A complete makeover of your home’s landscape
may not be possible. After all, there is no surprise that if
you choose to completely re-do your landscape you will spend
a great deal of money. However, there are surprising
hidden costs in nearly any landscaping project, even some of
the small
ones. It is important to be aware of some of the costs that
you might not normally think of before you begin a project.
Otherwise, you will find that the project’s true cost is much
more than you thought it would be, and you may discover that
you might not have been able to afford your landscape change
after all.
Perhaps
the most hidden of landscaping costs involves features
that require lighting and water. Many people think only of
the cost of the equipment, and the cost of putting it in (which
is minimal if they put it in themselves). They fail to consider
how much money they will spend in the form of paying for increased
energy and water usage. With outdoor lighting, it is possible
to mitigate this cost somewhat by buying more energy efficient
bulbs, or by confining the use of outdoor lighting to times
when there is a special occasion. There is no reason for the
lighting if you only use it so that the neighbors can admire
your landscape even at night. Reserve the use of your outdoor
lighting for times when you are entertaining people out of
doors, or when you are sitting in your yard at night, and may
need the light. Water features are a double whammy, as they
require energy and water. Using a feature that reuses its own
water can cut down a little bit on your water usage (although
there will always be water lost to evaporation), and it is
now possible to find some features that use less energy. However,
if you must have a water feature and are afraid of the costs
you will incur, you can always choose a very small pond or
waterfall.
Related
to the issue of water features is paying for water use
when you water the lawn. Setting up sprinklers on a timer
will ensure that you do not have to rely on your memory to
remember to turn them off. It is important to note that most
people water their lawns two or three times more then they
need to. The average lawn actually receives about the same
amount of water as a tropical rainforest. This is not necessary
for your lawn. Watering each part of your lawn for 15 minutes
two or three times a week (depending on climate) is usually
sufficient, if it is not new sod (which requires a good soak
every day the first week). Additionally, it is a good idea
to take into account the amount of extra water you will be
using to help sod or a tree establish itself. This can add
up to be quite a bit of extra water, and if you city charges
more money once your usage reaches a certain point, it can
be even more costly.
Also,
you may not realize how much money you might spend if your
soil is poor. Before being in raptures about a particular
plant, determine what kind of soil it needs to thrive, this
will make a difference in whether your plant lives or dies.
The costs of adding fertilizer to sandy soil or gypsum to clay
soil can begin to add up. This problem can be remedied, however,
if you examine what plants grow natively in your region. By
choosing plants that grow well in the soil you have, or in
near conditions, you can save a great deal on soil amendment.
Most local master gardeners will give you guidance on native
plants for free, or for a very small fee.
Just as there are hidden costs in nearly everything, landscaping,
too, has hidden costs. The key is to be informed about the
various consequences of your landscape choices, and to be careful
in what you decide to do. While the up front costs may not
be too unreasonable, you may find that as you continue to enjoy
your new landscape, the later costs may be more than your landscape
is worth.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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