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The best way to landscape your front yard on a budget is to invest in hiring a professional for hardscaping—things like upgrading walkways, redoing driveways, and installing partitions around garden beds. You can often do the softscaping yourself—think laying down mulch, caring for your lawn, removing weeds, and planting flowers and shrubs. It’s also almost always worthwhile to pay a professional for routine yard maintenance, as this dramatically improves curb appeal and delivers above 100% ROI in most cases.

Yes, landscaping costs are generally a worthwhile investment that can increase your property value. Landscaping can boost your home's value by up to 30% by improving its curb appeal, which can help it sell faster and for a higher price. Specific projects have a high return on investment (ROI); for example, revamping a front walkway can offer a 100% ROI, while a pristine, well-manicured lawn can deliver an impressive 217% ROI. In addition to the financial returns, you also get to enjoy the improvements, especially with features like an outdoor living area.

The best type of rock for landscaping depends on your specific project and needs, as different rocks are suited for different applications. For covering large areas or creating an affordable driveway, consider gravel, but note that it can wash away in flowing water. For water features, river rocks are a good option. Flagstone and cobblestone are ideal for aesthetically pleasing patios and walkways. If you are building a stone wall, fieldstone or small boulders are up to the task. Large boulders and landscape rocks work well as statement pieces, to fill empty space, or to indicate boundaries, but be mindful that they can overwhelm smaller gardens. The best approach is to first define your landscaping project and then select the rock type that best fits that purpose.

As with anything you do near your foundation, you’ll want to ensure proper drainage when you plant your foundation beds. Your drainage should run downhill from the highest point against your foundation to avoid water intrusion and incurring expensive foundation repair costs.