Landscaping your outdoor area can really change the way you see and think about your yard. As long as you are willing to be resourceful and creative, landscaping can be quite fun and comes with a number of benefits related both to the overall value of your house, as well as the quality of the environment that you will be spending time in.
The biggest reason most people give up on landscaping before they have even started is the high costs that are usually related to this decorative method.
Still, the Ideas 4 Landscaping website suggests that you could cut back on a lot of expenses by going budget-friendly when it comes to the plants, mulch, and the gravel that you will be using.
Also, investing more effort instead of calling a specialist for every aspect of landscaping is going to save you a few pennies, as well. In order to help you, we have prepared a quick article reviewing how much landscaping costs, as well as a few tips and tricks, to make it more affordable!
Is Landscaping Going To Break Your Bank?
This all depends on what kind of landscaping you have in mind. The more installation there is involved, the more expensive it will get. On the other hand, depending on where you live, buying materials from a local home improvement store, and cutting back on transportation expenses is a good start.
From what it seems, the average cost of landscaping being performed by a specialist can be anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour, depending on your location, as well as how complicated your requirements are.
Also, whether or not your lawn is mowed and ready for designing will also affect the amount of money that you will be spending. Thus, if you are already calling in people to help you with landscaping, be sure to do everything in your power to prepare it for the decorative process.
An example of the preparation cost, such as tree service, is $50 for 30 minutes of work – on the other hand, when it comes to installing a landscape design, it can go up to $12 per square foot.
Considering the aforementioned costs, it can be safe to say that, depending on your location and the amount of labor that will be done, starting a yard landscape from scratch can cost you anywhere between $3,000 and $15,000.Now that we have discussed the average overall costs of the landscaping, it is time to go ahead and consider some of the common expenses that you will be faced with.
Common Landscaping Expenses
First and foremost, lawn seeding is almost unavoidable. While you can go ahead and do it on your own, calling in an expert will ensure that your lawn is carefully prepared without damaging the soil. Another common expense is sod installation – the sod itself can cost you up to $1000, while the installation and labor can be up to three times that price.
If you are a foliage enthusiast and your idea is that the whole yard landscape is focused on numerous trees and plants, there will be a lot of mulching costs involved – this can cost you anywhere from $200 to $600 depending on the amount, as well as the type of material that you will be using. If you would ask us, your best bet is going with gravel – not only does it offer proper drainage and weed growth prevention, but it is also a fancy addition to your overall landscape and rustic scenery.
For someone who is looking to add vibrant elements to their yard, a water fountain may cost them up to $2,000, while the installation of an artificial pond is somewhat pricier (up to $3,500).
Not to forget, in order to prepare the lawn or keep it well maintained, you might have to invest in things such as tree removal and tree trimming. While the latter is something that you can either pay around $300 for or do on your own, removal can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 for a single tree.
At the end of the day, one of the most unavoidable costs is landscape maintenance. That will be somewhere around $200, depending on the design complexity and the foliage that you have gone for.
How To Cut Landscaping Costs
If you would ask us, landscaping is a worthy investment (that will increase the value of your house) that doesn’t necessarily have to break your bank. One of the best sources for cutting costs is the Ideas 4 Landscaping website.
The first way to cut landscaping costs is by making educated decisions when it comes to buying plants and other foliage. You want to inform yourself of the native plants in your area and make those the focal point of your landscape. The reason for this is that, by investing in plants that can’t thrive under local conditions, you are at risk of throwing thousands of dollars away.
Also, if you want to save more money buying from a local nursery, buying in bulk is your best option. Additionally, by staying informed on the fluctuating prices and buying certain plants in the most desirable part of the year, you will be able to save at least a few hundred dollars that you can reinvest in mulching material or landscaping maintenance.
Speaking of landscaping maintenance, it is not something that should break your bank, either. Frankly, if you are already a foliage enthusiast, there is not a single reason why you shouldn’t do it on your own. Yes, it will take some time, but, on the other hand, you will have a lot of fun (you can even call in friends for help) and cut the expenses that you would normally have.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, there is no point in giving up on your creativity and landscaping ideas because the potential costs. Of course, knowing how much does landscaping cost is important. But keep in mind that landscaping your yard is a long-term investment and something that you will not regret. Follow our budget tips and tricks, stay educated, and enjoy doing it yourself!