Most people would love to make their outdoor space more colourful and visually appealing. By creating a comfortable garden oasis you can enjoy being outside more than ever before. It can be the perfect place to relax with friends and family and enjoy the beauty of nature. In this article, we’ll discuss 7 hidden costs associated with maintaining a green oasis in your yard.
1. Tree Care
If you have them in your garden, they’ll need regular maintenance – from pruning and tree staking to cabling and removal. A tree surgeon will know about any local laws or regulations that apply to them. They’ll also have access to specialist tools and techniques that help them work safely and efficiently.
This can include rigging, climbing spurs, or specialized equipment like stump grinders or tree-care machinery. If your tree’s unwell they may be able to save it by performing corrective treatments such as fertilization or soil aeration.
The price for tree surgery can vary considerably – depending on the size and type, and its condition and location. You’ll discover that the tree felling cost can range from £400 to several thousand pounds. It could involve two or more laborers and take from half a day to three days.
Tree surgeons can provide advice and suggestions on how to improve the look of your yard. They can help you select trees and plants that’ll work well in your environment, as well as advise on planting techniques and tree placement.
2. Watering Your Garden
If you have a hosepipe in your yard, watering the plants and lawn will be relatively easy and inexpensive. However, if there is no access to a hosepipe or running water, you can use either a watering can or an irrigation system. Watering can be less expensive but it’ll require more physical effort. However, this method gives you greater control over how much water each plant gets.
An irrigation system would allow for automated and efficient watering without having to move around too much. However, this comes at a cost in terms of installation and maintenance fees. This will include electricity costs if this is how the system’s powered. In addition to water costs, you may need to purchase additional items such as hoses, sprinklers, and timers.
3. Lawn Maintenance
Mowing can be done with either a push mower or a powered version. Push mowers require more work but are less expensive to purchase and maintain. Powered mowers are easy to use but may cost more upfront and have higher maintenance costs due to the need for gasoline or electricity. Fertilizers come in many forms—liquid, granular, organic, and synthetic—and will add extra costs to your lawn care bill. Weeds can be controlled through regular hand-weeding or with purchased herbicides.
If you don’t want to pay for an irrigation system, hand-watering will be necessary – which requires an extra time commitment. One other hidden cost relates to the need to aerate your lawn, which helps to loosen compacted soil. It provides better access to water and nutrients and improves turf health. Aeration can be done by hand with a tool or mechanically with a machine.
4. Using Mulch
This is a type of material such as wood chips or bark. It’s spread over the soil surface in your garden and around trees to reduce water loss and deter weeds. It also helps keep your plants healthy by moderating soil temperature, adding essential nutrients to the soil, and providing an attractive backdrop for your landscape.
Organic mulches such as wood chips or shredded bark are cheaper than rubber mulch but need to be replaced more often. Rubber mulch is more expensive upfront but lasts longer (a decade in some cases), making it a good investment in the long run. Generally speaking, a 3-inch layer is enough for most gardens and trees, so plan accordingly when calculating costs.
5. Landscaping
Here are just some of the things people buy when they landscape their backyards:
• pavers and pergolas
• fences, trellises, and gates
• arbors and planters
• fountains and decking
• outdoor furniture
• lighting fixtures and lamps
• bird baths, bird tables, and bird boxes
• artificial turf or sod
• ponds and water gardens
Each of these items carries a cost. Depending on the size of your yard, the quality of the materials, and the complexity of the design, you could be looking at an investment of several thousand pounds. If you involve a professional landscape designer, the costs will increase even more, but this should not be a worry because these professionals will take care of everything and leave you stress-free of all the work to be done.
6. Pest Control
Pests such as slugs, caterpillars, mites, and beetles can cause major damage to plants. In turn, this reduces their aesthetic appeal and negatively impacts their growth. The costs associated with controlling these pests can vary depending on the severity and type of infestation. For example, if you have an issue with aphids or caterpillars in your garden you may need to apply commercial pest-control solutions or use natural remedies.
Gardeners may need to invest in fencing and other structures designed to keep out larger pests like deer or rabbits. These can come at a steep cost, especially if you have a large yard. Finally, it’s important to be aware of any fees that may be charged for professional services related to pest control or environmental protection.
7. Fertilizer And Weed Killers
Fertilizers are used to provide essential nutrients that help promote healthy growth in plants. Weed killers help eliminate weeds from your lawn or garden, so they don’t compete with other plants for resources and space. Both of these products can be expensive, depending on the type you choose and how much you need to buy.
If used incorrectly, they can cause damage to other parts of your yard or neighboring properties. Consider using natural alternatives instead, and only use chemical-based products when absolutely necessary.
We’ve now discussed 7 hidden costs relating to the maintenance of a green oasis in your yard. Whilst these things will set you back financially they’ll pay off in other ways. You’ll have a delightful taste of nature in your outdoor space that you can enjoy and share with others.