Our yard is almost always well-trimmed and weed free, but the landscaping was lacking for the first few years that we lived in our home. Since hiring a professional and spending a small fortune, has never been an option…I’ve learned a few tricks over the years. You don’t have to pay a landscaper to come in and redo everything! There are so many ways to get the yard you’ve dreamed of without spending a fortune. Here are just five tips for landscaping on a budget.
Select the Right Plants for Each Area
If you find yourself planting flowers and ornamental grasses each year, and watching them die, you could be choosing the wrong plants. You want to carefully look at the tags on the plants and flowers you’re buying to make sure they will do well in the areas you’re planting them. For example, if your side yard is sunny throughout the day, choose plants that require full sun…I’ve learned this lesson the hard way!
Choose Perennials Over Annuals
This can be a bit confusing. Annuals only last for the season. When they die, they do not come back the next year. Perennials come back year after year. This makes them a much more budget-friendly option. For example, tulips, lavender, and peonies are all perennials. You can even choose flowers that bloom at different times throughout spring and summer so that your yard always has something beautiful in bloom. I’m a sucker for fresh flowers, so I like to have plenty of options available!
TIP: Buy plants in the clearance section. They might not look the best at that moment, but if there is still some life left in them, they can turn into hardy plans with a little care.
Create Visual Interest Inexpensively
If you want to keep things simple, try creating a pattern in your backyard with concrete pavers. You can place them an equal distance apart for a checkerboard pattern or you can use different colors of pavers to create a gorgeous design. It just depends on how creative you are. Another suggestion is to artistically place large planters around your yard. Large planters offer a stunning visual effect.
Invest in Rubber Mulch
When you price rubber mulch compared to regular mulch, the price will be higher. However, rubber mulch can last for years and years. With regular mulch, you’ll need to replace it each year. Rubber mulch is a great recycled product that is safe enough to use in playgrounds. It can also be found in almost any home improvement store. However, buying in bulk will save you even more money.
Opt for Gravel
Last, but not least, if you want to fill part of your yard with hardscape, gravel is a great option. Gravel is so much cheaper than pea gravel or river rock. You can have a dump truck load brought to your home for $100-200, depending on where you live. With pea gravel, you can pay as much as $3 per square foot.
A beautiful yard doesn’t have to break the bank. There are so many things you can do to make your yard beautiful while on a budget. Whether it’s using gravel or choosing perennials, you can use these landscaping tips to create a gorgeous yard that lasts for years.
justin says
I never thought about rubber mulch! That’s a good idea that also saves a lot of labor down the road too!
Andy Scott says
Ya rubber mulch is awesome. Been using it awhile myself now and love it.
Paul Grant says
Hey Angela. I really enjoyed reading this post. I definitely agree that selecting the right plants for each area is an important consideration to keep in mind.
Thanks for the little tips!
Alexander Chesher says
Thank you for posting these tips! Anyone can have a beautiful yard, with great curbside appeal without spending thousands of dollars. It’s the same with anything else, if you put some time and attention into it, along with a detailed plan, you can recreate any homes landscape architecture to suit your needs. A lot of good stuff in this article! Keep them coming 🙂
Elsa Anderson says
I really like how you suggest to fill your yard with gravel if you are on a tight budget because gravel is much cheaper. I’m planning on landscaping my backyard since there’s not much to look at. So your tips about choosing perennial flowers over annual flowers is really great advice so that I’m not spending money each year on new flowers. http://www.campbellsnursery.com/landscaping.php
Lucy Taylor says
I loved these tips! I liked how you explained that mulch needs yearly maintenance, while gravel looks great for a long time. I also appreciated that you touched on different types of gravel and their general price range. I read somewhere that having gravel in the yard might help to discourage burglars, because the sound the gravel makes could more easily give them away, and therefore staves them off. This was helpful! Thank you for the tips!
James says
This is a really cool post about landscaping on a budget. It is truly a landscaping tip that everyone can learn from is to always make your yard one that will look great at any time of the year.
Parker says
Thanks for the great content! Very good definition of perennials as apposed to annuals. We love using perennials in our landscape design projects 🙂
Luke Hansford says
There is a lot of good tips in this article. Sometimes customers are not really aware of costs involved in installing all the bells and whistles. With these types at least they can see how far a limited budget can take them.
Landscaping Santa Maria CA says
Definitely have to learn to budget. Especially with how rough things have got with COVID. Great article!
retaining walls says
This is a really cool post about landscaping on a budget. Everything you touch turns out beautifully. The yard looks great. I will be checking Home Depot for the edging you use. I need a lot. I am planning on doing something similar near the back of my house, however, mine is in total shade and has underground sprinklers.
Sylvia says
I saw that you posted an article on landscaping tips for a budget. This is something I have been wanting to do for awhile now but haven’t have the extra money to spend. However, it would be nice not only because my yard needs it, but also because I don’t want to look at my neighbors’ beautiful yards every day! It’s definitely possible though – and your blog post has given me tons of inspiration. Thanks so much!
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Shreya says
Great read. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips!
Shreya says
Great Tips! Thank you for sharing.
Shreya says
You’re right! It’s always better to you rubber mulch!
Noris Fidgerald says
Balancing landscaping projects with college work can be quite the challenge, especially when trying to stick to a budget. While working on my yard, I’ve also been struggling to keep up with my college assignments. I found some useful tips https://medium.com/@george.kv/paperial-a-comprehensive-review-2024-9bc26e767186 that might help if you’re searching for reliable academic support. It’s great to have resources for both home projects and schoolwork to keep everything manageable.
TREE SURGERY says
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TREE SURGERY Horley says
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