Have you been looking at your backyard for months now? Maybe even years? Thinking how good it would be to have a because backyard you could use and be proud of.
So here’s the big question, do you have another go at it yourself or just bite the bullet and get professionals from Principal Landscapes in?
It’s not simple and anyone who tells you it is probably hasn’t done the maths properly. Sometimes DIY saves you heaps of money.
Other times it ends up costing more than if you’d just hired experts from the start which can be super frustrating especially if you’re left with a backyard you don’t even love.
We’ve been doing landscaping for over 15 years now and we’ve seen both ways go really well and really terrible. Let’s break down what actually works and what doesn’t so you can make a decision that makes sense for your situation.
The real cost of DIY landscaping
Most people think about DIY landscaping costs and they focus on materials. Plants, soil, mulch, maybe some pavers or timber. Easy enough to work out, right?
Wrong.
Unfortunately materials are just a tiny part of the overall cost. You will need tools and equipment to actually get the work done which can be really expensive if you don’t already have any. Multiple trips to the nursery because you didn’t get enough plants the first time. Or got too many and half died while you were working on other areas.
Let’s say you want to create a new lawn and garden bed and install some basic irrigation to keep it watered. Sounds pretty straightforward?
For tools you’re looking at a decent spade, rake, hose, sprinkler system bits and maybe a wheelbarrow if you don’t have one. That’s easily 300-500 bucks before you’ve even started. Then there’s soil and good quality soil costs more than you may think.
When it comes to plants you have to be smart. If you go too cheap they might not even, make it and just die. Ut if you go too expensive and have to end up moving them or make a mistake then you’re just throwing away money.
But the biggest hidden cost? Your time.
If you think a project is going to be quick then you may want to think again. That quick weekend project will most likely take a month, and it keeps building from there. Especially if you’ve never done it before.
What you can actually DIY successfully
Don’t get us wrong there’s plenty of landscaping work you can tackle yourself and it still turns out great. The best advice I can give is knowing when to DIY and when to get the pros in. Knowing what skill level you have when it comes to outdoor and gardening projects makes a big difference.
Basic garden bed stuff like digging out garden beds, adding compost and mulch, planting shrubs and flowers can easily be done after watching a few youtube tutorials and reading a few landscaping blogs. Takes some muscle and patience but most people can handle it fine.
The trick is starting small. Don’t try to redo your entire backyard in one go. Pick one area and get it right then move on to the next bit.
Simple irrigation systems these days are pretty straightforward. Most hardware stores sell kits with decent instructions and watching some youtube tutorials will be your best friend. Just don’t try to get too fancy with timers and zones until you know what you’re doing somewhat.
Regular lawn maintenance is actually one area where DIY makes heaps of sense because you’ll be doing it regularly anyway. Keeping your garden watered and pruned is a great DIY task and we highly recommend doing this yourself if you’re fit and able to do so. Its great exercise and makes the garden feel more your own.
What you probably shouldn’t DIY
Some landscaping jobs look easier than they are and the cost of getting them wrong can be huge.
Drainage and earthworks is where we see the biggest disasters. Poor drainage can damage your house foundations. Badly built retaining walls can collapse. And if you don’t understand how water moves around your property you can end up with flooding issues that cost thousands to fix.
Large tree work is another one. Planting small trees? Fine. Moving or removing large trees? Leave it to professionals.
Plus if you damage neighbouring property or hurt yourself your insurance might not cover you.
Complex hardscaping like patios, decking, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, this stuff needs real skill to get right. The materials alone are expensive and if you mess up the foundations or drainage you’ll be starting over from scratch.
What we reckon
After seeing hundreds of projects over the years here our advice:
Always try start with having a professional consultation, even if you want to do most of the work yourself. Getting the planning right from the start can make sure you don’t run into any expensive problems or hurdles down the track.
DIY the simple stuff like soil prep, planting, mulching and basic maintenance. Hire professionals for anything involving drainage, structures or large plants.
Be realistic about your timeline. DIY projects always take longer than expected and rushing leads to mistakes or just overall not looking great.
Don’t be afraid to call in help if you get in over your head. We’ve rescued plenty of DIY projects and it’s usually less expensive to fix problems early rather than waiting until they become disasters.
At the end of the day there’s no universal answer to whether DIY or professional landscaping saves money. It depends on your skills and how much time you have and what you really want to build.
What is true is that a great landscaped garden adds great value to your home, not only when it comes time to sell it. But also real life value that you can enjoy while you live there. Outdoor spaces being people together and is also a lovely opportunity to make your own personal sanctuary.