Landscaping on a Budget

With summer on the horizon, many of us are looking towards our garden in anticipation of summertime socialising. Now is the perfect time to get your outdoor space ready for sunny afternoons, but it’s easy for landscaping aspirations to sometimes outreach our budget.

There’s no need to worry however, as there are many ways to landscape on a budget, and ensure you achieve great results even when spending less. Here’s a rundown of our top recommendations.

Find a balance between hard and soft landscaping

Garden landscaping is split into two categories – hard and soft landscaping. Hard landscaping involves structural items being built or installed, such as decking, paving, patios, terraces, fences and water features. Soft landscaping refers to various forms of planting, such as trees, shrubs, flowers and turf. Hard landscaping is the area where the majority of costs are incurred, so when planning your space, ask yourself how much of your garden you require to be hard landscaped. Devoting more space to flowers and plant-life can give your space an attractive aesthetic, and help reduce overall costs.

Consider alternative materials

When deciding on the hard landscaping aspects you want to see in your garden, consider the various materials on offer as these can also help reduce your bill. For example, if you’re planning a decking area, you’ll find that softwood is a more cost-effective option than hardwood. If you’re installing a pathway, then stones, pebbles or gravel could save money over bricks and slabs. Your best bet is to consult a professional landscaper, who’ll be able to advise the most cost-effective approach for the job, as well as having access to the best materials and competitive prices thanks to access to trade supply chains.

Request a garden design and shop around

If you’re unsure what to do with your outdoor space, you can request a garden design from a landscaper, with no obligation to use the same provider for the work to be carried out. You’re free to simply pay for a design based on your own requirements and specifications, then shop around other tradespeople and material suppliers to provide the finished aspects of your newly acquired design.

Split the labour

If you’re on a limited budget, you may wish to get your hands dirty for part of the job, and hand over some of the more skilled aspects of your garden design to a professional. Large garden centres provide a huge choice of materials to the public, not just to trade, so chances are you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for. With the aid of books or online tutorials, you could learn some soft landscaping skills yourself, or even install some of the simpler hard landscaping features – such as laying gravel – yourself. This will save more of your budget to contribute towards an experienced landscaper installing the other features you desire.

Set your own budget

Finally, one of the most important ways to landscape on a budget is to set your budget out upfront. With so many attractive options available for your garden, it may be possible for your ambition to run away with your wallet. When asking a garden landscaper to recommend materials, price up a job, or create a design for you to go away with, be sure to let them know your budget upfront. A good landscaper will be able to tailor a design to fit your requirements, recommend the best course of action, and draw up a budget-sensitive plan that works for you.

Here at Groby Landscapes, our family business has been providing budget-conscious landscaping for over 50 years. Whether you’re looking for expert installation of hard or soft landscaping features, or a professional garden design you can take away and work towards, we’re a name you can trust. To discuss your ideas, your budget, or any other queries, be sure to contact an experienced member of our specialist team today.