Re-landscaping Your Way to Savings

April 23, 2014

My friend Daniel took advantage of a recent promotion sponsored by his local water department that offered homeowners $2 per square foot of grass that was removed and replaced with drought-tolerant plants and groundcover. The promotion initially caught the attention of his wife who was tired of staring at their perpetually brown, weed-filled lawn. After some investigation, they realized that the cost of tearing out the “lawn” and replacing it with approved groundcover was going to cost more than the $2 per square foot being offered, but when they factored in the money they would save by not having to pay a gardener ($70 a month) and by not having to use as much water on the lawn, they decided to move ahead.

Of course, not everything went as perfectly as they would have liked. Originally, they wanted to replace the grass with decomposed granite (think infield of a baseball field), but the promotion required that the lawn be replaced with at least 80% plants and ground cover, which would require a low-water sprinkler system. Next, they had to find someone knowledgeable enough to get the work completed in a timely manner (again, a requirement of the promotion). Eventually the project was completed, and after paperwork, inspections, and a little jostling with the city, they now have a new front and back yard with drought-tolerant plants and ground cover—and a check for $4,000!

For the numbers, they spent about $7,000 out of pocket on the project ($11,000 minus the $4,000 they received from the program), which was less than they had budgeting. They removed 2,000 square feet of grass, and have been able to cut back their water usage by almost 60%. When they combine that with not having to pay for a gardener, they estimate saving about $100 a month. That means they should break even in about six years.

If you’re thinking of re-landscaping this spring, consider these tips:

Check with your local water or power provider to see if they offer any type of incentives for specific landscaping. Your provider may offer incentives to encourage homeowners to plant shade trees or drought-tolerant plants as a way of reducing electric and water usage. If so, make sure you understand what types of foliage qualify under the program.
Consider landscape that is animal and environmentally friendly. Some foliage may look pretty in bloom, but drop seeds that may be harmful to pets or the environment. Check with your local nursery for ideas on landscape that looks beautiful but doesn’t have any unintended consequences.
Look for landscape that is low maintenance. Unless you enjoy spending a Saturday afternoon pulling weeds, cutting grass, and trimming hedges, you may want landscape that is fairly easy to keep looking good.
Don’t forget that piece of land between the street and sidewalk. You may not own it, but most cities require you to maintain it. For Daniel, landscaping it required working with the gas company, not the water department, so he would have to follow a whole new set of rules if he was going to make any changes to it. He’s opted out, for now.
Keep good records. Whether you are participating in an incentive program, or just sprucing up the look and feel of your homestead, keep track of what is being planted and where. Take pictures, and make copies of whatever you submit to the city or agency. Daniel had to go through two separate agencies to track his paperwork, and it did get lost.
If you don’t know what you are doing, hire a professional. It may be one thing to plant vegetables in a garden, or to raise flowers in a greenhouse, but landscaping a yard may be a case of biting off more than you can chew. Although it will cost more, the time and aggravation you save may be well worth it. Make sure the person you hire knows what they are doing, is familiar with local agency rules, and is creative enough to make it work.

As part of his new landscape, Daniel created an area for a portable fire pit. Now his family can enjoy cookouts, s’mores, and gatherings with friends. He’ll even cook an occasional dinner on the open fire. For all the hassle he had to go through to get the project done, he’ll tell you himself it was all worth it.