6 Ways You Can Save on Your Garden Renovation
Find out how to spend wisely on your garden without compromising on style – and where to splurge to make an impact
Whether you’re designing a new garden or renovating an existing one, bringing your dream landscape to life can be a pricey endeavour. Luckily, with some strategic thinking about your design, plants and materials, you can keep costs down without sacrificing style.
Here are some tips on when to splurge versus when to save on garden design, from large-scale projects (building a deck or stone patio) to something as small as choosing to plant a shrub instead of an annual flower.
Get professional advice
Be honest with yourself about your gardening knowledge and hard landscaping ability. Ask yourself, “Do I know what plants will thrive in my garden without much care?” and “Would I be comfortable building a raised garden bed?”
If either of these questions makes you pause, getting help from a garden professional can save you making costly mistakes during your renovation. Depending on the complexity of your project and the size of your budget, it may be worth hiring a landscape gardener or garden designer.
Be honest with yourself about your gardening knowledge and hard landscaping ability. Ask yourself, “Do I know what plants will thrive in my garden without much care?” and “Would I be comfortable building a raised garden bed?”
If either of these questions makes you pause, getting help from a garden professional can save you making costly mistakes during your renovation. Depending on the complexity of your project and the size of your budget, it may be worth hiring a landscape gardener or garden designer.
If hiring a professional isn’t possible with your budget, do some research and teach yourself. Horticulturists at local universities and nurseries will often offer free advice on topics such as getting started with growing a kitchen garden or what plants to use in your outdoor space.
Worth splurging If you don’t have much experience with plants or hard landscaping, or are stuck on a design problem, it can be well worth bringing in an experienced professional, even if it’s only for a two-hour consultation. He or she may be able to offer you a design solution to a tricky situation or suggest what will grow well in a spot where previous plants have failed. This will improve your overall design and save you money on having to replace plants later on.
Do some of the work yourself
If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and put some effort into your garden project, you can save yourself money.
If you’re working with a landscape gardener, ask him or her to order the plants for you and place them where they should be planted around the space. Then instead of having the designer’s team dig holes and plant them in the ground themselves, do it yourself with the help of family or friends.
If you’re comfortable with building projects, consider constructing a fence, arbour, trellis or raised beds on your own to save on builder’s fees.
If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and put some effort into your garden project, you can save yourself money.
If you’re working with a landscape gardener, ask him or her to order the plants for you and place them where they should be planted around the space. Then instead of having the designer’s team dig holes and plant them in the ground themselves, do it yourself with the help of family or friends.
If you’re comfortable with building projects, consider constructing a fence, arbour, trellis or raised beds on your own to save on builder’s fees.
Worth splurging If you’re not experienced in garden DIY, hire a professional for projects such as laying a brick patio, pouring concrete paths, masonry work or building a deck. Fixing mistakes made on large-scale projects can cost you a lot further down the line, while shoddy workmanship can make your outside space an unsafe environment.
Choose less expensive materials
In general, areas such as pathways and patios are much more expensive in terms of materials and construction than planted areas. Cut down on your costs by choosing less expensive materials for these areas, or consider having more plants instead.
In general, areas such as pathways and patios are much more expensive in terms of materials and construction than planted areas. Cut down on your costs by choosing less expensive materials for these areas, or consider having more plants instead.
“Be mindful of your paving choices early in the design process, as these can range in price dramatically,” advises landscape architect June Scott. “Treatments such as gravel are relatively inexpensive, both as a material cost and to install, compared to mortared-in stone, which can be quite costly.”
Instead of shelling out for expensive materials such as flagstone or cut stone, consider making your walkways from gravel, mulches, walkable ground covers or a mix of materials such as flagstone with gravel. Another option is to look for used stones, old bricks and other materials that may be left over from building sites, or ‘seconds’ – cut stones or paving stones at building supply yards that may come at a reduced cost.
Worth splurging In small areas where the hard landscaping is the focal point of the design, it’s worth going for your top choice of material and looking for other areas in which to save money.
If your original plan for the garden included an expansive sandstone patio and pathways, keep the patio in sandstone but reduce its size, and replace the pathways with some simple stepping stones in sandstone – fewer stones are cheaper and easier to install.
If your original plan for the garden included an expansive sandstone patio and pathways, keep the patio in sandstone but reduce its size, and replace the pathways with some simple stepping stones in sandstone – fewer stones are cheaper and easier to install.
