Affordable Landscaping – How to Set a Budget

If you have a large section or even an average section, Landscaping is very important to get right for many reasons. The first is your pride and enjoyment in your property. Secondly, will be possibly for your privacy, if you have bought a property that is in clear visibility to your neighbors, or the street, and, thirdly, to achieve the maximum sales price affordable landscaping when you come to sell what is more than likely to be your largest asset.

Affordable Landscaping

So, your landscaping is definitely going to require very extensive and careful planning to get the most out of it. It shouldn’t be undertaken too quickly. Landscaping is a little like writing a book. You might have an initial idea and think its great, but after jotting it down and thinking more about the plot and the characters, you’ll quickly run up against a brick wall, so to speak, as you release that the plot wont work for such and such a reason and it will need modification.

Irrigation Problems

o it is the same with affordable landscaping. Have a main idea, write it down, roughly draw it up and then think about it over the next few days or weeks before taking any more action. I bet that after two weeks your initial idea will have radically changed, on paper. The changes you make will be to seeing something else in the meantime that you prefer, or, it wont work because of light or irrigation problems, or, it was simply going to be too expensive. So, not taking action for a few weeks can save you a considerable amount of expense.

So, best to start with an affordable budget to set yourself. This should be your maximum that you can afford. From here you can start going backwards to save yourself money on your project.

Another consideration though while setting your budget is that you could undertake your affordable landscapingproject in stages, but, this would only be a good idea if you see yourself getting extra money to afford this in the future, otherwise you could end up with a very expensive stage all finished and then the next stage a budget finish that is simply not going to look right, so, probably best just to budget it at the start and perhaps have room for improvements in the future if extra money does become available.

Irrigation Systems

An interesting rule of thumb for landscaping on an average section is that it should be around 10% of the value of your home if you are starting afresh and plan to do everything. This includes, decks, pergola’s, fences, irrigation systems and lighting. It sounds like a lot, maybe too much, but if your home is worth say $600,000 then $60,000 for landscaping if it’s carefully planned will go a long way. A warning here though.

f your home is worth $600,000 or $400,000, or whatever its worth and you propose selling it soon and your home is the average price on your street, then don’t spend 10% extra on it – you’ll just over capitalize on it. The 10% budget is only if you intend to live in your home for say five years plus before selling and stay to enjoy your new surroundings. However, if you are landscaping so to sell your home, careful planning at a much lesser budget will definitely improve things and at least make your home sell faster.…

Landscaping Rock Can Make Your Yard Look Great

The good thing about landscaping rock is that people are able to have depth and texture to the design of their landscape. There are few different forms of landscaping rock but there are two, which are commonly used. And it that case, let me introduce you good information about it.

Landscaping Rock

These forms include the different colors of rock that are used for landscaping and there are also stones of different kinds that everyone can use to add some highlight to their yard. There is a need to have different kinds of rocks for every landscaping design. It may be large or small depending on what is best suited for your yard landscaping

The best way of using landscaping rock is to apply it with its full significance toward your design for your yard. Rocks should be used to actually add some accent to your yard and not just to cover up some ugly spots or some parts, which you do not want to be noticed.
Putting them in random parts will only be useless and that will not do anything good to your yard. It will instead cause an unbalanced look of the yard. Landscaping rock should be put in such a way that it will add beauty to the design of the landscape.

It will be better if you bury these rocks to where they will be placed. Not only that it will prevent disposition, they will also look like it is where they are supposed to be placed and not look like they are just put there for no reason.

Spot Depending

The depth of the rock to which it will be buried matters a lot depending on the size that you choose for your yard. The larger the landscaping rock, the deeper it should be buried and shallower for the small ones. A depth of four to six inches is good enough for a rock.
Landscaping rock will not give you a hard time. You just have to dig a spot depending on the size of the rock then place it there. Fill up the surroundings of the rock with some soil and you are done!

Imagine how great these rocks and boulders will look like if they were placed in your yard and still look as natural as they do when they are out in nature. So if you are hiking or maybe just taking a walk, take your time to stop by and take a look at some rocks that you think will be good for your yard.…

The Cost Of Landscaping

Are you thinking of hiring a landscaper to whip your yard into shape this year? If this is your first time doing this sort of thing then you might just get the shock of your life at just how high the cost of landscaping really is.

Cost Of Landscaping

When you work with landscape designers you stand to benefit from the designer’s skills and experience to produce a professionally designed garden landscape. In turn, your garden will look good, be functional, and even suit the architecture of your house. Plus, you won’t have to redo it in a few years.

