A landscaping project can get expensive fast. But many landscaping elements that feel costly up front can save money in the long run. A good rule of thumb, whether designing an outdoor space from scratch or undertaking a minor project, is to spend money on permanence: invest in quality hardscape materials to give a garden good bones.
We’ve shared our secrets for sticking to a budget before, in 10 Ways to Save Money on a Garden Remodel. Now, the flip side: 10 things worth spending money on (culled from the Expert Advice chapter in our new Gardenista book):
Photography by Matthew Williams for Gardenista except where noted.
1. Masonry.
![Designers (and siblings) Ramin and Pam Shamshiri added curb appeal to a \19\20s Hollywood garden with reclaimed ceramic patterned tile on a stucco facade and redbrick detailing on an entry stairway.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/front-stairway-brick-los-angeles-shamshiri-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
“Stone and brickwork are big-ticket items, but masonry retaining walls, terraces, steps, and paths add timeless beauty to a landscape,” writes Jean Victor, the chapter on Expert Advice: Garden Design in our new Gardenista book. “They also give your garden good bones throughout the seasons.”
2. A Master Plan
![Photograph courtesy of My Garden School. For more, see Garden Design: Learning to Plant the Piet Oudolf Way.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/piet-oudolf-planting-plans-hummelo-studio-1-733x491.jpg)
Avoid the expensive mistakes that can accompany a slapdash approach to a project. Hire a garden designer or landscape architect to help you create a master plan for the garden you envision having in five years, “then use that as a road map to work toward in phases, as your budget allows,” says Jean Victor.
3. A Great View
![In Los Angeles, an edible garden is sited to take advantage of the views.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/los-angeles-garden-deerproof-edible-garden-view-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
If something is blocking your view—overgrown hedges or a poorly sited tree, for instance—pay to transplant or remove the obstacle. Consider burying power lines to get them out of your sightline.
4. Quality Materials
![Black cantera stone pavers are set in a herringbone pattern and \2\20;grouted\2\2\1; with plugs of turf grass to create a permeable patio to surround a swimming pool in Los Angeles.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/swimming-pool-shamshiri-los-angeles-matthew-williams-733x530.jpg)
Natural materials—such as stone, iron, and hardwoods—will last longer and “may even be enhanced by the elements,” says Jean Victor. “Some woods mellow to a silvery gray over time, metals acquire a patine, and stone takes on a veil of moss.”
5. Craftsmanship
![A tiled courtyard in Los Angeles is an indoor-outdoor dining room.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/outdoor-dining-patio-shamshiri-los-angeles-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
“Building anything well requires careful attention to detail, whether it’s laying flagstone on a patio, forming concrete for a retaining wall, or sinking fence posts,” notes Jean.
6. Soil Preparation
![Photograph by Erin Boyle.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/soil mix-2-733x550.jpg)
Before you plant, prepare the soil. Have it tested to determine your soil type: loamy, sandy, or clay. Then add compost or soil amendments as necessary. If you have toxins in your soil (for instance, high lead levels), replacing it may be a less costly option than trying to correct deficiencies.
7. A Specimen Tree
![Garden designer had mature ficus trees \2\20;limbed up\2\2\1; to create graceful silhouettes in a tiled courtyard garden in Los Angeles.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tiled-courtyard-shamshiri-garden-los-angeles-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
A mature specimen tree is undoubtedly expensive (with price tags in the thousands of dollars for some sizes and varieties). But, writes our contributor Kristen Grannan, “Well-sited and smartly selected specimen trees seemingly can do it all. They can add intimacy, age, or personality to a landscape. A large tree can bring instant gratification and make a garden feel as if it has always been there.:
8. Privacy
![Artist Stan Bitters\2\17;s clay wind chimes act as a screen to create privacy in a covered side porch in Los Angeles.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/covered-patio-loggia-shamshiri-los-angeles-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
A beautiful fence or hedge to create privacy in a garden can lend serenity to a space. Invest in a well-designed, high-quality wooden fence or choose shrubs (such as boxwoods) that are evergreen.
9. Fire and Heat
![A tall, narrow fireplace with a tiled mural by sculptor Stan Bitters develops a glossy ebony patina from smoke (and is easily washed off).](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/fireplace-courtyard-shamshiri-los-angeles-by-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
“Install an exterior heat source to keep your patio or deck comfortable when cool temperatures try to chase you inside,” says Jean Victor. “You can keep a space toasty by tucking radiant heaters in a trellis overhead.”
10. A Gorgeous Piece of Furniture
![A vintage sofa with cushions upholstered with outdoor fabric will stand up to the elements in a Los Angeles courtyard.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/vintage-sofa-shamshiri-courtyard-los-angeles-matthew-williams-733x933.jpg)
“Worth the splurge: an outdoor sofa as comfortable as the one in your living room,” says Jean.
Teak furniture or a stone tabletop is expensive, but will in the long run save money because you won’t have to replace it every year or two.
Redesigning a patio, deck, or other outdoor space? See our curated design guides for Decks & Patios 101 in our Garden Design 101 archives. Considering a splurge? See:
- Specimen Trees: Are They Worth It?
- Hardscaping 101: Limestone
- English Boxwood: Is It Worth It?
- Hardscaping 101: Design Guide for Patios and Pavers
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