» Landscaping Costs

Why Buy? Your Landscape Supplies Rock For You!

Faith — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:16:00 +0000

A popular way to add character to your garden is too add a walk way, statue or fountain which can help to bring together raised beds, potted plants and shrubs to form a gardeners dream come true. In many cases, your landscape supplies rock in one form or another, you probably remember having to dig them up when you were planting your shrubs. These rocks can be reused to form a natural stone walkway leading into your haven or even a spectacular rock garden on their own. Believe it or not, your landscape supplies rock that would cost you a few dollars each if you went to a lawn and garden supply shop to purchase them.

Depending on where you are your landscape supplies rock anywhere from limestone, slate, flagstone and many more depending on your geographical location. Each type of rock has its strengths and weakness when it comes to using it in your garden. Here are some types you could find if your land supplies rock for your gardening use.

Common Rocks In Your Yard
Cobblestones: The best use if you have a supply of this type of stone in your yard is to make a nice walkway. Think of the old cobblestones road and how nice and quaint they seem. You could have that as a pathway around your garden and create it with minimal effort.
Slate: While fragile, can serve as a great retaining wall. The stones usually are thin and flat and can be easily piled upon each other while maintaining a solid foundation.
Quartzite: Usually will have some reflective ability resembling a crystal. Makes for excellent rock garden or edging for your flower beds. These also can be found in a wide range of colors to go along with the color scheme you have already set.

As you can see, your landscape supplies rock that is extremely useful and valuable. While it may seem like an inconvenience or annoyance when digging to plant something, if you come across one of these rocks be sure to put it somewhere in case you need it in the future.

In addition to its usefulness, sometimes your landscape supplies rock that are just down right interesting to look at. Some rocks you dig up may be a conglomerate of many other, smaller rocks that have merged into one giant rock. These tend to have a lot of character and make a great addition to a rock garden or just thrown anywhere in the garden as a conversation piece.

Which Landscaping Service Is Right For You?

Faith — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:09:00 +0000

A well-maintained landscape is a pleasure for a homeowner. A beautiful yard can be a relaxing retreat when the lawn is mowed and the flower beds are weeded. But not everyone has the time to create a beautiful outdoor scene. Landscape maintenance takes regular work and lots of it depending on the size of the yard. For some busy homeowners, hiring a landscaping service can be the answer to their maintenance needs. There are many landscaping services to choose from in most communities, but all services are not created equal. Before you make the decision to hire a landscaping service for your yard care, there are a few things you should know to watch out for.

How Much Landscaping Service Do You Need?

Before heading to your yellow pages to find a landscaping service, decide exactly how much maintenance you need. If you are primarily looking for lawn care, including mowing and fertilizing, then you will want to search for a service that focuses mainly on lawn maintenance. If you have shrubs to be pruned and planting beds to be weeded, you may be looking for a landscaping service that will provide a full range of care. Once you have determined exactly what you will be hiring your landscaping service to do, you can turn your attention to the selection of your service.

Buyer Beware!

Since you will be hiring a company with the intention of creating a long term relationship, you want to exercise some care in choosing a landscaping service. If you have a neighbor that is using a company on a regular basis, this would be a good starting point. But before getting that phone number from your neighbor, ask for feedback about the company. Are the employees reliable? Does the company consistently do a good job? Is the customer service satisfactory? If you do not have the benefit of a reference from a friend or neighbor, there are some things you can look for when searching for a landscaping service on your own. Inspect the tools that the company uses to ensure that they are clean and in good condition. Well maintained tools will probably lead to a well maintained yard for you. Ask about customer service policies. Does the company guarantee the work it does? If an employee over fertilizes your lawn, for example, what recourse do you have in repair or replacement?

The best rule of thumb is to hire the best landscaping service that you can find and afford. With some investigation and research, you can find a landscaping service that will meet all of your yard care needs over the long haul.