However, the cost of landscaping is not cheap. Many professionals have been known to charge outrageous prices and this has not rendered well with most people who are struggling to make ends meet. A professional takes into consideration a variety of factors when he decides to create your personal plan. Such factors may include shade, slope, sunlight, soil conditions and many more. He may also include unexpected additions and this may send you over your budget limit.
In this article I am going to touch on tips and strategies of how to lower the cost of landscaping while still getting a superb front and back yard. I will expound on simple methods that are certain to lower your budget and greatly lower the cost of landscaping services in your yard.

So how can you landscape cheap?

One of the ways you can do this is by working with what you have.
It has been said that the best way to save money when it comes to landscaping is to do as much work as possible yourself.
Not to worry, I have provided a few guidelines on how to achieve this.
The first step in lowering landscaping costs is to sit down and create a budget. The notion here is that if you know what you have to work with before you begin your project then you will have the proper mindset that is conducive to keeping costs down.

Just remember to do it in small steps. Everyone seems to desire to get everything done all at once. Be willing to focus a little.
Completing one step of your project at a time has been known to greatly lower the cost of landscaping.

When it comes to plants, select only the native species of trees, shrubs or flowers to place in your landscape. I say this because this will help you save on costly soil amendments that you would incur if you decide to settle on other kinds that cannot thrive in your existing soil.
Another advantage of native species is that they require less supplements of water and thus are pocket friendly.

It is also advisable to preserve existing plants as this will in turn help reduce the costs for materials and resources needed to establish a new planting. Smaller, younger plant materials, compared to more mature plants will drive costs down. So will substituting a stone retaining wall with a less expensive timber retainer.

When it comes to the lawns, I highly recommend that you select a drought tolerant variety of grass that will save you future expenses on watering costs. Grasses of this nature include the Kentucky blue grass and the Perennial rye. These grasses have been known to require less water during dry periods and hence are more suitable for your landscape.

If at the end of all this you still decide to use the services of a designer, then I advise you to try and forgo the obvious. Don’t call them and ask for their opinion of your lawn or backyard.Landscape designers have been known to talk people into designing everything with hopes of realizing huge profits.

Instead, I suggest you draw up your own landscaping plans before indulging in a consultation session. The plan here is to draw your own design and hire a landscape designer to review it. This is a less expensive route that will, more than often, work out in your favor.…

Top Mid Century Modern Landscaping Ideas You Need To Know

Getting a neat and well-kept garden is something that a lot of homeowners want. But this is not an easy work to do if you are going to do all these improvements and renovations by yourself. If you want your garden to have a newer look and feel soon, here are some mid century modern landscaping ideas that you should remember:

Know How Much Are You Willing To Spend

The issue of cost is something that you need to consider when you are planning to come up with ways on how to update the look of your garden. It can go as minimal or expensive as you want, it depends on how much are you willing to assign as a budget to give this particular space a modern look. So as you plan this needed renovation, set a budget to work on. This will also help you adjust your preferences. Another advantage is that you can easily provide this information to the company who will implement the mid century modern landscaping design plans based on the budget you set at the onset of the project landscaping ideas

Go Online To Find Landscape Inspirations

If your garden only consist of potted plants and Bermuda grass all over, then it is time to make a change. Go online today and search for some home improvement blogs with some posts about landscape management and how they go about changing the look of their garden. Most of the time you will find out the story behind those improvements, including a summary of costs and a list of people who helped them in that project.

Finding these inspirations is a very accessible way of knowing the types of modern landscaping ideas that worked for them. This can inspire you further to come up with an original concept on how to do this for your own garden.

Decide On What You Want To Achieve After The Renovation

Do the same thing just like what you have done before when you improved the overall look of your home interiors. What is the purpose of this project? Is it to provide a greener look on your garden? Do you want to have more space in this area without sacrificing the number of plants that you already have? Or do you want to minimize the volume of plants so you can place a sofa set for your outdoor reading pleasure? These are just examples of questions that you might want to ask yourself before you finally call your garden landscaper today.

Place Elements That Will Add Character To Your Garden

Most homeowners realize that this is just what they need to add character to the old, plain look of their garden. If you want to add water element in this area, you can add a fountain at the center or just in one corner of the garden. You can also add a pond below it if you wish.

How about a bigger space for your next garden barbeque party? If this is what you want, then you can assign a safe area there to place a fire pit. Your family will surely be excited about the idea. You do not need to look for a bigger space to hold your next barbeque party if you already have a space in your garden to do this with your family.
These are just some of the mid century modern landscaping ideas that you can use to improve the overall look of your garden. Give some time to think about these and see the difference it brings in the way you manage this part of your property today.…

How to Use Landscape Bricks Design

Most people who design their own landscaping bricks and especially professional landscape designers find that at one stage or another they use bricks to make borders, solve problems, protect certain features or even build unique additions to a yard. Landscaping bricks are used so widely, because they come in all shapes, sizes and colours and give any garden a traditional, classic and unified look.

