Landscape budgeting tips

Landscaping your outdoor space can be an expensive but rewarding project. Executed well, a garden can add significant value to your property and lifestyle.

Landscape budgeting tips

In this article, we discuss some of the key costs you may need to factor and valuable landscape budgeting tips. Ensuring you account for everything will help you avoid a budget blow out and maintain the level of quality in the design.

1. Design Fees

One of the top landscape budgeting tips relates to design.

It’s easy to put your focus into the costs of the manual labour, materials and plants when creating a landscape. However, it’s important to factor in the cost of your design team as their experience will be highly valuable. If you’re working with a tight budget and looking to cut costs, consider very carefully about opting for a DIY design rather than hiring an expert. Landscape designers can actually end up saving you money and hardship in the long run!

2. Excavation and Drainage

Excavation and drainage are not the most glamorous aspects of a landscape project, but most will require it. If you have a sloping block or you’re planning some big-ticket items such as a pool, you’ll be looking at hirer costs than a flat site.

3. Irrigation

Irrigation can be essential to the longevity of your garden. It’s not an element you’re going to see, but you’ll notice the difference to your plant growth and wellbeing. Investing in quality irrigation and timer system will also allow you to enjoy holidays away from your garden without the worrying whether your plants are going to survive.

4. Lighting

Whether you have a healthy budget or a limited one, there are always sacrifices to be made. One of the common elements people tend to drop from their design is the lighting. Lighting can add value to your home, improve the functionality and enhance the aesthetics of your outdoor space.

5. Surfacing

Hard surfacing such as stone flooring, decking or brick paving can be a large component of your landscape budget depending on the size and design. It’s important to remember all areas including patios, pathways, pool areas, coping and steps. And, don’t forget to factor in the appropriate base for your surface whether that’s sand or a concrete slab.

6. Walling

Walling materials can add visual impact to your outdoor space. Timber, stone, concrete, Cotto clay bricks all popular materials to add as feature walls, fireplace surrounds, outdoor room walling or even retaining walls. Remember to factor in the cost of the substrate as well as the material.

7. Fencing

Boundary and front garden fencing is a part of most landscaping projects. You may be sharing the costs of this with your neighbour, but it still can be a significant amount that needs to be budgeted for. Along with fencing, you’ll also need to consider the costs of gates.

8. Soft landscape

Trees, shrubs and lawn are just one factor of the soft landscape. You’ll also need to account for quality soil, mulch, plant food and training material.

Depending on your brief, you may also need to factor in the costs of a driveway, pool, pool heating, tennis court, pergola structures, outdoor kitchens etc. Ensuring you tick off all the items before you commence the construction will save you a lot of heartache and ensure you achieve the outdoor space you’ve been dreaming of.

Feature image: Outdoor Establishments