Landscaping your yard On a Budget

Is it possible to have a unique look to your yard without investing thousands of dollars to it every year? I truly believe it is. By practicing some basic conservation ideas you can save money and still make your yard look great.

1. The best way to stay within your means when it comes to landscaping is to do the job yourself as with many other areas of budget concern. This would mean doing everything, from picking your plants to weeding and pruning. Now to many of us who really enjoy being out in the yard this is fun. For those of you who question your knowledge and ability, the information age is in full swing and it is not hard to educate yourself well on all the different tasks specific to your yard.

As for the weeds, you are probably going to have to expect a few. If good isn’t good enough when it come to waging a campaign against your weeds (and this is especially true of your lawn) you are going to end up spending a lot of time and money on various chemicals and treatments. These procedures may in the end be doing more harm than good. Be satisfied with some weeds in your lawn, particularly if they have some intrinsic appeal, such as clover.

2. One great new innovation that is all the rage is the art of xeriscaping. Xeriscaping refers to landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental watering. It is often promoted in areas that do not have a good supply of fresh water, but it is also catching on in other areas as climate patterns shift. With water becoming an ever more valuable commodity, many homeowners, when it comes to their yard, are seeking to conserve their water costs by choosing plants that do not need as much water to survive. These plants are available in many different varieties, and they will add a splash of color to your yard while still saving you money. Knowing which plants tend to use a lot of water like cedar hedges, for example, is crucial so they can be avoided. You won’t want to plant any of these if you are concerned about your water costs!

Another way to save money on water is to include material that has good water retention qualities when you’re planting new plants. For example, Peat moss is very inexpensive. When you mix it in with the dirt and bone meal while planting your new flowers or hedges, any water that goes near the area will be soaked up and retained for later use as the plant’s needs dictate.

3. Don’t be afraid to skip the nursery and buy your plants at a box store. A lot of the time, the plants you buy at a big store that carries many varieties of items will cost much less than those at the local nursery. These plants will not have been tended as carefully as the nursery plants, but with some care taken when you’re planting and tending them, they will grow just fine and should grow to the same levels as the plants which cost more but took less time initially in tending. Most do-it-yourself gardeners like to maximize their time outside anyway, so the extra attention these plants may need will help to increase the time spent on your hobby.

4. One way to keep a low budget in your landscaping is to limit your green space. Smaller lawns and fewer flowers mean less materials needed for the upkeep. Watch what you use as your replacement, though some types of landscaping rocks (such as lava rock) can be incredibly overpriced. Bark mulch can be a fairly inexpensive option, but again, you have to be willing to invest a little extra time into its containment and maintenance. I personally don’t like this option because I love my flowers too much but it will save you money in the long run.

There are many more ideas for landscaping on a budget but we will have to wait for a different time to discuss them.

Landscaping On a Budget “by the yard”

Backyard Landscaping is Important

While the front yard is important because it’s more visible to neighbors and others who drive by, the backyard is no less important. For homeowners around the world, a big part of owning a home is getting the yard just the way they want it. The backyard is important because that is where family and friends gather for barbeques, birthday parties and a place for the family to have fun and play. Special consideration should be given to the placement of the flower beds and the different species of flowers that beautify a backyard as well as the position of the patio or deck and any decorative features in the yard.

The theme of your yard will depend on your hobbies, interests and goals. Flowers, stones and grass are just some of the ways to landscape a backyard. Large shade trees, waterfalls and herbal gardens are some other ways. Whatever your preference, you should make your backyard landscaping fun for the whole family. Actually working on your backyard landscape can be a lot of fun too, especially when you make it personal.

Your yard should reflect your personality and the personality of your home.
1: If you and your family like to entertain, add a bar to your back patio. Clean up the barbeque grill and don’t forget adding some way to keep the bugs away like citronella candles.
2: If you want more fun then maybe you want to build a croquet course, mini golf course, put in a sand lot for some sand volleyball or the favorite of a lot of people a pool.
3: If you are the type who would rather keep your backyard to yourself, then maybe you don’t need to worry about the huge, green lawn. Perhaps you’d rather have a quaint yard with basic backyard landscaping. You can put in some grass, strategically place some shade trees and plant some of your favorite flowers. You may want to include some bigger bushes, if space allows as they will add some gorgeous green to your colorful backyard.

