You don’t have to settle for a lackluster landscape simply because you don’t have thousands in the budget for major upgrades. In fact, there are plenty of ways to get noticeable improvements for less. Get more out of your outdoor space – and add value and style to your home – with these six budget-friendly upgrades.

1. Programmed Lighting

Well-placed landscape lighting can elevate your outdoor experience and the look of your home’s exterior. Illuminating walkways makes for safer navigation, and highlighting hedges, entryways and other attractive features transforms a basic yard into a statement landscape. Today’s outdoor lighting technology offers easy automation and control via smartphone. Try LED bulbs, adjustable up-lighting, and downward-facing fixtures that reduce light pollution.

2. A Dedicated Patio Space

A patio space is key to creating an outdoor living area, where you can lounge and relax or entertain and celebrate. You can hire a pro to pour a new, broom-brushed concrete patio. Or, you can install regular or interlocking concrete pavers to create an affordable new patio on your own in just a few days. If your existing patio looks a little worse for wear, you can freshen it up with professional pressure washing or made-for-patio paint.

3. Professional Lawn Care

Professional lawn care makes for a healthier, more vibrant and sustainable lawn – which strengthens curb appeal and enjoyment. And the results you get from hiring a knowledgeable pro will make you wonder why you ever pruned your own hedges and hydrangeas. According to the Angie’s List Pricing Guide, homeowners report paying as little as $50 to $200 per month for lawn care — and up to $2,000 for extra work like tree trimming, sprinkler repairs, aerating and fertilizing.

4. A Driveway Refresh

You don’t have to tear up and replace your driveway to make it look like new. Resurfacing is a low-cost solution that may work to revive your dull and damaged asphalt or concrete. When you hire a professional for this service, they’ll clean and patch the existing driveway material and apply a new layer on top of it. If your driveway is in decent shape and simply needs a little TLC, professional pressure washing and a new coat of sealant can restore it to its former beauty. It’s best to hire a professional for this service, especially when it comes to pavers. Pavers come with specific care instructions and may sustain damage from high-pressure machines and harsh chemicals. Pros have low-pressure machines and the appropriate cleaning solutions for different materials.

5. Fire Features

Fire features are a great addition to any landscape design — and with models ranging from $150 to $1,500 and over, there’s an option for every budget. A fire table has a convenient perimeter lip for drinking glasses and plates, which makes it ideal for entertaining. And fire bowls are beautiful, portable fixtures that come in styles ranging from rustic, rough concretes to sleek, contemporary metals. If you’re purchasing a very heavy fire feature, it’s best to hire a professional or use an in-home delivery service to get the feature into place safely.

6. Dual-Purpose Gardens

Dual-purpose gardens make your gardening efforts – or your gardener’s efforts – go that much further. Edible gardens, for example, add beauty and produce herbs or vegetables. But if you grow them vertically, you can use them to divide areas of your lawn or make a gathering space more private. You can also use flower beds to divide your lawn or mark the edge of your property. And you can even put your plants to work to repel pests; basil, for instance, is said to repel flies and mosquitoes. Your vertical garden could cost as little as a $20 frame and a few packets of seeds, though you might also consider hiring a professional gardener for larger spaces and optimal results.

CONTACT Sutherland Landscape Center for all your landscaping needs!