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How to Save Money on Professional Landscaping

Member
By deepthinkin
User-Submitted Article
(9 Ratings)
Professional landscaping for less
Professional landscaping for less
Whalt, mikewade, andydr, Pete Baugh

Professional landscaping can be a costly expenditure, but a good landscape can save you money and add curb appeal as well as perceived value to your home. If done right, you can also cut down on yard maintenance. So, if you’ve been thinking about giving your yard a face lift, consider these points before you hire a landscaper to do your professional landscaping.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Research
  • Local well stocked nursery
  • Home and Garden magazines
  • Reputable professional landscaper
  1. Step 1
    Landscaping ideas
     
    Landscaping ideas

    Get ideas – Before you hire a landscaper, scour magazines and your neighborhood for the type of professional landscape you want. The better idea you have the more control you will have over the professional landscaping bid because the landscaper will spend less time coming up with ideas she thinks you might like.

  2. Step 2
    Plants for your climate
     
    Plants for your climate

    Plant for your climate. – If you live in a dry area, you don’t want to have a tropical rain forest type of landscape. The cost in water resources will be high and it’s likely that you’ll lose plants. Visit your local nursery and talk to the horticulturist there.

  3. Step 3
    Interesting landscape path
     
    Interesting landscape path

    Skip the grass, especially if you’re professional landscaping the front yard. Grass is high maintenance and costly to keep green. Instead, think about adding paths, rocks or other visually interesting elements to your professional landscape

  4. Step 4
    How large do plants get
     
    How large do plants get

    Know how large the plants you select will get. A common mistake in professional landscaping is that a plant that looks so beautiful in its diminutive size grows into an uncontrollable monster bush when mature. Think ahead how your professional landscape will look a year after planting.

  5. Step 5
    Mulching is good for landscape soil
     
    Mulching is good for landscape soil

    Insist on composting and mulching the soil instead of adding chemical fertilizers. More dollars should be spent on amending poor soil than adding quick fix fertilizers which will need more and more as the original doses wear off. Compost, compost, compost! It’s healthier for the soil, less costly to you and your plants will love it.

  6. Step 6

    Think sparse. Many times landscapers will over plant so that the finished product will look fuller. But refer back to step 4. Your plants will grow! Have a little patience and be aware of plant spacing. This will save you money on your professional landscaping.

  7. Step 7

    Think small. Insist on one gallon plants instead of the five gallon or larger plants. Your plants will grow, and grow well especially if your soil has been properly amended, and you’re planting for your climate. The difference in price between a 1 gallon and a 5 gallon plant can be significant when multiplied by 50.

  8. Step 8

    Ask for low flow drip irrigation systems which will water just the plant or small areas. You save water, money and are easy to install. You could even install them yourself thereby saving more money on your professional landscape.

  9. Step 9

    Knowing what you want, and what to expect before your sit down with your landscaper will save you money on your professional landscaping.

Tips & Warnings
  • Never pay your landscaper in full before a job. Sign a contract and make sure your landscaper is licensed and bonded.

Comments  

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on 2/24/2009 Thanks for sharing this information. Big help. 5 stars and a recommend

emmahoward said

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on 2/22/2009 I especially liked your suggestion of using paths and rocks in lieu of a lawn.

offgrid said

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on 1/29/2009 Great article 5 *

veryirie said

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on 1/23/2009 Great ways to save money on landscaping services; thanks for sharing!

joanhaines said

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on 1/12/2009 This is in step with the cardinal rule of landscaping: always plan before you plant!

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