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Angie's List: Landscaping For Every Budget

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- As the weather warms, it's time to tackle the outdoor projects.

You might wonder what type of landscaping additions or upgrades fit your budget. The good news: there is an array of projects in various price ranges. Angie's List has some tips for what you can get for $50, $500 and $5,000.

Don't ignore your home's landscaping because investments in landscaping can add as much as 14 percent to the value of your home. You don't have to do big, elaborate projects. Sometimes the simple, basic things like well-manicured flower beds, a nicely done lawn and adding trees to your property can give you a nice return on investment.

Homeowner Bryan Nester hired a professional landscaping company to redesign his yard.

"I've got some neighbors that invest significantly into their landscaping so I wanted to be a good neighbor," Nester said. "As well, I value the addition of features outside the home just like I do inside the home."

Angie's List asked highly rated landscapers to weigh in on what homeowners can get at various budgets.

So what can you get for $50?

"There are several things that can be done," landscaping contractor Ken Hyatt said. "One would be to install mulch in the beds that will insulate the soil and hold in water. That will also cut down on the amount of weeds. Another great thing in the spring time is to install flowers."

For $500, you can receive several applications of fertilization and a weed control program, and for a half-acre lot, you can have your lawn mowed, trimmed and edged weekly for four months.

"There are a couple of different things you need to do to prevent weeds," Hyatt explained. "One of them is to apply a pre-emergent in the fall and in the winter and make sure that's watered in. Another thing that many folks don't realize is that when you mow the lawn in early spring, just cutting those weeds down stresses those weeds out and that will make them go away much faster."

For $5,000, a wide variety of projects are available such as patios and retaining walls.

You can also revamp a home's front foundation landscape.

If you are dreaming about a big, fancy project for your landscaping, you should talk to a landscaper even if you're unsure about your budget. The great thing about landscaping is it can be done in phases. For example, if you're thinking about doing an outdoor kitchen, instead of going all out and doing it in one summer, add the fire pit this year and another element the next.

When shopping around to get the most landscaping bang for your buck, Angie's List recommends always verifying a company's insurance and licensing information.

What they're selling may sound like a bargain, but you might end up with a raw deal if they're not following the rules.

RELATED LINKS
More Consumer News
More Angie's List Reports
More Reports by Susan Koeppen
Koeppen's Corner

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