With summer in full swing, you’re likely spending more time outside in the yard. (We know we sure are!)
And if you’re anything like us, you’re never quite satisfied with your landscaping.
Sure, we’ve managed to combine looks with functionality (we’re really excited about the zipline and a few other installations we’ve managed for the kids to enjoy in the backyard), but there always seems to be more work to do.
And that can get expensive.
Every bush we need to cut back requires electricity for the hedge trimmers. Every flower we plant requires water, dirt, and fertilizer. Every blade of grass we cut requires gas for the mower.
When you step back and take a look at how much you’re spending, maintaining your property isn’t cheap!
With that in mind, we recently started exploring new ways to keep landscaping costs as low as possible. And although some of them come with some substantial startup costs, they’ll save you money down the road!
How to Lower Landscaping Costs
“How much does landscaping cost?” The answer really depends on what you’re after. And while can’t all be great Pittsburgh landscapers, we can work on the skills necessary for a great yard—without breaking the bank.
The right approach can change everything. Here are a few strategies worth exploring this summer to reduce your landscaping costs while improving your curb appeal:
1. Consider common mulch alternatives.
Mulch can quickly drive up your landscaping expenses, and the average homeowner can easily spend hundreds of dollars on a single delivery of mulch.
And although mulch looks and smells great, it’s main purpose is to cut down on watering and weeding.
Two alternatives to save money on landscaping (and mulch): leaves and newspapers.
If you have leaves left over from the fall season or even just sitting around your tree line, consider throwing them through a wood chipper to shred them, then spread them as you would mulch.
You can also spread a few layers of newspaper beneath your top soil before planting to help keep down weeds and other undesirable plantlife. You may still choose to spread traditional mulch on top to help your flower beds look their best, but the newspaper will offer a great weed barrier to get you started.
2. Use more stone.
Stone gardens have exploded in popularity in recent years because they’re beautiful and environmentally-friendly.
Buying and installing the stone can be expensive initially, but the yearly maintenance costs of a stone garden is dramatically lower than a living garden!
If you don’t have the budget or desire for a stone garden, consider installing a simple fire pit (check your local laws beforehand so you know how far from the property line and structures your fire pit should sit).
You can find fire pits or stones for a fire pit at nearly any hardware store, and you can finish your installation in a single afternoon.
3. Finally build or lay that patio!
OK, so this tip does start off with a bit of an investment, but it could potentially help increase the value of your home, and it does help to simplify lawn maintenance!
Laying a brick patio can be done in as little as a single weekend, especially if you decide to lay your patio in sand—much easier than working in concrete!
Similarly, a stone pathway to your shed, flowerbed, or fountain can add a touch of elegance to your yard while cutting down on the plant life you need to maintain during those steamy Pittsburgh summers.
4. Focus on water.
This is one of our favorite tips for landscaping on a budget!
Depending on how big your garden is, you could easily spend more than $100 a month on watering your plants.
Rain barrels connected to your gutters can help you collect fresh rainwater to use later in your garden without spending a fortune on water from the tap.
Although some rain barrels start at around $20 each, many can cost hundreds of dollars. The good news is that you could end up saving that much or more by the end of a single summer!
5. Switch to a container garden.
Filling your entire property line with beautiful flowers is time-consuming and expensive. A container garden can be just as pretty and much more manageable since you have less area to nurture and fewer weeds to contend with.
Plus, a great container garden looks delightful alongside your back porch and makes for a wonderful conversation piece when you’re hosting friends!
As an added bonus, container gardens are ideal for individuals who have trouble kneeling or squatting for long periods of time while gardening.
6. Create your own fertilizer.
Buying fertilizer every year is expensive. But you can make your own fertilizer at home in a compost bin!
Now, we’ll give you a fair warning: Composting is more work than most people realize—and it often takes time (1-3 months for “hot” composting and a full year for “cold” composting).
If you’re interested in using your composting as a fertilizer for your plant life, start now for next year.
Now for the good news: You likely have everything you need to get started! A bucket, some dirt, and organic waste (vegetable peels, coffee grounds, fallen leaves, grass clippings, shredded newspaper—many of the same items you could use in your mulch!) can go into most composting.
While your strategy may change depending on the type of compost you’re creating, the general rule is the same: maintain your compost pile over time, and it will reward you with nitrogen-rich fertilizer when you’re done!
7. Add some light.
If you like to spend time in your yard during a beautiful summer evening, you have a few different low-cost options on lighting!
Many solar-powered foot path lights start at around $7.50-$8.00 each (though you’ll usually find them in packs of about $50).
But you can also find string or rope lights to dazzle your guests in the backyard, often for less than $25.00! You can even string them from your house to your porch to surrounding trees to illuminate your entire yard.
8. Repurpose tires.
Repurposing old tires (even ones that have holes in them) is a trendy landscaping technique that is relatively inexpensive. While you can buy used tires from recycling centers, you can probably find a family member or friend who’s willing to give you a tire or two.
Once you have one or more tires at your disposal, your options are endless.
Hang a tire swing, cover them with cloth for outdoor ottomans, or place them side by side as makeshift planters!
9. Find low-cost yard furniture.
Replacing old or broken yard furniture doesn’t need to become too expensive!
While patio sets can easily cost you hundreds of dollars, you can often find relatively inexpensive options in the right places.
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and even your local thrift store (check our neighborhood reports for recommendations near you) all have low-cost outdoor furniture options.
Just make sure you’ve secured a way to transport it before you buy!
10. Repair your fence without buying more lumber.
Lumber is incredibly expensive at the moment, and that means something as simple as replacing a board in your fence could cost way more than it would in a typical year.
And while it’s normal for a wooden fence to sag, wear, or even break apart over time, you don’t necessarily have to replace boards.
If there’s not too much rot in the way, a few simple screws could be enough to get your fence back in order without a trip to the lumber yard. Just add a few coats of paint to hide your fix, and your fence will be back to normal!
Have Any Other Tips?
If you have any other tips on landscaping on a budget, especially for houses in Pittsburgh, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to send us an email at theblocks@blocksintheburgh.com.
And if you’d like to find great Pittsburgh landscapers who can do the job for you, check our neighborhood reports!
Cheers,
Julie & Ted Block