As the current economic climate continues to decline, those looking to improve their home are paying a lot more attention to the costs involved. One area of home improvement that can easily be done without raiding your savings is a spot of landscaping.

Most people spend far more than they need to when it comes to sprucing up their homes exterior. Provided you know what to look for, and you’re willing to get your hands dirty, there’s no reason why a bit of landscaping should be an expensive job to complete. Here are six simple tips for cutting costs when it comes to improving your homes curb appeal.

Know When to DIY

The first rule of cheaper landscaping is to do as much of it as possible yourself. Though there are certainly many aspects of landscaping that require the assistance of a professional, don’t be fooled into thinking that you need a professional landscaper for everything.

If heavy equipment is required, you’ll probably need to get on the phone but there’s no reason why you can’t plant your own flower garden. There’s also no reason why you can’t do most of the leg work for those jobs that you do need to outsource.

Shop Out of Season

Demand for both plants and general gardening supplies tends to drop off each Autumn and that drop in demand is usually met with a corresponding drop in prices. Few homeowners have any interest in landscaping at this time of year but if you do your garden shopping in September, you can expect to save some serious cash.

In particular, look for clearance sales as shops try to get rid of unsold plants. Provided you keep an eye on their condition, some real bargains can be found.

Buy in Bulk

If you want to pay the lowest unit prices for plants, you need to shop in bulk. If you plan on using a lot of something over the course of a few months, it’s therefore well worth purchasing everything the same day.

Savings of up to fifty percent are not uncommon when you choose to purchase a hundred of something rather than ten. And though you probably don’t need a hundred trees, there’s nothing quite like a hundred tulips come Spring.

Look for Free Stuff

Though there are many landscaping supplies that you have little choice but to buy, there are also many things that you can add to your garden for free.

  • If you’re a fan of a friends plants, rather than head to the garden store, ask him/her for a few clippings.
  • Rather than purchase fertiliser, learn to turn your food scraps into compost.
  • If you’re in need of some wood chips or mulch, take a look online. The unwanted variety is often given away for free.

Don’t Forget About Maintenance Costs

Finally, many homeowners forget to factor in the cost of maintenance when it comes to landscaping. Some plants and trees simply require much more than others. And if you fill your garden with the latter, you can expect it to be a pretty expensive garden in the long run.

The most maintenance free plants tend to be the native variety. Native plants and trees are those that have been growing in your area for hundreds of years i.e. they have not been imported.

Because they have been growing locally for such long periods of time, they have grown resistant to local pests and diseases. This leads to plants that not only require little to no maintenance, they also tend to last a lot longer too.

Anne Warren has written numerous home decor articles online. She recommends http://www.centralheatingboilers.org, a price comparison company that provide quotes for a new boiler or central heating anywhere across the UK.