Cute Ideas That Can Save You Money On Your Planting

Faith — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:29:18 +0000

There are many interesting ideas that can help you save money on your planting and landscaping. Most of these ideas involve a little creativity, but you end up with an attractive and distinctive yard. And some of the ideas look nice and can save you money in other areas of your life, like food. At any rate, there are quite a few easy ways to stretch your dollar and still make plants an attractive part of the landscape.
Use vegetables. Plant vegetable seeds in your flower garden. Seeds cost much less than plants, especially many flowering plants that have already started growing. Choose attractive varieties that mix well with flowers and are attractive in their own right. Peppers look nice among flowers, with their attractive leaves and colorful issue as they ripen. Pumpkins and bushy-plant squashes actually look very nice planted in the same way one would plant an island of flowers. Squashes and pumpkin’s flower so they are pretty when they bloom, and their leaves grow big and beautiful. Tomatoes make great accent plants on the edges of flower gardens, and peas can be set up to grow on small edge fences. Their curly vines are appealing, and they are among the least expensive of vegetable. Not only can vegetables save you money in enhancing the look of your landscape, but they also save you money when it comes to eat.
Herbs for ground cover. Instead of spending money to buy plants designed for ground cover, invest in an herb garden. Buy seeds for the herbs you commonly use in your cooking: parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage are all very attractive plants. They grow close to the ground, and can grow thickly, creating ideal ground cover. Chives and green onions can be planted behind for an even more ornamental look. Herbs also grow fast, and you can use them in your cooking, saving you money at the grocery store. You can still have your flowers throughout your garden, as these herbs go with any color scheme. Additionally, they will add a pleasing aroma to your home environs, making it inviting in smell as well as in looks.
Container gardens. Container gardens are among the cutest and more inexpensive landscaping ideas. Rather than trying to treat your soil and dealing with the constant hassles of upkeep, make a container garden. Your garden can hold a variety of plants, although annuals are among the best for this type of garden, as you can easily replace them as they dies out. It is possible to use perennials in a container garden, however, as long as you use a larger container so that they have room to create their extra bulbs. Buy potting soil on sale (if you buy at the end of the season, you can get it for sometimes as little as one or two dollars a bag), and then you can plant seeds in the soil. By the time winter is over, you should have flowers fit to be set outside.
You can use almost anything for containers. Old washtubs and tin cans make quaint containers. Clay pots are a little more elegant and can also be very decorative and attractive. It is even possible to use milk cartons (with the tops cut off) as containers. Whatever strikes your fancy and is deep enough to let the roots grow (which really is not too terribly deep) can be used in container gardening. Large urns and hanging baskets can also add to the look of your home. Much of the time you can get these items on clearance at the end of the season for just a few dollars.
After arranging your plants in their containers, you can then set your urns, pots, and old washtubs wherever you wish to in your yard. Hanging baskets need not hang only above your porch. If you have large enough trees that can support them, you can hang them from the branches. When planting your baskets, use starts or seeds. They cost less than more mature plants. It is even possible to start a herb garden and you can even grow most vegetables in containers.
With a little creativity, it is possible for you to turn a commonplace landscape into something really attractive without a lot of back breaking work and without having to spend a great deal of money to make improvements to the soil.

Creating A Budget For Your Landscape

Faith — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:28:01 +0000

Any landscape project requires planning, especially if money is an object, as it is for most people. Creating your landscape budget will help you figure out how much you can spend on building your landscape, and it will help you make an investment in your home that can yield great returns. When you make your budget, it is important to remember that your costs do not end with the initial costs of building the landscape. You need to figure in the cost of maintenance and any other related and recurring costs that are a part of the landscape experience, whether all you have is a lawn or whether you have an elaborate design.
When you make your budget, you need to take into account everything. This can be very annoying and tedious, but in the end it will help you out. You won’t be surprised at how much everything costs if you have estimates on costs and if you have stuck to your reasonable budget. It helps to think of each portion of the landscape as an individual project and create a budget for each project. Then add it all up to see if you can afford the total. You can adjust what you want for the flowerbed if that will bring your total cost down, or choose to forego one of the statues you had planned to place.
You need to figure out which plants you want, and whether or not they will look good in your landscape. You should come up with a variety of plants and then investigate their costs. Find out what types of fences are available and create a budget based on something that you like, but that does not cost a lot. Know what materials you will need to build a patio, deck, or arbor. Then figure out how much those materials will cost, and whether you can get them any cheaper.
When creating your budget, keep in mind the landscape that you want. Are there special fixtures you desire? What elements can you live without? You need to create your vision of the landscape and then alter it according to your monetary abilities to support the vision. Landscape design software can help in this, as you can easily adjust your plan and your ideas to fit with your budget. You can figure out the approximate costs of certain aspects of your desired landscape by talking to professionals or by looking online to find what is needed for similar projects. If something is going to be too expensive, you need to either get rid of it altogether, or adjust a few other elements to compensate for the increased price.
Plants are likely to be the main elements of most landscapes. When choosing plants, you need to consider size and growth rate. Many people choose cheap, fast growing plants and do not take into account future maintenance costs. Fast growing plants typically cost more in maintenance because they get bigger faster. They require more pruning, and if you are not careful can make your landscape look overgrown. Slower growing plants may force to adjust your initial views of spending, but will save you money over the long run. Part of your budget should include future maintenance costs, and you should get estimates on those, for a variety of possible plants, when planning your landscape budget.
Another decision you have to make is how much of the work you are going to do yourself. There are many landscape projects that can be done without professionals, and still look very nice. If you are worried about pouring concrete for walkways, construct your walkways out of flat rocks. Part of creating your landscape budget is factoring the cost of labor. If you do it, then it certainly adds to the feasibility of doing more for less.
Once you have created your budget, keeping everything in mind, and making a detailed list of how much you want to spend for each individual project, you can begin working on the projects. Try to save as much money as you can, making it a goal to come in at or below budget. If something looks to be costing more than you budgeted for that project, you need to scale back or adjust another project. Creating a budget does no good if you do not stick to it, and it can come back to haunt you later if you disregard the budget you made.

