landscaping ideas on budget

28 days ago

Near Charlotte NC. Large pin oak in front yard shades most of the front yard. Looking for landscaping with variability and to survive both sun and a lot of shade.

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Comments (8)

cecily 7A
28 days ago
Is there a sidewalk to the front door?
Carla Smith
Original Author
28 days ago
No regretfully. Older home (64 yo) needs update on front porch and sidewalk. Any suggestions are appreciated. Not sure @ longevity of large pin oak either. Thank you!
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Get references for a landscaper that provides quality plant material and uses proper planting procedures. If you're unfamiliar with the area, ask around at garden clubs, local gardens, etc. Give the landscaper a budget number that you're willing to spend right now along with the area you want landscaped. Have them draw up a plan that fits that budget. You can always add to the area as time goes by if you need to fill in. Before we started our build, we had a landscape architect come out and design the entire 3-1/2 acres. She sited the house, septic, pool, driveways, planting beds, etc. Just after our house was finished, we hired a landscaper to do the front and side foundation plantings to get a finished look. Since then we have been preparing beds and finishing the rest of the landscaping ourselves based on her plan. We do have the landscaper come in to plant extremely large trees because we don't have the equipment to handle them. As far as percentages go, it does depend on where you live (subdivision vs. rural, big city vs. small town). We may eventually spend close to 10% when it's all said and done several years from now, but it's not totally necessary unless you're a garden freak like me who must have her entire property filled with flowers, trees and shrubs. Most are happy with a basic plan that requires minimal maintenance.
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Was the $xxxx budget meant to include both his service and the landscaper's costs? Did he know that? Unfortunately, the first time we do something like this you and I do not know what questions to ask, and we don't know the process. The people who work in the field don't have a clue that they are not communicating with us. And, frankly, you did not communicate well with him. You should have insisted on a $ amount for "not that much". You should have had several pool installers visit your house and give you an estimate. Note that an estimate is not the same thing as a bid, but at least you would have had an idea of the cost. You can visit local stone suppliers and get an idea of how much boulders cost. It does not matter what I or anyone else thinks about your landscape architect. He did the work you asked for, and you owe him for that. It is not his fault that installing the pool and landscaping cost more than you want to pay. Cut your losses; take whatever plans he has done and pay him. Then decide what you can still use of his plans.
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littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
28 days ago
Is a sidewalk in your budget? That determination should be made before any plantings are done.

(I see a pot with something tree-like in it setting next to the house. Hopefully it’s not going to be planted right there.)
Sarah
28 days ago
I highly recommend joining your local FB garden group. Neighbors are always dividing plants and happy to share. In the meantime, walk around your neighborhood and see what plants are doing well, observe the growing conditions for similar to yours, chat up the neighbors. I’m always sharing my plants and letting my neighbors know what’s doing well in their conditions and locations (plus commiserations on the bunny and squirrel destruction!).

And check out the everything is free section for sidewalk materials- I got some bluestone pavers a few years ago for free and over time installed them in my side yard path. Saved me a load of $$$.
cecily 7A
28 days ago
How do you feel about azaleas? Love 'em or are they overdone in your neighborhood?
Sigrid
28 days ago
What does "variability" mean? Do you mean partial sun? There are plenty of plants that are happy with sun half of the day. Do you mean that some spaces are in full sun and others in partial or full shade? Use the terms that gardeners use and that will help you find plants.

I agree that gardening neighbors are a good source of free plants. Gardening on a budget means using seeds, buying small plants that will take a few years to grow in, and dividing plants that can be divided. If you are buying shrubs that are small, you want to pay a lot of attention to mature size. You can put annuals in your garden if it is bare.
Carla Smith
Original Author
28 days ago
Thank you for input! So welcomed and appreciated!
laceyvail 6A, WV
27 days ago
But be aware that many plants offered may be offered because they're thugs and are very aggressive. Happens all the time.

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landscaping ideas on budget

Comments (8)

cecily 7A

Carla Smith
Original Author

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landscaping ideas on budget

Comments (8)

cecily 7A

Carla SmithOriginal Author

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littlebug Zone 5 Missouri

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cecily 7A

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Carla Smith
Original Author

Carla Smith
Original Author