “This includes evergreens, shade trees, and ornamental perennials,” Duford explains. “Start with large feature trees, hedging plants, and any mass plantings of perennials such as rows of ornamental grasses. You can fill in the extra spaces with flowering perennials, annuals, and container plants in future seasons.” When it comes to purchasing perennials in particular, you may also be able secure a discount if you buy them during specific times of year. “One of the smartest things for saving money when doing a landscape project is to get perennial plants instead of annuals—especially in the fall when nurseries have deep discounts on their perennials,” says Anton Schwarz, CEO of Lawn Care Guides. “Plant them once, and enjoy them coming back season after season,” he adds. “While the impact on the landscape won’t be as dramatic, younger plants typically root into the surrounding soil quite well,” suggests Duford. “It’s not uncommon for small plants to grow more quickly than those planted at a larger size when given adequate care as they get established.” “It’s important to understand what you buy and the rate at which it will grow,” says Warren Byington, of Backyard Brothers. “Plan for the future by not overcrowding. While things may look spaced-out and even sparse at first, plant according to specific spacing guidelines, giving plants time to grow and flourish. When you crowd immature landscaping, it will will plants—and your wallet—in the long run.” “Because they’re accustomed to the local climate, native plants tend to be easier to grow,” says Haeley Giambalvo, creator of the site Native Backyards. “Native plants are hardier, drought tolerant, and don’t require any additional fertilization, saving you money on watering and care, as well as on having to replace plants that have died.” “Prepare the soil well enough for it to handle the load, making sure to match its acidity and nutrient balance with the plants you hope to grow,” says Ronnie Collins, creator of Electro Garden Tools. “Lab tests generally take one to two weeks to get you back results, but they are very accurate,” adds Collins. “You can order different testing options, depending on your budget. General health testing costs $50 to $100, and nutrient or pH testing for gardening is usually around $75.” “This is one task that’s approachable for DIY-inclined homeowners,” Duford explains. “Most garden centers carry rolls of drip irrigation line, and DIY drip irrigation kits are available online. Many types of drip irrigation can be installed with only a few handheld tools. There are also quite a few excellent video tutorials available for handy homeowners to follow,” she adds. “Try contacting local landscaping services, as well as your local municipality, and ask them if they have any wood chips you could collect,” suggests Dean. “If there are landscaping workers in your area, simply approaching them and letting them know you’d be happy to take some wood chips from them can have you on your way to free mulch in no time.” In case you haven’t received the memo: Landscapers often have excess mulch that they’re willing to part with. “Any arborist or landscaping company that cuts down trees is likely to have some excess wood chips that they’ll be happy to offload,” says Dean. Yet another option for securing free wood chips is ChipDrop, a service that’s active all over North America and connects arborists who have excess wood chips with gardeners in need of them. “This serves as a one-time, upfront investment and adds beauty to the lawn and landscape,” explains Clayton. “It never has to be redressed or redone the next season.” Opting for river rock instead of mulch is apparently a growing trend across the country. It used to be just homeowners in warmer climates using such material to save costs, but more recently those living in cooler regions of the country are also making the switch, says Clayton. “People are just tired of wasting money year after year on mulch, straw, or other organic materials to put into their gardens,” continues Clayton. Expect to spend anywhere from $75 to $100 per ton for river rock, adds Clayton. You’ll want to research commercial landscaping suppliers in your area for this type of gardening item, as big-box stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s don’t usually carry it. “River rock will have to be locally sourced, but most every part of the country has their local suppliers that dig out river rock and make it available in bulk,” says Clayton. “Scan local marketplaces and utilize community connections,” says Byington. “You might also want to offer to dig up landscaping and transport it to your yard. You may make local connections and friends in the process.”
