Tips to saving money on landscape costs

Almost everyone likes to save a little money here and there.  Some people do it out of necessity, as we all struggle with finances sometimes.  Others like the feeling of satisfaction they get by knowing they accomplished something for less than others would spend on it.  Whatever the reason, there are many ways that homeowners can cut costs while still maintaining a great looking landscape. 

Preplan
One of the biggest costs for anyone is the last minute, I-need-to-buy-it-now costs.  If you are going to take on a big landscape project or purchase an item, think about it for a while before buying.  Know exactly what you will need to purchase, and then look for ways to save on those purchases.  Don’t buy something you don’t need just because it looks good in the store.

Less maintenance
Try to design a yard that reduces the amount of maintenance you will have to put into it.  Things like pebbles lining a walkway, or glass mulch around plantings will reduce the amount of weeding you will have to do.  Replacing grass in hard to grow areas with a beautiful patio made out of travertine pavers will also reduce the time required to maintain that space.  Less maintenance usually means less cost. 

Do it yourself
Countless tv shows focus on projects that homeowners can take on themselves in order to save money.  While things like building a waterfall with coral rocks are best left to the professionals, a motivated homeowner could think about building a cap rock planter on their own in order to cut costs.