Landscape Bricks

A benefit of using bricks in a landscaping bricks is that they can literally transform an otherwise dull area into a creative artwork and can make a garden look professional and well designed. Bricks are inexpensive and easy to use and change if necessary. They fit into all styles and designs. You can buy bricks almost anywhere, especially at nurseries or garden centres, but a great idea is to get bricks from old building sites or from the side of roads, because these look more natural and a “weathered” look can be extremely appealing in a  landscaping

A great feature to create using landscaping bricks is a patio. You will only need bricks and mortar and you can lay the bricks yourself – all in the same direction or in different directions. This is very easy to build and you can even use a “horizontal then vertical laying” technique to make a creative patio. Add brick flowerbeds to complete the effect. Use your bricks to create borders for flower gardens or you can build a small wall around the beds. You can also use these walls in water gardens and encase water areas to contrast the organic and the geometrical.

Organic Landscaping

It adds warmth to a water feature. Bricks are mostly, however, used to create walkways and paths in a garden. You can build a definite path to a certain area or you front door or you can create random paths through beautiful areas. If your ground is quite soft, line the bottom of the path with organic landscaping fabric so the bricks will not sink away. Use bricks where you expect to have a lot of traffic in the garden so your garden will not experience wear and tear.

Bricks ultimately create a cleaner, uncluttered and professional look. They have great tendency to attract attention, so you can “lead” people through a designed garden with them quite easily. You can even make use of crushed bricks to create pathways as they act as more rough and edgy cobblestones. Make sure you use contrast in a garden, because it makes the garden more appealing and adds character to the environment. Bricks automatically do this, because they oppose the natural surroundings of a garden.

Anyone can use bricks and build their own features, because it is easy and every person has an idea for his or her garden. With a little imagination, you can do anything. If, however, you feel it is “safer” to leave it to someone else, professional landscape designer will definitely have limitless ideas and methods at your disposal.…

Tips Using Lowes Landscaping

One method of providing light outdoors is solar lighting. Though not as big in the marketplace as lowes landscaping  working with 12V of electricity, they nevertheless have a place in this marketplace.

Lowes Landscaping

These will be extremely useful to someone living in an area which has a good number of sunny daylight hours. If your light absorbs a good amount of sunlight for 8 hours you would get nearly twice back in light, i.e. around 15 hours. These lights require virtually no wiring and that makes them easily installed by everybody. They can be used in all the areas that other types of lighting would be used landscaping ideas

Using Low Voltage Landscaping Lights Will Make You Money

Obviously if you do not live in a really sunny area you will probably opt for the regular type of lowes landscaping. You may want to jazz up your outdoor patio or decking area so that you can make better use of it. You would want to install them inset flush around the perimeter of your deck or patio so they don’t get in the way and they are perfectly safe to step on.

You may have found a system which includes a sensor which will turn the lights on when it becomes dark and turn them off when it is light again. Plus there are timers which let you set the time for the lights to come on and for how many hours they should remain on. Typically preset timers are set for 4,6 and 8 hour schedules.

If you buy online you are going to find plenty of help with your installation, text instructions and possibly more useful, video instructions. They do say a picture is worth a 1000 words and that could well be true in this case. Residential outdoor lighting is the ideal way to use lowes landscaping to good advantage. They can used to highlight your home and/or your garden to good effect.

Outdoor Lighting

The point with this outdoor lighting is that you can have it hidden as much as possible if you have chosen a very plain design or you can have it stand out as a feature in its own right. If you have chosen something really spectacular then you are going to want to show it off, not bury it in the undergrowth. You could well have chosen a combination of plain and decorative dependent on where you intend to use them.

Whatever your needs you will easily find just the right product to suit you by design and price.…

Things to Consider in Having an Edible Landscaping

Edible landscaping has been a part of daily living way back in ancient Egypt and other seed civilizations. Royal palaces and laymen abodes had gardens adorned with flowers, grape vines and fruit trees combined with sitting areas. But throughout time as architectural designs became more modern, edible plants lost their way in becoming a part of most gardens. Bring back the glory days of edible landscaping right in your own home with simple steps below landscaping

Edible Landscaping

As was said, edible plants had little or no presence at all in most home gardens. Such type or landscaping or gardening has been typically associated nowadays with large industrial farms. Actually, you can have your own source of varied produce fit for human consumption. You have a wide range of promising and exciting choices of tasty plants regardless of the space you have at home. If you have a huge backyard, enjoy making expanse plant beds. And even if you live in urban spaces, you can still have your edible landscaping via containers.

