5 Budget Landscaping Ideas for the Urban Gardner

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Landscaping on a budget requires planning and a strategic approach. Here are 5 budget landscaping ideas that can help the urban dweller lower their landscaping costs.

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1) Plan your Garden.
There is no point in tending to a garden that is fundamentally flawed. All your efforts will go down the drain if you do not have a garden plan. A garden where all the elements are strategically planned and carefully arranged requires less maintenance.

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To plan your garden you have to consider various elements. Notice the effects of rainfall and runoff in your landscape.

Observe the movement of sunlight and seasonal changes in the garden. Do you want a flowery garden or a functional vegetable garden? Consult a professional landscaper to better plan the space with the resources that you have.

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Have sketch diagrams of the final project. Once you have the plan, and then start working on the fundamentals including plants, water features, landscaping elements etc.

2) Eliminate Water Worries.
Mother Nature can bestow the gift of water on your garden. However, excess water can cause damage to your garden. Also, less water can surely spell death for your plants. Know the way water flows in and out of your yard.

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The drips or heavy downpours can have adverse effect on your garden. Proper initial planning can save you from making costly mistakes.

The grade of the garden must be in a direction away from the house foundation. You can slope the garden towards the street so that all the water flows to the street and into the sewer. In no case should the water reach the foundation of the home or it will cause interior water problems. 

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A low lying area in the backyard can also lead to pools of water serving as mosquito breeding grounds. Eliminate the runoff and use the rainwater adequately through proper grading.

3) Save Air Conditioning Costs.
If you live in an area where humidity and heat live together for the entire summer, then you need to have shade. Seriously! Together, these elements of weather can wreak havoc on your home's exterior and make things extremely uncomfortable.

Proper landscaping can ensure that your air conditioning costs remain low. Decide on having a big shady tree in your backyard if you have adequate space. Large deciduous trees planted at the correct location can reduce the air conditioning costs by as much as 50 percent.

4) Pick your Plants Properly.
Sure you would love to have an exotic plant species in your backyard. But it also means that you have to make that much more effort in maintaining a plant outside of its native environment. When it comes to plants, choose native species that grow easily in your region. Non-native plants are expensive to maintain.

On the other hand, the local agencies and horticulturists will happily help you plan local species plantation in your garden. You can also plant vegetables in your garden and sell them in the local community store. As a rule of thumb, check the plant growth pattern as per the soil type of your garden.

5) Get Creative and Pro-Active.
Rather than going to the store every time you need something for the garden, you can have that for free. But you have to get creative. You can share the plants and seeds from your neighbor. If you have to go shopping, try the flea market and garage sales to lower your costs.

You can also observe the construction sites nearby and notice anything in the constructional waste. You will be surprised to find some nice landscaping elements for your garden. Bricks for edging, boulders for decoration, or tiles for the designer touch; you name it and construction junk has it. Just ask the supervisor before you lay your hands on the stuff.