There’s no doubt about it. Spring is in the air and the sunny, crisp days of the season just make us want to get outside. The nicer weather also means that you can finally get around to all those little outdoor projects that have been piling up over the winter, and maybe even add a nice landscaping feature to spruce up your home’s curb appeal.
Isn’t Landscaping Expensive?
The answer is that it absolutely can be, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. Depending on the type of project you’re looking at, you could wind up spending very little, except for the sweat you put into the project, of course. Take a look at this chart to get an idea of what different projects could cost you if you have them professionally done.
It’s important to keep in mind that your home is an investment when you’re considering outdoor projects like these. If you’re happy in your home and have no intention of leaving it in the near future, your personal preferences probably ought to reign supreme, but if you’re looking to boost your home’s value to up your equity for a sale in the near future, you might opt for more universally appealing projects.
What Types of Landscaping Projects Can You Do Yourself?
While some landscaping projects require a lot of specialized knowledge and equipment, many types of projects can be done with just a little time and effort, plus a small cash outlay for supplies and materials. Here are some projects you can do yourself, though you might want to recruit a few strong backs for some of these.
Paver Patios and Walkways
The ROI on these projects are quite high, so they’re great universal projects, especially if your home is lacking outdoor entertaining space. Get directions for creating a paver patio or walkway here. The excavation necessary for a large patio area could cost you a bit (unless you’re great on a skid loader and can rent one reasonably), but a small area or walkway could be dug out by hand.
Add Solar Lighting
Not only does outdoor lighting reduce crime, it also helps bump up your home’s value. Outdoor lighting adds visual interest to your home and helps to highlight landscaping and architectural features in the post-sunset hours. Unless you have an in with an electrician, hardwired landscaping lighting can be risky business. For a more DIY-friendly approach to landscaping lighting, install solar-powered fixtures instead.
Put in a Fire Pit
A fire pit means an instant entertaining space. Grown-ups can enjoy a cool beverage around a hot fire in the dark, and kiddos can roast marshmallows to their hearts’ content. There’s just something about sitting around a fire that brings people together, and you can create a space for that experience yourself over a weekend There are lots of plans available on the internet, like this one.
Add Flowerbeds
Flowerbeds add visual interest to your home, and really, they can totally update the look of your home when they’re done well. With a rented (or borrowed) tiller, some stone, metal, or even plastic edging, and a hearty investment of time and sweat, you can add a flowerbed to any bland area of your yard. Flowerbeds around the front and sides of the house, along walkways, and along fence lines are very popular.
Update Flora
While we’re discussing flowerbeds, what’s in them is nearly as important as their size, shape, and location. Just like in every other part of the home, the plant life around our homes is subject to trends. Put in plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees that are on the cutting edge to add some extra oomph to your landscaping design.
Definitely consider perennials, as well as native plants. Low-maintenance landscapes are always appealing, both to the people currently living in a home and prospective buyers.
Mulch
This is seriously one of the cheapest, easiest landscaping projects you can do, and it makes a HUGE difference in your home’s curb appeal. Put down new mulch in flowerbeds that coordinate well with your home’s color scheme. Even put down fresh mulch in empty flowerbeds and they’ll look refreshed and rejuvenated with almost no investment on your part, either monetary or physical.
Keep Your Lawn Uber-Maintained
Be sure to keep your lawn fertilized, watered, cut, raked, and free of other detritus. Simply maintaining a nice lawn can make a world of difference in how your home is perceived, and therefore in the cash people are willing to offer for it.
Our Parting Advice for Budget-Friendly DIY Landscaping
Landscaping doesn’t have to cost a lot, and it can truly be a labor of love. If you’re not sure where to start with your landscaping, contact us for some individualized advice on which projects would be worth your while in your specific scenario. If you think we missed any affordable projects that add value, please leave us a comment to discuss further!
As always, we’re here for all your home buying and selling needs!
