Many homeowners spend their time and money perfecting their homes. Oftentimes, large backyards or outdoor spaces get neglected. If you have some good outdoor space that isn’t being used, it is best to plan a remodeling project.
A functional and beautiful backyard can even increase the value of your property. Most people don’t bother fixing up this part of the home since they think it will cost them too much. Here are 10 great ideas to help you spruce up your yard without hurting your budget:
1. Do some planning
Don’t just sit around and awe at beautiful backyards on home magazines. Really get your head into it and start planning your landscaping. Figure out what you want out of your backyard.
What do you want it to look like? Consider things like a barbecue area, water feature, lounge chairs, etc.
2. Your yard’s grade
The grade or slope of your yard determines which way water flows. When mother nature starts pouring heavy rain, and you have a poor grade, you might find water in areas you don’t want there to be – i.e. your basement.
If this happens often, you might need earthmoving equipment to correct the grade of the soil around your home.
3. A little shade can go a long way
Proper ventilation in the yard can help you promote better airflow in your home. You can save up on air conditioning costs during the summer months with a little bit of shade from a healthy shade tree.
4. When to shop for landscaping tools
Landscaping tools are in demand during spring. During peak gardening months, it is not wise to purchase tools for your backyard. Consider going shopping during late summer or even early autumn.
5. Picking plants
If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t be too ambitious when it comes to gardening. Choose plants that are easy to maintain. Do some research and find out what plants are best for the climate you live in. Native plants will grow well in your backyard and will need very little maintenance.
6. Keen on buying seeds
Many people like the idea of growing their own plants. Seeds are much cheaper than fully grown plants, so logically, when you go to the store, you’d want to buy seeds.
However, this involves more effort than just shoving a couple of seeds in the soil and waiting for them to grow. You need to invest a lot of time and money in taking care of seeds to ensure that they grow into healthy plants.
The cost of fertilizers, water and gardening tools will eventually add up and end up costing you more than if you just chose to purchase a plant instead of that pack of seeds.
7. Bulk buying in hardware superstores
Consider purchasing things in bulk when it comes to your landscaping and gardening needs. Instead of buying just one bag of mulch at a time, pick up more than you think you need.
This will save you from having to go back and you can save a couple of dollars when buying in bulk. The same logic applies to items such as gravel, wood chips, sand and your other landscaping needs.
8. Thrift shopping
Beautiful items at gigantic hardware stores are sure to put a large dent on your wallet. Think before you spend and don’t just buy things for your backyard because you think it will look pretty!
Do some research, look through classified, search for online deals. It’s not hard to find a good discount on little things that can make a big difference in your yard.
9. Save water
Once the rainy season ends, your plants and vegetation will need water. Use this resource wisely by coming up with a smart way to recycle the water in your yard. An efficient and timed sprinkler can save you a lot on your water bill.
10. Get your hands dirty
You can save a lot of money on your project if you do most of the work yourself. Working on your backyard can also be rewarding and sometimes therapeutic.
Even though you will do most of the dirty work, you will have to hire professionals if you need earthmoving equipment to help you remove a significant amount of dense soil from your yard. Equipment like diggers or mini loaders get the job done much faster. The shovel technique for a big backyard is not the most practical idea for removing dense soil.
Warren is a passionate blogger and works as supplier of earthmoving equipment.
Landscaping On A Budget – 10 Ideas To Beautify Your Outdoor Space
