Plan before you buy. Sketch your landscape design on paper before you start planting and building. Knowing exactly what you need and where you’re going to put it helps avoid wasting money. If you are not able to plan out your design, think about hiring a professional.
Decide how much design you want. Although it’s less expensive to build a square patio or deck, it’s no bargain if you find the result so unappealing that you don’t use it. It may be worth it to pay a designer to create a space that you can really use.
Talk to a professional. You may not need to hire a landscape architect or designer to develop your whole project, but $50-$100 for an hour-long consultation is well worth the money if it saves you from costly mistakes later.
Buy in phases. Few people have the financial resources to landscape their property all at once. Divide your project into phases, and pay as you go with funds on hand. You’ll save on loan or credit costs and be able to evaluate your progress and adjust plans before moving to the next phase.
Don’t assume cheaper is always better. Home improvement warehouses typically offer the lowest prices for common plants and hardscaping materials. However, they may not have the selection and quality you find at more specialized sources. Plant prices may be higher at specialty nurseries, but many offer money-back guarantees on trees, shrubs, and bedding plants or better yet have a designer or specialty contractor purchase the proper plants for your garden. This will save you over time because you have chosen the proper plants for your needs and climate. Few costly replacements will be required.
Accept cheaper when it’s good enough. With some items, there’s little difference in quality between top-of-the-line and economy. Why pay more? Take advantage of a home improvement warehouse’s volume buying power for bargains on common annuals and perennials, mulch, pavers, and containers. Inspect plants closely, however a “big box” store may not care for them the way a nursery would.
Julie Molinare is a Certified Landscape Designer living in the Santa Clarita for over 12 years. Julie teaches the Introduction to Landscape Design Class @ CSUN – Tseng College of Extended Learning and is Owner/Designer of The Grass Is Always Greener Designs. For more information, please call 661-917-3521 or visit www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net .