10 Tips For Landscaping On A Budget
Everyone wants a beautiful yard—but not everyone wants to pay an arm and a leg to get one.
Fortunately, you can landscape for less than you might think; with some of the tips we’ll present here, you may even be able to turn a significant profit if you choose to sell your place. Even if you have no plans to sell your place, these tips are so affordable you might want to implement them anyway—there are so many social and mental benefits to having a beautiful yard!
Without further ado, let’s get into it:
Affordable Landscaping Ideas
Add Mixed Planting Beds
Mixed planting beds are garden beds that feature a variety of different plants. They’re an excellent landscaping option because you can select plants that add a mix of different colours and textures to your yard. Best of all, you can build them yourself.
You can dig planting beds, or even use a no-dig method to save labour. We’ve even seen garden beds built using old wooden bed frames—get creative with your materials to save money! There are all kinds of materials you can find for cheap-to-build beds; here in Winnipeg, we recommend checking out the ReStore if you want to save money and contribute to an important cause. You’ll need to get a bit creative—but that will just lead to an even more unique yard!
Groundcover Landscaping
Groundcovers are any plants that grow close to the ground and spread easily. Grasses are the most well-known groundcover plants, but there is an incredible variety that you can choose from. Creeping Thyme, Woolly Thyme, and Bugleweed are all beautiful groundcover plants that spread quickly. They’re quite affordable and very tolerant of Winnipeg’s harsh climate.
You can use groundcovers in your garden beds, around shrubs and trees, or even replace most of your lawn with a variety of groundcovers and plants; it’s up to you. Use low-cost mulch like pine needles and opt to plant from seeds; you’ll lower your landscaping costs and reduce the amount of maintenance your yard needs.
Choosing Easy-Growing Perennials
The groundcover plants we listed above weren’t chosen at random—they’re all perennials that grow quickly, are deer-resistant and are incredibly easy to maintain. Perennials are the best plants for landscaping on a budget because you don’t have to buy new ones each year.
Aside from the groundcover plants we’ve already recommended, there are a number of low-cost perennials you can plant. Many of them are native to the region, and they all add beautiful colours and textures to a yard:
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
You can also consider planting prairie grasses like Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). All of the plants we’ve mentioned attract pollinators, so expect to find bees and butterflies in your yard once you’ve planted them!
Opting for Affordable Hardscaping
Most of us think of bricks, concrete, and asphalt when it comes to hardscaping. These are all wonderful options, but they’re not the most affordable.
Looking for less expensive options? Try pea gravel, bark, and mulch for some of your hardscape features. These options are incredibly inexpensive and add a lot of character to a yard.
Some of your hardscape features will have to be a bit more durable—sidewalks, for example, should almost always be made with brick, concrete, or asphalt. To reduce your costs, consider building over sand instead of concrete. You might also consider sourcing your building materials from suppliers like the ReStore.
Installing DIY Water Features
Water features can be some of the most complex—and expensive—features to install. Fortunately, there are some DIY options that are affordable.
You can create a small pond as the centrepiece for your yard using little more than a pump and a pond liner. The biggest barrier to this type of installation is skill and time—it’s not easy to learn how to install a pond—but with some know-how, it’s definitely possible!
Utilizing Native Species
One of the best ways to reduce the cost of landscaping is to plant native species. These species tend to require less maintenance than non-native species; they’re already adapted to the soil and amount of rainfall the area they’re native to receives.
All of the plants that we listed in our “Perennials” section are native to Winnipeg; they’re incredibly easy to grow and care for. Less maintenance means less time and less money spent; it’s less likely you’ll need to replace the plants. Better still, there’s less watering required since they’re generally adapted to Winnipeg’s climate.
Tips for Plant Shopping on a Budget
First, look at local nurseries—we have several in Winnipeg, including:
They’ll generally offer plants at more affordable prices than big box stores. They’re also more likely to offer freebies and clue you in on deals. Best of all, they can help you choose the right plants for your needs and give you lots of gardening tips.
You should buy seeds or small plants rather than bigger ones; they’re generally less expensive. When purchasing larger plants, consider dividing them into pieces to grow multiple plants. Finally, let your plants seed, then allow those seeds to grow; you’ll have full garden beds in no time.
Implementing Xeriscaping Techniques
Xeriscaping is very practical in Winnipeg. Many people believe that this technique is limited to arid regions, but it simply means landscaping without the need for irrigation. With the ample rainfall we get in the spring and summer and the wide variety of native plants we can grow in the city, xeriscaping is an incredibly viable option.
You’ll want to replace some or all of your lawn with native ground cover and grasses; you may also use decorative rocks and pea gravel to replace some of your lawn aesthetically. Native shrubs like Saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia) are an excellent addition to xeriscaped yards.
Using Inexpensive Containers
Don’t buy containers from gardening stores; reuse old containers. The old wooden bed frame we mentioned above is a perfect example; you can also find plenty of great options in thrift stores or at the ReStore.
You’ll want to line your improvised garden bed with landscape fabric to get the most out of it. You can also create your own potting plants using old plastic pails, tin cans, or teapots. Get creative—your yard will be all the more unique!
Fertilizing With Compost
Want to reduce food waste and save money? You should fertilize using homemade compost. Fortunately, making compost is simple and inexpensive (though it is a bit time-consuming); learn how to compost, then get started!
Conclusion
With the above tips, you’ll be able to create a beautiful yard that suits your needs—and your budget.
Most of these techniques require a lot of time, effort, or skill to pull off; that makes them more affordable than some other landscaping techniques, but it may limit your ability to actually implement them.
What you can do is use less expensive materials and plants, like the ones we’ve described, and enlist the help of professional landscapers. Contact Bulger Brothers to get help with landscaping today!
