Landscaping is one area of home ownership that can be unexpectedly expensive if you aren’t careful. Most people don’t have endless amounts of money to spend on landscaping, but the good news is that there are plenty of ways to keep your yard looking beautiful without blowing your budget.

You know you want to save money on landscaping, but maybe you’re not sure where to start. This article will explore tips to help you learn creative ways to save money on landscaping without sacrificing a magazine-worthy yard.

DIY as Much as Possible

The easiest way to save money on landscaping is to do it yourself. The more you can do yourself, the more money you will save. Whether it’s mowing the lawn, planting flowers and other plants, or other yard maintenance, it’s pretty easy to do on your own.

You may need to make some upfront investments, like purchasing a lawnmower or other gardening tools, but if you select good quality tools, you should be able to use them for a long time. So, start by purchasing the essential tools you need, like a lawnmower, and gradually add to your lawn care arsenal.

Even if you only DIY certain areas of your landscaping needs, it will still save you money. For example, you could mow your lawn but hire professionals for bigger jobs like seasonal planting or irrigation services. This combination route can save you some serious money without sacrificing the yard of your dreams.

Everything you do yourself is one less bill you have to pay a vendor, and that money will add up over time. Another perk of the DIY route for landscaping is that you will feel tremendous pride in your beautiful yard that you care for with your own two hands.

Buy Used or Refurbished Equipment

If you’d like to give the DIY route a try, but you have sticker shock at the price of the lawn care equipment, you’re not alone. If buying a new lawnmower or other gardening tools is out of your budget, consider buying used or refurbished items. Of course, you’ll have to shop around and make sure you find quality items, but it’s a great way to save.

There is sometimes a stigma against buying things used, but don’t be afraid to go this route. You can often find gently used landscaping equipment on places like Facebook Marketplace for a fraction of the price of a new one. This is a great way to get the tools you need without breaking the bank.

Another great option to save money on landscaping equipment is to see if you can find refurbished items. Stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s sell refurbished equipment that is technically used, but it has been restored to like-new condition. Usually, the price of things like refurbished lawnmowers or other tools is significantly lower than the cost of buying new ones.

Purchasing used or refurbished lawn care tools is a great way to bridge the gap if you can’t yet afford something brand new. It’s also a great way to afford a more excellent tool brand that you want.

For example, if buying a brand new Cub Cadet lawn mower is out of your budget, you could probably find one in a good and used condition that you could afford.

Interview a Few Different Landscapers

Whenever you invest in anything, whether it’s a piece of clothing or a service like landscaping, it’s important to compare a few different options before selecting one. By meeting with a few different lawn and garden providers, you can ensure you are getting the best service for your money.

When interviewing landscapers, ask for photos of their work or even some references you can contact to hear more about the quality of their work directly from a current client. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions to learn as much as you can from the references before deciding.

It’s also important to understand pricing. By gathering quotes from a few different lawn and garden providers, you can determine what a fair price is for the services they will be providing. Before selecting one, compare the prices by a handful of different local landscapers.

Landscaping is one of the first things that you and your guests will notice about your home, so this is an area that deserves attention. However, before choosing one, you should feel confident that you are hiring someone you trust you are getting good value by comparing the landscaping costs of each one.

Shop Garden Center Sales

If you’re going to be planting flowers, trees, shrubs, or other plants in your yard, you will need to learn how to shop smart. Plants are expensive, and you often need to purchase many of them to make your yard look full and lush.

Lawn and garden centers often have sales where their plants are significantly marked down, making it a lot easier to deck out your yard for a fraction of the price. Look for sales around Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and other holidays to save some serious money in this department.

Another way to shop smart at local garden centers is to look for shops that offer discounts on buying in bulk or rewards programs. If you know you will need to invest in a lot of plants and materials for your yard, these types of discounts can help you stretch your dollar a little further.

Consider Hardscaping for Lower Maintenance

If you’re not sure you want to commit to taking care of a lawn either by yourself or by hiring a professional, you could consider the hardscape route. Hardscaping uses non-living materials, such as stone, wood, gravel, and pavement, instead of living materials like grass, dirt, and other plants.

You can use hardscaping to complement your yard by creating things like stone paths or gravel areas for fire pits or sitting areas to either minimize or eliminate the use of grass in your yard. There are countless ways to use hardscape to make your yard look extraordinary. Many people prefer it over the traditional look of grass and plants.

Once your hardscaping is done, so is most of your maintenance! A hardscape yard doesn’t require mowing your lawn or tons of planting, so you can sit back and enjoy your yard. This is an excellent option for people with limited time or money to spend on yard maintenance who still want to enjoy a great look.

Head over to One Crazy Mom for more landscaping tips.

Tap into Your Network

When you need to get things done around the house like lawn and yard care, never underestimate the power of the people in your network. You would be surprised who you know that might be able to help you with the landscaping work that you need to be doing.

Maybe you have friends or family members who aren’t professional landscapers, but they enjoy working outside on their lawn. They might be willing to help you around your yard and even teach you some basics to be able to work on your lawn on your own.

If you have a friend or family member who knows someone you’d like to hire or ask for help with your landscaping, ask them to connect you. The worst thing they can say is no, but this is often a great method for getting great referrals.

Don’t Be Afraid of Novice Landscapers

If you need some primary lawn care done around your yard, you might consider hiring an inexperienced landscaper new to the industry. Sometimes new landscapers will have more competitive rates as they are just starting and establishing a client base.

They worked under a professional landscaper to learn their trade for several years before branching out independently. This means they likely have many of the same skills as a more seasoned landscaper but at a fraction of the price. It is a great way to save some money.

You will want to make sure you thoroughly vet any landscaper, but especially a novice landscaper. Ask for references and ask if they can do a trial run on a small portion of your yard to give you a taste of the quality of their work before you commit to working with them.

Be Smart About What You Plant

There are so many different choices when it comes to landscaping your yard. You can use primarily grass or mix in plants like trees, shrubs, and flowers to add some extra texture and beauty to your yard.

The smartest way to deck out your yard on a budget is to choose inexpensive plants that grow well in your climate.

Check the labels on the plants you select and even ask for help from garden center associates if you are confused. You want to make sure that you can provide adequate sun, shade, and water to help your plants thrive.

Another thing to look for is plants that spread quickly to create a ground cover. These types of plants are extremely hardy and inexpensive. They also typically come back year after year.

If you select plants that will creep or spread over time, you will have a yard full of lush greenery before you know it!

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