Two budgeting tips to follow when landscaping

If your landscaping project fund is quite small, you might find these budgeting tips helpful.

Only opt for higher-quality building supplies if a feature will be in regular use

If you're working with a small landscaping budget, you should only use higher-quality building supplies for features that will be in regular use. For example, if you're building a decorative water fountain, you should ensure that the pump and the fountain materials are robust, as the pump will be used to constantly recirculate the water, whilst a large percentage of the fountain materials will be soaked in water all of the time and may also be exposed to algae, fluctuating temperatures and other environmental conditions that will put them to the test.

As such, if the pump is flimsily-made, the wear and tear that will come with its daily use will quickly lead to it breaking, whilst if the fountain itself is made of, for instance, a cheap ceramic material, it might get hairline cracks from the aforementioned environmental stressors, which could lead to the fountain leaking.

In contrast, if you're building a small pergola that is decorative and so will not be subjected to things like foot traffic or drink spillages, then you can safely use some lightweight, cheap timber to build it. Opting for the cheapest building supplies for features like this will then enable you to afford to spend more on the landscaping features that will be in regular use and which you, therefore, have to build with good quality materials to ensure their longevity.

Handle your building supplies with care

If you're on a budget, it's important not to handle your building supplies carelessly. Simple mistakes, such as carrying heavy patio paving slabs in your arms instead of transporting them in a wheelbarrow, could lead to you dropping them if you stumble, in which case some of the slabs could crack.

If your budget is modest and you've already spent it all, you may have to make do with fewer slabs, which might involve changing the layout of the patio. Even if you have some money left, spending it on replacement slabs might then require you to compromise and use cheaper building supplies for another feature. As such, it's important to handle all of your supplies with care. Try to move slowly, avoid carrying heavy materials in your arms and ensure that the materials are protected from the weather.

Keep these tips in mind as you look for building supplies.