10 Spots to Save Money in Your Garden Makeover
These 10 cost-saving ideas from professionals can help you stretch your budget without sacrificing style or quality
As with any large-scale project, the costs of a landscape renovation can quickly add up. With the right design moves and decisions to stretch your budget, you can pull off the look and feel of your dream garden without letting the budget get out of hand. But where it makes sense to save – without compromising quality or style – may not always be where you’d expect.
Read on, as garden and landscape design professionals on Houzz offer their advice on the best places to pinch your pennies, such as savvy ways to repurpose or refinish existing materials, strategies for phasing larger projects, and more.
Read on, as garden and landscape design professionals on Houzz offer their advice on the best places to pinch your pennies, such as savvy ways to repurpose or refinish existing materials, strategies for phasing larger projects, and more.
2. Choose hardworking, less-expensive materials
Hardscape – hard surfaces such as pathways, pavers and patios – is often one of the biggest budget eaters in a garden renovation, as the materials and installation can both be expensive. If you’re looking for ways to help rein in your budget, resilient but less-expensive hardscape materials can fill in, either temporarily or permanently.
With this front garden revamp in San Francisco, USA, landscape designer Ian Moore used a mix of gravel and pavers instead of flagstone for the front patio and walkway as a cost-saving measure. The 3 x 3.5-metre gravel patio (pictured here) was installed with the idea the client might upgrade to flagstone in the future.
Hardscape – hard surfaces such as pathways, pavers and patios – is often one of the biggest budget eaters in a garden renovation, as the materials and installation can both be expensive. If you’re looking for ways to help rein in your budget, resilient but less-expensive hardscape materials can fill in, either temporarily or permanently.
With this front garden revamp in San Francisco, USA, landscape designer Ian Moore used a mix of gravel and pavers instead of flagstone for the front patio and walkway as a cost-saving measure. The 3 x 3.5-metre gravel patio (pictured here) was installed with the idea the client might upgrade to flagstone in the future.
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“Gravel can be an excellent permanent low-cost alternative [to cut stone],” says Moore, who recommends using a mix of gravel and concrete or pre-cast pavers to create pads for furniture. Regardless of the material you choose, it pays to invest in professional installation.
Tip: If you need to be able to roll a wheelchair, walker or pram over your main path, consider gravel as a cost-saving material for secondary paths or patios instead.
Ready to transform your outside space? Find experienced garden designers on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Tip: If you need to be able to roll a wheelchair, walker or pram over your main path, consider gravel as a cost-saving material for secondary paths or patios instead.
Ready to transform your outside space? Find experienced garden designers on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
3. Use what you already have
While it’s tempting to rip out everything and start with a clean slate, it’s better to pause and take stock of what you have. Repurposing existing plants and materials – especially long-lasting, high-quality ones – can help save your budget, enhance your design and reduce unnecessary waste.
For this cottage-style garden, Sweeney used existing clay pavers mixed with brick to create a new path and relocated established daylilies and hostas.
She kept the original white picket fence, giving it a fresh coat of paint, new ball caps for the posts and new gates for an updated look. “A fresh coat of paint on a dated item is worth the investment for a relatively low cost,” she says.
While it’s tempting to rip out everything and start with a clean slate, it’s better to pause and take stock of what you have. Repurposing existing plants and materials – especially long-lasting, high-quality ones – can help save your budget, enhance your design and reduce unnecessary waste.
For this cottage-style garden, Sweeney used existing clay pavers mixed with brick to create a new path and relocated established daylilies and hostas.
She kept the original white picket fence, giving it a fresh coat of paint, new ball caps for the posts and new gates for an updated look. “A fresh coat of paint on a dated item is worth the investment for a relatively low cost,” she says.
4. Select local and salvaged materials
If you don’t have existing elements that can be repurposed, chances are someone in your area might. Check with local salvage yards – you may be able to score a pallet of bricks for a patio or beautiful reclaimed timber boards for a fence at a lower price than purchasing them new.
