The following recommendations are offered to help you become a more knowledgeable consumer.

Landscaping Service 101

1. Take the time to learn about the service you are considering purchasing.

2. Ask for the advice of local experts.

3. What should the service cost?

4. What is typically included in the service?

5. What level of training is typically required and is the service a licensed service by your  state contractor’s license board?

6. Does the service provider offer references? Check them out!

7. For services above $1,000.00 work -

     out payment schedules that you can monitor and see so that you pay as the work progresses. 

 Methods

Xeriscaping (not zero scaping) is the art of water-wise gardening.

Xeriscaping has not only become very popular, but because of a lack of natural resources, has become a necessity in many areas.

In spite of it’s growing popularity, xeriscaping is still very much misunderstood by a lot of people. True xeriscaping is a very beautiful method of garden design that saves on resources, time and money.

The Japanese influence in gardens is more common than most people think. Sometimes it’s subtle while at other times it’s quite obvious.

12 Money Saving Landscaping Tips

Keeping costs down may be the toughest landscape challenge. Use our price guide as a starting point for your budget.

 1. Estimating Costs

Trying to get yourself a bargain on the plants, soil, wood, and rocks you need to build up your outdoor living area means making sense of the huge variations in prices among sources and regions. As if that’s not challenging enough, prices for many materials — such as lumber — fluctuate quickly and seasonally.

 Here are some tips to keep in mind as you shop for your yard.

 2. 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.

3. 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.

 4. Talk to a pro

 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.

5. 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.

6. Don’t assume cheaper is always better

 Economics of scale being what they are, home improvement warehouses typically offer the lowest prices for common plants and hardscaping materials, such as lumber. However, they may not have the selection and quality you find at more specialized sources. Also, a local specialty shop may provide more personal service, expert advice, and guarantees, which are all helpful if you’re a novice. When installing a pond, for example, it may be worth it to pay more through a source that specializes in water gardens, particularly if the staff can help you choose and install equipment. Plant prices may be higher at specialty nurseries, but many offer money-back guarantees on trees, shrubs, and bedding plants.

9. Time your purchases

When you buy can be as important as where you buy. Lumber for outdoor projects is often cheaper during winter months. Save money on trees, shrubs, perennials, soil, and mulch by buying late in the season. Don’t rush out to buy newly released plant varieties, which may be expensive initially because supply is low and demand is high. When production catches up in a few years, prices will likely drop.

10. Shop online and mail-order sources

Catalogs and web sites expand your choices, especially for rare plants and specialized products. Shopping online or by phone is convenient, and prices may be lower than in stores, but don’t forget to include shipping costs when comparing prices with local sources.

11. Check alternate resources

Look beyond stores and catalogs for bargains. Arboretums and botanical centers often hold plant sales, and neighbors may have extra perennials to share. Some cities offer free mulch and compost, and construction and demolition sites can be sources of bricks and stones.

12. Be sociable

Being neighborly cuts costs. Share the rental fee for tillers, chippers, or other heavy equipment with others on the block, then take turns and save.

For more information, please visit our website:

http://www.dutchtouchlandscape.com/