How to Landscape a Small Front Yard on a Budget
How to Landscape a Small Front Yard on a Budget
While we would all like a bold and beautiful front yard bursting with Peruvian lilies and peonies, sometimes we have to start a bit smaller and work our way up. But you don’t have to settle for mediocrity when landscaping your front yard. There are plenty of ways to create a stunning display, even if you’re working with a tight space, and budget.
Here are six inexpensive ways to landscape your front yard:
Perennials Are Easy on the Eyes – and Your Checking Account
Perennials last a solid two years before taking their dirt nap, which means you won’t have to replace them every year – saving you a nice bundle of money. Some perennials to consider planting in your front yard include:
- Daisies: These hardy flowers are bright and cheerful, a perfect fit for any garden.
- Lavender: These purple perennials are known for their beauty and aroma.
- Catmint: Not to be confused with catnip, these purple-flowered plants complement a wide variety of flowers.
Bonus Front Yard Idea: Ask Your Neighbors for Cuttings
If you’re fond of a few of your neighbor’s plants, ask them for a few cuttings you can then plant in your own front yard. Homeowners and horticulturists alike use this tip to save green on some of the more expensive plants around.
Install a Stepping Stone Walkway
This classic front yard landscaping idea is surprisingly cheap but does require a little more work. You can install stepping stones in a variety of ways, including digging holes and filling with cement or purchasing stones separately from a landscaping supply store. These generally run in the neighborhood of $15 to $35 per stone according to HomeWyse, with both the cut and quality determining the total cost.
Replace Your Lawn With Rocks and Pebbles
Another rocky idea for your front yard is to replace your entire front lawn with a combination of pebbles, rocks and shrubs. With this xeriscape landscaping tip, you’ll save on all kinds of maintenance costs during the year, such as watering and sodding. And with less grass to cut every week, you’ll have plenty of free time to work on those backyard landscaping projects.
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Use Gravel for a Low-Maintenance Pathway
A gravel pathway is a super budget-friendly front yard idea, especially if you have some high-traffic areas with very little vegetation. According to DIY or Not, the average cost of a 100-foot-long gravel path is roughly $650, though the DIY route will cost you nearly half that amount. You will need to break out the shovels for this one, but the end result will be entirely worth it.
Plant a Young Tree in Your Front Yard
A lone tree is a great focal point for a small front yard. And if you buy a sapling instead of an older tree, you can easily save anywhere from $100 to $2,000 according to HowMuch.net. Plus, once it’s fully grown it will give your home some much needed shade – potentially enough to lower your heating and cooling costs by 30 percent.
Take some time to consider these front yard landscaping ideas before you break out the wheelbarrow. Once you know which direction you want to take your landscaping, you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful front yard on a small budget.
Spruce Up the Rest of Your Yard
Doing a little gardening this weekend? Check out our other DIY landscaping posts for some more tips on creating a beautiful exterior.