If you’re buying new materials, such as gravel, wood or flagstones, ask the supplier which ones come from your region. Local materials are often more affordable than materials that have been transported from elsewhere, and can help your new garden fit in with the natural tones of the area. Ask the landscape designer or architect you’re working with if local materials could be prioritised.
If you don’t have existing elements that can be repurposed, chances are someone in your area might. Check with local salvage yards – you may be able to score a pallet of bricks for a patio or beautiful reclaimed timber boards for a fence at a lower price than purchasing them new.
If you’re buying new materials, such as gravel, wood or flagstones, ask the supplier which ones come from your region. Local materials are often more affordable than materials that have been transported from elsewhere, and can help your new garden fit in with the natural tones of the area. Ask the landscape designer or architect you’re working with if local materials could be prioritised.
5. Buy young plants
Landscape designer Kathryn Prideaux recommends sizing down plants to help with your budget. “Plants can easily be purchased in smaller sizes, as they will grow over time,” she says, adding that it’s smarter to invest your money in permanent elements such as hardscape.
Even planted from small containers, many herbs, perennials, ground covers, ornamental grasses and vines will fill in quickly. Some shrubs, trees and succulents can be slower to reach maturity, depending on the species.
There are a few exceptions when it can be worth the splurge on larger plants: one or two mature trees for dramatic impact and shrubs needed for screening.
There are a few exceptions when it can be worth the splurge on larger plants: one or two mature trees for dramatic impact and shrubs needed for screening.
6. Pick perennials over annuals
If you’re looking for colour in planting beds, perennials – plants that come back year after year – are a much better investment than annuals, which need to be bought and replanted each season. Nurseries will often have end-of-season sales of perennials in autumn, which is a perfect time to plant.
Tip: Another way to score plants for less is at a plant swap. Search online for plant swap organisations and community events.
If you’re looking for colour in planting beds, perennials – plants that come back year after year – are a much better investment than annuals, which need to be bought and replanted each season. Nurseries will often have end-of-season sales of perennials in autumn, which is a perfect time to plant.
Tip: Another way to score plants for less is at a plant swap. Search online for plant swap organisations and community events.
Tip: Professionals can also help you save money on plants. “The retail nursery cost of a plant can often be one-third to double the cost of a plant purchased by a landscaper at a wholesale [nursery],” says Steve Kikuchi, a USA-based landscape architect at Kikuchi + Kankel Design Group. This can also be true for soil improvers, fertilisers, gravel and mulch.
“A landscaper’s labour cost to purchase the plant, deliver it to the site, add fertilisers, amend the soil, dig the hole and install the plant is often just a bit higher than the cost differential between the retail and wholesale material costs,” he says. Depending on your plant knowledge, a professional may have a better understanding of plant spacing and depth, resulting in a better overall planting job that lasts longer.
“A landscaper’s labour cost to purchase the plant, deliver it to the site, add fertilisers, amend the soil, dig the hole and install the plant is often just a bit higher than the cost differential between the retail and wholesale material costs,” he says. Depending on your plant knowledge, a professional may have a better understanding of plant spacing and depth, resulting in a better overall planting job that lasts longer.
8. Look for containers at end-of-season sales
We already mentioned picking up perennials at autumn nursery sales, but here’s another thing to look for: containers for potted plants. Stores will often cut prices by 50 percent or more to clear inventory at the end of the growing season. You can stock up on large pots for spring planting and keep an eye out for other sales throughout the year.
We already mentioned picking up perennials at autumn nursery sales, but here’s another thing to look for: containers for potted plants. Stores will often cut prices by 50 percent or more to clear inventory at the end of the growing season. You can stock up on large pots for spring planting and keep an eye out for other sales throughout the year.
7. Employ high-impact, low-cost garden accents
For permanent and high-use elements, it makes sense to choose the best-quality materials and craftsmanship you can afford. For smaller decorative accents, this isn’t always the case.
“Cute little garden details, like the obelisks we used in this garden, can make a big impact,” says Sweeney of this front garden. Adding the ball caps to the posts of the existing white picket fence was another way she elevated the overall look for a low cost.
Other low-investment, high-payoff exterior accents could include chic house numbers or a smart gate.
