How to Get the Most From Your Landscape Renovation

Determine Your Priorities

There isn’t one right approach to prioritizing features in the landscape. “It all depends on the scale of your yard and what makes sense for you,” says landscape architect Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape in Encinitas, California.

The following four tips can help get you started.

1. Create a wish list. Adding a specific amenity to your yard may be the impetus for change, and if so, it’s what you should prioritize in your renovation. “For some, that’s an outdoor kitchen, while for others, it’s a simple play structure for the kids,” says Tim Zarra of Alderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction in Bellevue, Washington. He adds that covered structures with heaters are popular requests in his Pacific Northwest locale, as they encourage homeowners to enjoy their yard year-round.

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Isara Ongwiseth, lead designer of FormLA Landscape in Los Angeles, also believes that wish lists for outdoor upgrades are highly personal. “Homeowners are looking for everything from added curb appeal to privacy or an entertainment space,” he says.

How to Get Started on a Landscape Redesign

2. Address problem spots. Jeff True, vice president of operations at Hursthouse Landscape in Bolingbrook, Illinois, generally advises homeowners to prioritize issues they have with their current outdoor space. “You should start by solving the problems that keep you from spending time in the yard or that will cost you more money later if not addressed soon,” he says.

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3. Consider a master plan. For renovations that are pretty extensive or will involve major construction, the pros all recommend starting with a master plan. It’s also a good tool for figuring out what to do first and where you might make cuts to the design. “Consider how the pieces work together, especially if you may want to add elements later,” says landscape architect Kevin Kurdziolek of Pristine Acres in Great Falls, Virginia.

José Roberto Corea of Austin Outdoor Design in Texas also recommends using a master plan as a guide, to avoid additional costs later. “Think about elements that will be intrusive or involve heavy construction equipment that may disrupt the new landscape,” he says.

4. Focus on high-impact areas. Designer Jennifer Hayman in Toronto recommends starting with the spaces adjacent to the house if there are no immediate problem areas elsewhere. “You get the greatest return on investment with curb appeal,” she says.

Adding a well-designed rear entrance, especially one with a patio or deck, enhances the back of the house and creates a smoother indoor-outdoor connection. Other areas farther out in the landscape can be renovated at a later time, she says.

Both Hayman and Kurdziolek recommend making the lines for plumbing and electricity flexible so you can easily add on to them in the future. “I often run a few extra PVC sleeves, just in case,” Kurdziolek says.

Hayman says she finds that this comes in especially handy for outdoor lighting. “So many clients think they will need just one or two lights, then return to ask me to put more in,” she says.

Get the grading right. Hayman always addresses grading changes early on, especially if she’s adding trees. “The grading can’t change when the trees are planted,” she says.

Install foundational elements. Add bases for patios, decks, retaining walls and pathways. “These are permanent features that aren’t easy to change later, so they need to be done right from the beginning,” Przygoda-Montgomery says.

If your budget doesn’t allow you to install all the features you want immediately, the pros recommend at least putting in footings for planned vertical structures such as a pergola, two-story deck or porch, or full outdoor kitchen.

Put in the pool. Both Kurdziolek and Corea recommend prioritizing a pool at the beginning of a project if it’s one of your must-haves. “A pool establishes the elevation for the design,” Kurdziolek says. Pool construction is messy and requires a lot of digging, including trenches for plumbing and utilities that will affect other parts of the landscape as well as machinery access.

Prioritizing a pool or other major parts of your design can reduce future disruptions, Corea adds. “You also won’t have to go back and tear out or redo what you’ve already done,” he says.

Reuse and recycle. Hayman also recommends looking at ways to reuse existing hardscape paving, such as flagstone and brick. “We like to reuse stone when we can, especially with older homes,” she says. “It goes with the house and provides value with less money.”

Where to Save Money on a Landscape Renovation

Hayman often plants trees and shrubs in front of fences that are still in good shape but aesthetically past their prime. “It creates a backdrop and a layered effect,” she says.

Plan for the Future Without Sacrificing the Present

Choose budget-friendly options for now — while planning for future upgrades — as another way to save without sacrificing on a space you’ll love and use. “Use a traditional grill and plan for a built-in kitchen, or bring in a portable fire pit and add a permanent one later,” True suggests.

True also says that installing smaller plants can help keep costs down. Waiting for them to fill out requires more patience, but they can settle into place more quickly.

Consider a Phased Design

Creating a master plan and tackling your project in stages is another budget-conscious way to approach a landscape upgrade. “It’s a question of cost versus flexibility and function,” Tenenbaum says. Phasing also may be necessary due to city or county regulations, Kurdziolek adds.

What You Should Know About a Phased Landscape Design Project

Pros. Doing things in stages will allow you to spread out costs over time. “Just be sure you have a cohesive plan and do the phasing in decent chunks,” Corea says.

Phasing a project also will allow you see the space evolve, Hayman says, which can affect the overall design. “A landscape is never really finished,” she says. Trees grow in or come down, buildings and structures change, and how you use the space evolves.

Consider ordering materials for a phased project ahead of time, especially if they’re required for the design or hard to find. “Things will only get more expensive, or the materials you love may no longer be available,” Kurdziolek says.

Cons. Phasing a project doesn’t always lead to lower costs. If your project is large, Kurdziolek says, doing everything at once is more cost-effective due to economies of scale. It also means that the site would need to be prepped only once for all the construction.

Avoiding construction fatigue is another reason you might consider tackling your project all at once. “A larger project can be done within three to five months rather than in several phases of two to three months,” Kurdziolek says.

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