Keeping costs down may be the toughest landscape challenge.
Estimating Costs
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Pathways add character to your garden.
Trying to get yourself a bargain on the plants, soil, wood, and rocks you need to build up your outdoor living area means making sense of the huge variations in prices among sources and regions. If that's not challenging enough, prices for many materials - such as lumber – vary quickly and seasonally.
Get to know some tips to keep in mind as you shop for your yard.
Plan before you buy.
Sketch your landscape design on paper before you start planting and building. By knowing exactly what you need and where you're going to put it helps avoid wasting money.
Decide how much design you want.
Although it's less expensive to build a square patio or deck, it's no bargain if you find the result so unappealing that you don't use it. This may be worth it to pay a designer to create a space that you can really use.
Talk to a pro.
You may not need to hire a landscape architect or designer to develop your whole project, but $50-$100 for an hour-long consultation is well worth the money if it saves you from costly mistakes later.
Buy in phases.
Few people have the financial resources to landscape their property all at once. You may divide your project into phases, and pay as you go with funds on hand.
So, you'll save on loan or credit costs and be able to evaluate your progress and adjust plans before moving to the next phase.
Don't assume cheaper is always better.
Economics of scale being what they are, home improvement warehouses typically offer the lowest prices for common plants and landscaping materials, such as lumber. Nevertheless, they may not have the selection and quality you find at more specialized sources.
- A local specialty shop may provide more personal service, expert advice, and guarantees, which are all helpful if you're a novice.
For example, when installing a pond, , it may be worth it to pay more through a source that specializes in water gardens, particularly if the staff can help you choose and install equipment.
- Plant prices may be higher at specialty nurseries, but many offer money-back guarantees on trees, shrubs, and bedding plants.
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