Tips For Keeping Costs Down When Landscaping

Faith — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:00:20 +0000

Landscaping can be an expensive proposition. However, it is possible to keep the costs to yourself relatively low by paying attention to a few practices that can save you money. After all, the most beautiful landscape in the world can be a source of vexation if it costs you more than you can afford to put in and upkeep. By remembering a few helpful tips, you can save money on your landscaping needs, and enjoy it all the more.
Plan before you make your purchases. Having a plan for your landscape will allow you to practice common sense and economy when making purchases. If you do not plan, you may buy something you do not need, and that can be a waste of money. Complete a rough sketch of what you would like to accomplish with your landscape design. Also find out exactly what you need to make it possible. There is a wealth of Web site that can help you get an idea of what you need to complete a project, and specialty stores and even some home improvement warehouses have experts on hand who can give you advice. Once you know exactly what you need, you can make your purchases without buying excess materials that result in money wasted.
Make your purchases in phases. If you make out a plan, you should also include when you will perform certain portions. Most people cannot afford to make all the changes that they would like to make at once. If you plan out phases of your landscape project, then you can buy what you need as you go along, and as you have the money. This can help you save on the interest and loan fees associated with home improvement loans or using credit cards to make purchases.
Cheaper is not always better. If there is little difference in quality, then buying the cheaper item is the best course. However, local shops often have true experts who will impart of the wisdom for free if you ask questions while making a purchase. Specialty shops can give you correct information on installing a water feature. If you are new to landscaping, it can save money in the long run to spend a little extra to get better service, help and advice. If you do buy at a “big box” store, be sure to carefully inspect plants for diseases and insect problems. These stores may not care if they take as good of care of the plants as a nursery would. Buying a diseased plant only means buying it over again when it dies, and this means that you are out some amount of money. Many nurseries offer warranties and guarantees free of charge on their plants.
Use common sense timing on your landscape purchases. If you plan to do some landscaping, think about when you would like to accomplish it. Buy lumber during the winter, when it is cheaper, and then store it until you are ready to use it. Buy things like trees, perennials, mulch, and soil late in the season. In most places, you still have time to winterize your landscape if you wait until October to make your maintenance purchases. Also, watch for plant sales at local nurseries. This is often a great way to get quality plants at low prices.
Use alternative resources. It is not always necessary to buy something at a store. You can order through catalogs or online. An inexpensive membership to a garden and seed club can yield very good prices on many items, as well as helpful advice. Also, you may be able to arrange a plant exchange in your neighborhood. Many cities offer low price or free mulch and compost, and you can get stones and bricks at many construction or demolition sites.
Share costs with neighbors. If your neighbors and you pool resources, you can often get a good deal on items bought in bulk. Likewise, share the rental fees for machinery such as chippers, tillers, and aerators. If everyone chips in a few dollars, you can work out a schedule where each neighbor gets to use the equipment before it is taken back. This is a great way to reduce the costs associated with landscaping.