Do a prior research about edible plants suitable for the soil and weather in your area. Either do an online search from numerous home gardening websites or approach the agency in your area that focuses on horticulture program. You can also seek assistance from garden shops. List down the plants once you have been familiarized which ones could thrive in the environment in your area.

There are hundreds of species and varieties for each category of vegetation. Pick at least one from each category of fruit trees, shrubs, berries, common vegetables, vines, herbs and flowers. Typical choices include apples, apricots, figs, blueberries, currants, cabbages, onions, grapes, mint, oregano, thyme, daylilies, scented geranium, roses and the list goes on. But be cautious in picking edible plants, shrubs or trees that attract pests or insects. What you can do is to include flowers that are known to ward off pests and rather attract healthy bugs, which are also known healthy soil boosters. Some samples of ornamental and medicinal flowers are yarrow, zinnia, cosmos and daisy.

You must also take note of the costs involved in this project. Since you already have your list, scout for their respective prices. Decide whether it would be more cost-effective to plant seeds or to sow baby plants. Include in your calculation the implementation costing that would comprise of labor fees (for creating a huge garden) and gardening materials. Try to project the costs for fertilizers as well. Of course, to have healthy edibles, you must as well employ organic fertilization rather than having pesticides or chemical sustenance. Thus, you should also budget for a composting system.

Now that you have prepared your plants list and costs, lay out the final design. Either make your own free hand drawing plan or have a professional make the illustration for you. Some design ideas are as follows:

For wide spaces:

– use anti-pest flowers or berries for borders
– incorporate dimensions by planting small soft looking vegetables like asparagus in contrast to taller shrubs or trees
– boost visual impact of the entire garden by placing plants of the same color or type in one concentration, such as designating all yellow colored fruit vines or climbers and flowers at the center or borders of a lush green landscape

 For container gardening:

– establish dimensions by placing taller shrubs at the center of the container and herbs with expanse growths at the borders (use big tubs or huge baskets to achieve this effect)
– create depth by situating potted plants in a layered holder
– increase visual impact by painting the pots in different colors, using baskets or pots in different sizes and styles or gathering same colored plants on one side

Take advantage of the benefits edible landscaping can give you. From having your own farmer’s market to creating aesthetic enhancement for your entire property, such landscaping option can be really productive.…

Tips for Upswing Premier Landscaping

A bit of soul searching will be needed in the case of yard landscaping. Everyone would like to flaunt a well maintained outdoor space around the home. And for this a little bit of planning is required. It takes more than foresight to plan the premier landscaping it will take ingenuity and all of your creativity. Making hasty decisions will only cost you in the long run. Growing trees and plants at appropriate locations is a must as trees cannot be uprooted and replanted in another location easily, unless of course some upscale professional techniques are applied. Selecting the right type of plants is also an important decision to be made.

Premier Landscaping

To begin with, you can start by generating a blueprint for the landscape. By doing this, you get an idea about how the landscape would look once completed. In case you are not sure about how it should be crafted, you could consult a professional; someone who understands landscaping and delivers. Hiring professional services is a great option. In this case you don’t have to bother much and the professionals themselves chalk out interesting designs and landscape variations for you to choose from. If you require specific plants and trees in the premier landscaping you could tell the professional service providers and they source and incorporate the same.

Designing Landscape

One of the greatest additions to the landscape is a deck or a patio. Professional help would be required for this. In addition consider the addition of water features. Although the addition may not be something that you would be equipped to handle, the professionals create a masterpiece in your yard. A patio can be made either out of concrete, flagstone or brick among a host of other materials. Highly skilled services are not really necessary and the job can be done by you. A big transition space between living in the outdoors and the indoors is created by designing patios and decks as a part of the landscape.

Ideas in Yard Landscaping

Some of the other ideas in yard landscaping include installation of water features like fountains, streams of flowing water, etc. These provide a very soothing ambiance to the premier landscaping and can be made within a limited budget. You could even undertake a ‘do-it-yourself’ project where getting the work done is not at all difficult and can be completed in your own time. Planning out the landscaping work is time spent well. Designing is very important and if you are not able to do it for whatever reasons, hire professional services.…

Determine Landscape Costs

How can my yard be changed so that it will look new and fresh? What does it take to create a landscape which wows your family and friends? The answers you are looking for are here. There are also tips here that will show you how to keep your landscaping cost project on track so that it will meet your needs.