For permanent and high-use elements, it makes sense to choose the best-quality materials and craftsmanship you can afford. For smaller decorative accents, this isn’t always the case.
“Cute little garden details, like the obelisks we used in this garden, can make a big impact,” says Sweeney of this front garden. Adding the ball caps to the posts of the existing white picket fence was another way she elevated the overall look for a low cost.
Other low-investment, high-payoff exterior accents could include chic house numbers or a smart gate.
9. Design with maintenance costs in mind
Once hardscape is installed and plants are in the ground, your costs going forwards will be associated with maintenance.
Some hardscape materials require more maintenance than others to continue to look good over time. Plants all require different levels of water and maintenance throughout the year to thrive. It’s best to consider this now, when you’re just beginning your project, and design your landscape plan accordingly.
In general, high-quality natural materials, such as flagstone for patios and paths, require minimal care when properly installed. Gravel and decomposed granite, on the other hand, need to be topped up every so often. Synthetic decking can save the cost of needing to seal a natural timber deck every few years.
Once hardscape is installed and plants are in the ground, your costs going forwards will be associated with maintenance.
Some hardscape materials require more maintenance than others to continue to look good over time. Plants all require different levels of water and maintenance throughout the year to thrive. It’s best to consider this now, when you’re just beginning your project, and design your landscape plan accordingly.
In general, high-quality natural materials, such as flagstone for patios and paths, require minimal care when properly installed. Gravel and decomposed granite, on the other hand, need to be topped up every so often. Synthetic decking can save the cost of needing to seal a natural timber deck every few years.
For plants, your best bet for cutting down on water costs is to use native, drought-tolerant plants or those that grow well in your climate. Gardens composed of easy-care shrubs, ground covers and perennials require less attention than those designed with high-maintenance annual flowerbeds or clipped topiary. Choose a style you have the time and budget to care for.
Skipping a traditional lawn can also offer major savings in terms of both water (in drier areas) and maintenance.
Skipping a traditional lawn can also offer major savings in terms of both water (in drier areas) and maintenance.
10. Consider phasing your project
For major landscape overhauls, installing the design in several phases can help in terms of budgeting. For phased projects, bring in a professional at the beginning to draw a complete site plan that will outline the overall design and how phases should be divided according to construction access.
“Think through everything you might want to bury in the ground that will be useful or desired in the future,” says Moore. “It’s no fun to dig trenches or drill holes in finished surfaces.”
For major landscape overhauls, installing the design in several phases can help in terms of budgeting. For phased projects, bring in a professional at the beginning to draw a complete site plan that will outline the overall design and how phases should be divided according to construction access.
“Think through everything you might want to bury in the ground that will be useful or desired in the future,” says Moore. “It’s no fun to dig trenches or drill holes in finished surfaces.”
Moore agrees that having a complete site plan guiding the construction process is likely to bring costs down overall and prevent doing work twice. For example, with proper planning between phases, a landscaper or builder could lay the foundation beneath a patio for a shade structure intended for later installation.
“Then, when the client is financially ready for their patio and pergola,” he says, “the installation can be achieved by simply pulling up the paving stones concealing the foundations, versus a major excavation and redo.”
“Then, when the client is financially ready for their patio and pergola,” he says, “the installation can be achieved by simply pulling up the paving stones concealing the foundations, versus a major excavation and redo.”
Your turn
Where have you saved in a garden redesign? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
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For more great budgeting tips, read Hidden Costs to Consider in a Kitchen Renovation
Where have you saved in a garden redesign? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
For more great budgeting tips, read Hidden Costs to Consider in a Kitchen Renovation
With amazing alfresco additions from outdoor kitchens to fire pits, it’s easy to get carried away when it comes to creating your dream landscape wish list, but costs quickly add up. To mitigate this, focus on the elements you really want and will use often.
“If you want to save money, scale things back or take out a few features that you could add over time,” says USA-based landscape designer and contractor Heather Sweeney of Mom’s Design Build.
Tip: Having a professionally drawn site plan in place will help ensure that you won’t have to disturb an improved area when installing new features at a later stage.