When it comes time to maintain the backyard landscaping then taking care of the yard can be a nice family activity. Large yards will require a lot more maintenance and grooming. There is mowing the lawn, pulling weeds and the kids can help even if they are young. They love water so get them involved in watering the plants. If you have a fruit tree in your backyard, then they can spend some time picking up the fallen apples or cherries. You’ll also need to reserve some time to tend to your garden. It can be surprisingly rewarding growing your own vegetables and herbs and then using them in special recipes that you cook when you’re entertaining friends and neighbors. A smaller more intimate backyard may require as much maintenance as a large backyard, but because of scale not nearly the time commitment.

No matter what your personality says about your backyard landscaping. One thing’s for sure don’t let people tell you how to create your backyard, do it just the way you want to and have fun both creating it and enjoying it.

Backyard Landscaping “by the yard”

A Beautiful Garden is a Work of the Heart

The satisfaction in creating your own garden plan is immense. You get the satisfaction that comes from a job well done as well as being able to relax or entertain in your garden. Planning and developing a design unique to you, will add to the enjoyment your garden provides for years to come.

But where do you begin in creating the garden of your dreams and one that is unique to you?

Here are some easy steps that will help you work your way through the process.

1. Identify the reason for your garden.
Who will enjoy the garden? How will you use it? Getting input from the whole family on how they would like to use your outdoor space is a great place to start.

2. Don’t forget to do a little dreaming.
Let your imagination have fun with all the possible features in your special space now that you understand why you want it and how you intend to use it. This will help you put your personal touches on the garden. Also decide whether you want a formal or an informal garden. Formal gardens are divided by a strong central axis and cross axes while informal gardens have a more natural look with wonderful flowing curves.

3. Evaluate your yard.
What is the climate? How large is your space? What type of soil do you have? The lay of the land, is it flat or sloping? What are the predominate views and where are your quiet spots? It helps to know your starting point in order to get where you want to go.

4. What are your non-negotiables?
Listing your essentials up front helps ensure important things won't be forgotten. Then walk around your property and take note of everything that is essential. Your final design should balance between dream features and "must haves". Do children need a place to play? What about pets? What about a privacy fence or retaining wall? Where will you need a path?

5. Identify your focal points.
Every garden needs an eye-catching spot that causes you to pause a moment. Understand that when you choose a focal point, you are choosing the direction you want visitors to look and move when they enter your garden. If your list of "wants" included a waterfall or fountain, an arbor or even a special tree then you’re well on your way to identifying your focal point.

6. Choose your plants and hardscape.
What you choose to put in your garden will create the character of your garden, adding interest, movement and visual appeal. Mixing different colors and materials and textures will give your garden a strong sense of space. You may want harmonious colors or strong contrasting colors and different hues, warm or cool.

Though plants comprise a significant part of your garden, hardscape materials contribute variety and texture -- wood arbors, brick borders, gravel paths, bronze statuary, and outdoor benches. Keep in mind that each element needs to fit with and compliment the whole.

7. Draw you plan to scale.
Thus far, you have created a list of your needs and wants and of the trees, shrubs and plants you want in your garden. Now you need to create a scale drawing that shows exactly where each feature will go so you can use this drawing to help lay out the walkways, plant the trees, shrubs and flowers and set the arbors and trellises in place.
You will need a basic map of property lines and your house as well as an overlay sheet that shows focal points, "rooms" and pathways. Using a pad of graph paper will really help you with this and let each square equal one foot.

8. Create a budget.
Once you know what you want and what you need, it's time to consider what you are willing to spend. This dollar figure will influence what features you are able to include in the final garden plan -- trees, plants, hardscape materials and architectural elements such as arbors, fountains, ponds and benches.

Budgets comprise two elements: money and time. In terms of time, can you create your garden over time or does it need to be finished by a certain date? As you develop and refine your plan, you may need to balance time and cash costs. If you can’t afford your wants you may need to spend more time to balance things off.

9. Execute your plan.
With your scale drawing as a blueprint, use a tape measure to position all structures, walkways and plants. Be sure to measure accurately so each element in your design fits its assigned space. Be aware that structures such as decks, patios and retaining walls may require a permit from the local city authority.

You CAN do this. It may sound a bit intimidating but if you follow these steps and let your space unfold you will end up with a space that is right for you.