Think smart on plant choices
While hard landscaping will eat up the majority of your budget, buying plants to fill your garden – or even a single bed – can quickly add up. While it’s easy to get carried away at the nursery, keep in mind that not all plants are created equal. Some require more water, fertiliser and care, which can mean higher long-term costs for maintenance. Other plants, such as annual flowers, require replacing every year, again adding to their cost.
While hard landscaping will eat up the majority of your budget, buying plants to fill your garden – or even a single bed – can quickly add up. While it’s easy to get carried away at the nursery, keep in mind that not all plants are created equal. Some require more water, fertiliser and care, which can mean higher long-term costs for maintenance. Other plants, such as annual flowers, require replacing every year, again adding to their cost.
3 factors to consider to maximise your plant budget
- Plant type Rely on evergreen trees and shrubs for structure. They fill beds and look good all year round. Choose perennials and flowering shrubs that bloom year after year, rather than annual flowers that need replacing after a season. Adding hardy plants, or those that are well suited to your soil type, will also cut back on irrigation and care requirements, while supporting local wildlife and pollinators to boot.
- Number of plants Landscape designer Beth Mullins advises clients to avoid the temptation for “instant gardening” – overfilling a bed with flowering plants, grasses and shrubs planted too close together. Instead, space your plants, and purchase them accordingly, for what the garden will look like in three to five years, taking into account the plants’ mature sizes. “Plant for the long term, in a way that is best for the plants to grow in over time,” says Mullins, “and avoid having to toss out or transplant plants that are planted too closely.”
- Plant size Ornamental grasses, many perennials, ground covers, vines, edible herbs, fruits and vegetables grow quickly and can reach mature or nearly mature sizes in a single season. For these quick growers, you can size down at the nursery, saving money while still enjoying a lush-looking garden in a few months.
Worth splurging Spend most of your budget on plants that will make a big impact in your space. “It’s a good idea to get trees and slow growers in larger sizes – if your budget allows – so you’re not waiting forever for those key plants to grow,” says Mullins. If you decide to buy a more mature tree, ask a professional to help you site and install it in order to reduce the risk of the tree experiencing shock when it’s transplanted.
Want to plant trees in your garden? Check out this handy guide
Want to plant trees in your garden? Check out this handy guide
Plan according to your maintenance budget
Different garden styles, landscaping materials and plants require different levels of care. Before you begin, consider how much of your budget – or your own time and effort – you’re willing to put towards keeping weeds at bay, plants trimmed, grassy areas mowed and pathways swept, then plan your design accordingly.
Different garden styles, landscaping materials and plants require different levels of care. Before you begin, consider how much of your budget – or your own time and effort – you’re willing to put towards keeping weeds at bay, plants trimmed, grassy areas mowed and pathways swept, then plan your design accordingly.
If you don’t want to spend too much on maintenance going forward, opt for evergreen and shrub-heavy planting designs, and limit the number of labour-intensive flower beds. If you’re installing a lawn, consider reducing its size or choosing a no-mow turf blend to cut down on the need for frequent watering and mowing.
Considering a hedge? See the best ways to use one
Considering a hedge? See the best ways to use one
If you have a large property, leave sections of it wild or planted only with hardy plants that will thrive with little care or additional water.
Worth splurging Budget to hire a gardening professional at least once a year to tackle those tricky projects, such as tree pruning, that will affect how your garden grows. “I think it’s crucial to hire people who know the plants, your design intentions and how the space will evolve over time,” says Mullins. “In the long run, a client will get the best overall effect in their garden.”
Break up the project
Splitting a project into multiple phases may not save money in the long run, but it will save you funds now and allow time for you to replenish your savings.
Whether or not you’re working with a landscape designer or architect, if you’d like to break your project into phases, come up with a master plan for the finished garden before you begin.
This can be as simple as drawing a map of your garden, including the size needed for your main features, such as outdoor seating, a patio or a garden shed. “A master plan is key,” says Mullins, “so the work doesn’t have to be redone later. Also, the client and designer should be in sync about what size of project and spend makes sense for each phase.”
What strategies have you used to save money on your garden renovation? Share them with us in the Comments below.
Splitting a project into multiple phases may not save money in the long run, but it will save you funds now and allow time for you to replenish your savings.
Whether or not you’re working with a landscape designer or architect, if you’d like to break your project into phases, come up with a master plan for the finished garden before you begin.
This can be as simple as drawing a map of your garden, including the size needed for your main features, such as outdoor seating, a patio or a garden shed. “A master plan is key,” says Mullins, “so the work doesn’t have to be redone later. Also, the client and designer should be in sync about what size of project and spend makes sense for each phase.”
What strategies have you used to save money on your garden renovation? Share them with us in the Comments below.