Installing new landscaping can give your home a wonderful exterior makeover, but it can also be costly. Fortunately, there are several ways to save on landscape installation without giving up any of the beauty.  

1. Skip the Sod

Although grass can be an inexpensive way to cover a lot of area, opt for a seed lawn rather than a sod lawn. Sod may provide the benefit of a nearly instant lawn, but this comes at a higher price. Instead, your landscaper can broadcast seed over the prepared area. It takes a few more weeks for the seed to germinate and grow enough to be walked on, but the cost savings can be substantial. 

2. Plant to Divide

When new shrubs, trees, and perennial plants are first installed they are often young and small. This can make the landscaping seem bare and boring. Don't give in to the temptation of filling in all that empty space with more shrubs. Not only is this more expensive, but many will also need to be torn out later as the landscaping beds become more crowded. Instead, either live with the space for a couple of years as the plants grow, or use inexpensive annual flowers as fillers until your permanent plants fill out. 

3. Cover It Up

Mulch is a must in any landscape, as it conserves soil moisture and prevents weeds to lower maintenance costs later. Of the decorative landscaping mulches, wood chips are one of the least expensive and most attractive. Rock mulch costs a bit more upfront, but it doesn't need to be replaced each year which saves over time. Use it in perennial beds where plants need plenty of drainage, such as around succulents or drought-hardy plants.

4. Pave for Less

Part of any landscape installation is the hardscaping—the paving and non-organic solid structures in the yard. The most common hardscaping projects are the patio and walkways. Opting for a paver brick and gravel patio or walkway is much less expensive than using poured concrete. To save more on hardscaping, you can also opt for stacked pavers or railroad ties as opposed to mortared brick or block for garden walls or dividers.

5. Use Some Salvage

Salvaged, reclaimed, and recycled items in landscaping can save a lot of cash during a new installation. For example, you can repurpose items you already own, such as saving the landscaping pavers from your old landscape to use in your new design. Plants can also sometimes be salvaged and moved to a new area, or you can divide plants you already own to have multiple plants. Even purchasing used or recycled materials can be less expensive than buying new ones.

Work with your landscape installation contractor to develop a design that meets your budget needs. Contact a local landscaping service, such as Hudson Bros Lawn Care, to learn more.