Landscaping Cost

Prior to starting a landscape endeavor, spend a bit of money on a professional consultation. Although landscaping cost architects may seem expensive, they can save you both time and money. An hour of a professional’s time should suffice to get you all the pointers you will need to successfully complete your landscaping endeavors.

Design Is Key Aspect of Landscaping

In landscaping cost your property, you need to understand the different species of plants to ensure that things are grown in the appropriate soil and at the appropriate times. Do not forget to take different seasons into account when landscaping, too. Knowing these things will help you make the most of your yard and your landscaping budget.
When planting seeds, cover as much ground as possible. It will take about the same amount of time to prepare the ground for seeding whether it is 10 square feet or 100, so working in large groups will end up saving you time.

Look for other resources when purchasing plants; don’t just stick with catalogs and stores. Check out any local botanical garden or arboretum where you can find a variety of native plants and materials for sale. Many times, you cannot find these plants at your local nursery. You may also wish to check with your neighbors to see if they have any perennials which need to be thinned.

If you want to hire a landscaper, get references. Price is very important, but so is quality. Being able to see properties that the landscaper completed will give you a better idea if the landscaper is a good fit for your needs.

For plenty of color at a reasonable price, consider using wildflowers in your garden. Most home improvement stores carry wildflower seeds. Scatter these over big areas as well as areas where it’s difficult to plant. With the seeds, you’ll get a variety of flowers of all colors and types. They will be great for bouquets.

Visiting with the neighbors is certainly great, but one goal you might have when landscaping is increasing the amount of privacy you enjoy. You may want to use a fence or a particular tree or shrub to create your personal space. When you combine living landscape elements with non-living, the possibilities are almost endless.

Buy your products online and in bulk to help save money. The web has many sites which provide great products at unbeatable prices. It is always wise to check reviews by other customers so that you are confident that the product you are ordering is a good one that is delivered in a proper protective package. Remember to compare prices of different websites.

Remember that watering is just one part of maintaining your landscaping. You also must think about fertilization, soil type, and many other factors. It is important to use the right fertilizer. It is equally important to follow the instructions.

Maintaining landscapes can be tricky. When mowing your lawn for instance, leave some grass clippings where they fall. This helps your lawn get good nutrients. The decomposed grass lessens the amount of fertilizer you will need on the lawn.

What you learned has provided a good introduction to landscaping that any homeowner can benefit from. Regardless of how much landscaping you intend to do or where you want to start, you should be ready to begin now.…

Create a Beautiful Yard With the Right Landscaping Tools

Many people have a vision of the perfect yard: a neatly groomed, welcoming expanse of lawn trimmed with flowers and hedges that gracefully compliments the home that sits upon it. Very often, such visions are supplanted by the nightmare realities of weeds, patchy grass, out of control shrubbery, and countless other issues. If you’re unlucky enough to be faced with such a vicious lawn, don’t despair: simply avail yourself of the correct landscaping tools. It’s not a magic fix, but it’s certainly a big head start.

Landscaping Tools

The biggest stumbling block for most people when it comes to fixing up their yard is the sheer amount of time it takes to get the job done. After working all week, the last thing most people want to do is spend the weekend slaving away outdoors with rakes and shovels. With the proper info on landscaping tools, however, you can be well on your way to cutting that time commitment at least in half.

Right now in the Northeast, leaf removal is the #1 lawn care issue effecting people. The traditional method involving rakes and bags is still the go-to resolution for many people. Alternatives do exist though, and you’d be surprised at how much even an inexpensive leaf blower helps to speed up the process. Add to that a leaf mulcher and suddenly you’ll be using less than half the number of leaf bags as before, meaning less expense and less trips to the curb landscaping services

Correct Gardening and Landscaping Tools

When springtime rolls around, thoughts often turn to grass seeding and trying to create that perfectly thick, lush, dandelion-free lawn. Once again, trying to do everything by hand with a shovel and trowel will take days of effort. You’d be surprised at how quickly things progress with the correct gardening and landscaping tools.

For example, a dandelion removal tool will help you get those tenacious plants out root and all without leaving big holes in your lawn, a soil aerator will quickly prepare your yard to take in new grass seed, and a seed spreader will let you evenly spread the seeds all over your yard in the time it takes to walk back and forth a few times.

No matter the lawn care task that faces you, attacking it with the proper landscaping tools will transform a daunting, days-long task into the brief toil of a few hours’ work. Whenever contemplating whether or not a new landscaping tool is worth it, just consider the amount of time that it can save you, and what else you could be doing with that time. Once you’re well equipped, get out there and make your yard beautiful again.…