The reality is that every change, in a property or life, requires some sort of investment, and not everyone has the money laying around to throw into their property. That being said, there are a variety of ways you can save money during the design, installation and maintenance process that can make sustainable landscaping more affordable.

First, whether it’s overall property management or just installing plants and improving turf, doing the work yourself will save the money needed for labor, travel and purchasing expenses. If you are a hardcore DIYer but don’t have the plant or turf knowledge, ECOworks can create a installation and care plan so that you can feel confident that you are planting the right plants in the right place so that they will thrive.

Another easy way to lower costs is to order plants yourself. While the costs involved with landscapers purchasing plants is modest relative to other expenses, if you intend to plant many plants within your property, the costs can add up. Purchasing your own plants can also allow you to take advantage of various discounts available, such as end-of-season clearances at big box stores. Be mindful, though, that if you don’t know what to look for in a plant, you may choose something ill-suited for your site or unhealthy from the start.

Working on your property a little at a time each year is a perfectly acceptable method to improve one’s property while also breaking up the expense into more manageable payments. Aside from the decreased initial expense, it can be difficult to gauge how a property will transform over time and allow the designer/installer as well as the homeowner to make adjustments. One common example is that changing a landscape around a growing tree will adjust as the tree increases the shade it casts; this is even more critical if your neighbor plants a tree or shrub that you can’t control! Other changes such as cosmetic or emergency home repairs, changing seasonal demands or even differing work habits that create more time at home can change how you view and interact with your property. Designing and changing your property a little at a time can allow you to adjust your vision as you go rather than throw a bunch of money down to change your property only to change your mind later when you realize what has changed.

These examples are some of the many ways that sustainable landscaping can be made more affordable. Whether you are curious about sustainable landscaping or are looking for an initial sample of products, services or advice to help your property thrive, ECOworks can help you create an affordable property that allows you to full enjoy the benefits of sustainable landscaping.