Finding Cheap Plants For Your Landscape

Faith — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:26:35 +0000

One of the main elements of the landscape is the use of plants. Plants provide interesting places for the eye to dwell, as well as providing soothing scenery and even contributing to the energy efficiency of a home. Unfortunately, the costs associated with purchasing plants for use in your landscape can be rather steep. In order to save money and use you landscape budget wisely, it is important to buy cheap plants.
Just because a plant is cheap, however, does not mean that it is quality. Be sure that the plant you are buying is free of disease, and that it is in generally good health. Purchasing a plant for a rock bottom price may only result in you having to go out and buy another plant if your wilted or diseased “find” dies shortly after planting. Planting can be a traumatic thing, so you want a plant that will survive and then flourish. Another thing to keep in mind when purchasing inexpensive plants is to think about the maintenance costs on down the road. A cheap plant may in actuality end up having a great many care needs. You may spend more taking care of the plant than is worth the savings of an initial bargain.
Inexpensive plants can be found in a variety of places. Most people buy them at big box home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. There are even plants available at some WalMart and Kmart stores. These plants are often very cheap, but many of them have not received proper care, and may not be healthy enough to survive planting. One sliver of peace of mind that stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s offer is that these places offer guarantees of up to one year, so if your plant dies, you can be compensated.
Nurseries are great places to find healthy, professionally cared for plants. These are a little more expensive, but they are often of a higher quality. If you are looking for a bargain at a nursery, they can still be found, however. Many nurseries have a clearance table full of unpopular plants or plants that they plan to discontinue carrying. These are often discounted dramatically. Additionally, going to end of season sales can help you find good prices on the plants that nurseries have to offer. Most nurseries also provide plant guarantees, and you can receive expert help and advice if you are a novice.
The Internet also offers cheap plant deals. It is possible to order online and have your plants shipped. Online providers often provide a variety of seeds and starts that can be shipped without incurring too much damage, and that are very inexpensive. Check to see if your online plant provider has a guarantee, however, and make sure that the costs of shipping do not make the plants more expensive.
Other ways that you can reduce your plant buying costs is to choose plants that are seeds or starts. These are available online or in stores and nurseries. A packet of seeds costs less than a start, and starts cost significantly less than plants that are already growing. Choosing smaller plants not only reduces the amount of money that you pay up front, but it also reduces the amount of money you pay later in maintenance. Mature plants require more care when they are first planted, and they also require more water and maintenance. So, while you do not have to purchase tiny plants, you can purchase plants that are off to a good start but that have not reached maturity.
Related to the idea of choosing plants that are smaller, is selecting slower growing plants. While these may take longer to fill in your landscape, if you plan accordingly you can save a great deal of money and still have an attractive yard. Rapidly growing plants require more care and the maintenance costs are often much more than the costs associated with their slower growing counterparts. Choosing slow growing plants is a great way to save money in the long run.
Looking for cheap plants for landscape can be a fun adventure as you search for the best deal. Just remember that the best deal is not always the cheapest plant. The best deal is a plant that is reasonably priced, healthy, and has low cost maintenance requirements.

Hidden Costs Of Landscaping

Faith — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:59:53 +0000

A complete makeover of your home’s landscape may not be possible. After all, there is no surprise that if you choose to completely re-do your landscape you will spend a great deal of money. However, there are surprising hidden costs in nearly any landscaping project, even some of the small ones. It is important to be aware of some of the costs that you might not normally think of before you begin a project. Otherwise, you will find that the project’s true cost is much more than you thought it would be, and you may discover that you might not have been able to afford your landscape change after all.
Perhaps the most hidden of landscaping costs involves features that require lighting and water. Many people think only of the cost of the equipment, and the cost of putting it in (which is minimal if they put it in themselves). They fail to consider how much money they will spend in the form of paying for increased energy and water usage. With outdoor lighting, it is possible to mitigate this cost somewhat by buying more energy efficient bulbs, or by confining the use of outdoor lighting to times when there is a special occasion. There is no reason for the lighting if you only use it so that the neighbors can admire your landscape even at night. Reserve the use of your outdoor lighting for times when you are entertaining people out of doors, or when you are sitting in your yard at night, and may need the light. Water features are a double whammy, as they require energy and water. Using a feature that reuses its own water can cut down a little bit on your water usage (although there will always be water lost to evaporation), and it is now possible to find some features that use less energy. However, if you must have a water feature and are afraid of the costs you will incur, you can always choose a very small pond or waterfall.
Related to the issue of water features is paying for water use when you water the lawn. Setting up sprinklers on a timer will ensure that you do not have to rely on your memory to remember to turn them off. It is important to note that most people water their lawns two or three times more then they need to. The average lawn actually receives about the same amount of water as a tropical rainforest. This is not necessary for your lawn. Watering each part of your lawn for 15 minutes two or three times a week (depending on climate) is usually sufficient, if it is not new sod (which requires a good soak every day the first week). Additionally, it is a good idea to take into account the amount of extra water you will be using to help sod or a tree establish itself. This can add up to be quite a bit of extra water, and if you city charges more money once your usage reaches a certain point, it can be even more costly.
Also, you may not realize how much money you might spend if your soil is poor. Before being in raptures about a particular plant, determine what kind of soil it needs to thrive, this will make a difference in whether your plant lives or dies. The costs of adding fertilizer to sandy soil or gypsum to clay soil can begin to add up. This problem can be remedied, however, if you examine what plants grow natively in your region. By choosing plants that grow well in the soil you have, or in near conditions, you can save a great deal on soil amendment. Most local master gardeners will give you guidance on native plants for free, or for a very small fee.
Just as there are hidden costs in nearly everything, landscaping, too, has hidden costs. The key is to be informed about the various consequences of your landscape choices, and to be careful in what you decide to do. While the up front costs may not be too unreasonable, you may find that as you continue to enjoy your new landscape, the later costs may be more than your landscape is worth.