Landscaping is a great way to maximize and beautify your Champaign County property’s living space. It doesn’t have to be expensive either. With some low-cost landscaping ideas, you can update your home’s curb appeal or backyard without breaking the bank. Strategically planning your landscaping can help cover a great deal of outdoor space.
1. Freshen Up or Add Mulch Beds
Mulch is a cost-effective way to add visual interest to your yard. The national average cost for 3 cubic yards of delivered and installed mulch is $275, but you can save money by doing it yourself. Even just a few bags of mulch, which cost less than $4 each, can be sufficient for smaller areas.
Mulch provides more than just aesthetic benefits; it can also help keep weeds and grass in check, retain moisture for plants, and insulate roots. This can lead to savings on your water bill. It’s important to note that mulch should be replaced annually for optimal benefits. Overall, mulching can be a worthwhile DIY project for your yard.
2. Plant Perennials for Annual Enjoyment
Perennial flowers and plants are a great investment for any garden. Although the upfront cost of seedlings or blooming flowers may be high, opting for perennial varieties will provide many colorful options in any climate. These plants will spread over time, filling more space and adding a pop of color.
To save money, starting flowers and plants from seeds is a great option. For example, a package of 300 Shasta Daisy seeds costs less than $5 and can yield many blooming flowers. Even with a less-than-green thumb, most gardeners can successfully grow these flowers.
3. Improve Edging Around your Patio
Expanding the visual appeal of an existing patio while reducing the area of lawn that requires watering can be achieved by adding a landscaping buffer. The most cost-effective option is to dig out a trench around the patio and fill it with mulch.
Alternatively, landscaping stones can provide a more sophisticated look and do not require regular replacement like mulch. These stones are available in different sizes and colors and are surprisingly affordable, with decomposed granite costing $25 per ton, pea gravel at $30 to $60 per ton, and smooth river rocks priced between $80 to $250 per ton. Delivery fees may apply, and installation costs average at $50 to $100 per hour nationwide.
Despite these costs, the long-lasting impact of adding rock to your backyard landscaping makes it a cheap project that will pay off for years to come.
4. Grow Native Plants that Won’t Stretch your Water Bill
Researching native plants in your area can save you money and benefit the environment. Native plants are compatible with local rainfall, reducing the need for watering and minimizing fertilizer use. They also prevent erosion and maintain the local ecosystem. Consider using native ground cover, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and trees, not just flowers.
5. Incorporate Xeriscaping Elements
Xeriscaping, developed in drought-prone Colorado, is an attractive landscaping option for those looking to cut down on water usage. While elaborate xeriscaping designs that use a lot of hardscaping components can run upwards of $24,000 for a full yard, it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing to experience its benefits. Even though we don’t worry much about droughts here in Champaign, incorporating some xeriscaping elements into a portion of your landscaping can greatly reduce watering costs while providing a low-maintenance yard.
Xeriscaping is often misunderstood as a landscaping method that eliminates greenery. However, this is not true. In fact, turf and plants are essential elements of the “seven principles of xeriscape design” as they help prevent erosion. Other recommended components of xeriscaping include mulch, sand, landscaping rock, concrete, and even water features.
A few inexpensive and DIY-friendly xeriscaping projects include adding a gravel walkway, creating a dry creek bed with river rocks and expanding the mulched area of your yard. These landscaping ideas can look good for your yard and do good for the environment.
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