Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 13, 1992 TAG: 9203130211
SECTION: LAWN & GARDEN PAGE: L&G-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A homeowner might wonder if significant savings are possible through the do-it-yourself method.
It would mean deciding what shrubs and trees were needed, what type of grass to plant, when to fertilize and with what.
The basic question is: "Would it be cheaper to do all the work myself or turn the job over to a professional?"
Experts say one critical point to remember is that a homeowner using the do-it-yourself method will not have any guarantees and no one else will correct mistakes.
One the other hand, any reputable nursery or lawn-care company will guarantee its performance and rectify mistakes without additional cost to the homeowner.
So the question, then, is which way to go?
Experts in the field say it depends on the expertise and energy of the homeowner and the size of the job.
John Arbogast, the Virginia Tech extension agent in Roanoke, said a homeowner can save if he knows what he's doing. And by that, Arbogast means having some horticultural knowledge or following professional guidelines such as those issued by the Virginia Tech extension service.
That would mean getting the proper seeds, plants and fertilizer, planting at the proper times and in the proper manner, pruning and controlling pests and diseases.
Paul Smeal, professor of horticulture at Virginia Tech, said only a relatively small percentage of the cost of any landscaping job will be for plants and seeds. Most of the cost, he said, would go for labor, fertilizer, mulch and other incidentals.
He estimated that on the average, plants and seeds might cost about 20 percent of the total expense.
That means that a homeowner willing to do all the work theoretically can save almost 80 percent of the cost. But some economists say a 50 percent saving is more realistic.
Bill Yagle, owner of Yagle Nursery at Elliston, said the cost differences will vary depending on the landscaping company. He estimated that in a landscaping job that costs $1,000, the plants may cost up to $700.
Some landscaping companies, he said, will add 40 percent to 50 percent of the cost of the plants to cover the cost of delivery, planting and the company's guarantee.
Smeal said hiring a professional for landscaping means the homeowner is paying for insurance - the guarantee of a quality job.
A professional service also is good for people who don't want to - or can't - do the work themselves, Arbogast said.
And some of the work can be gruelling, he added, such as climbing a tall tree to prune dead limbs with a chain saw.
Smeal said some homeowners do their own yard landscaping as a hobby and a way to get exercise. For that they are willing to accept the risks and perhaps settle for a less-than-perfect job.
Nurseries that do landscape designing say it is difficult to give prices because every design is individual.
But Drew Daniels, manager of Blue Ridge Nursery & Gardens in Roanoke, said prices can range from $25 for a small flower bed up to $25,000 for a complete job in a full yard.
Regardless of who does the work, Smeal said landscaping is not a one-time experience. It is original development and then continual maintenance.
Smeal said that if a homeowner can not do all of the plantings at one time because of the cost, the development should follow an orderly plan, not a shrub here, a tree there and a flower bed somewhere else.
The sequence he recommends is to do the lawn first and then put in shade trees. Next would come the foundation plantings. Flower beds would be the last step in the plan.
Smeal recommends doing the lawn first because "a super good turf" adds more to the value of the property than any of the others.
While a good lawn is a valuable asset to the overall value of any property, Smeal questions the need for a large lawn.
"Some people think they need a big lawn," he said. "It seems to be an American dream to have a big lawn with a riding mower."
But a big lawn means more work mowing.
A homeowner could reduce the mowing work, Smeal said, by developing more beds with shrubs, ground covers and other plantings that require minimum attention.
These type of areas spotted throughout the property could reduce the amount of lawn that must be mowed, he said.
A swimming pool worked into the design may add to the overall value of the property and provide a source of recreation and exercise. But Smeal pointed out that a pool will be a liability because it will increase the homeowner's property tax and water bill.
If a homeowner opts for the do-it-yourself plan, a decision must be made on where to buy plants.
Discount stores are likely to have the lowest prices, but Arbogast noted that discount store plants may not have been grown in this area and may not be fully adapted to the climate of Southwest Virginia. Also, they may not have gotten first-rate care because of shipping and storage.
Plants bought from a local nursery may cost more, but they may be stronger plants and will have a guarantee, he said.
Garden shop owners expect prices this spring will be about the same as last year. Some may even be lower.
This means azaleas 6-8 inches tall are available for $1.99 and those 20 inches tall cost $8.99 at some shops. George Penney, manager of Oxford Lawn & Garden in Roanoke, said the small azaleas are popular with homeowners doing their own work.
Daniels said this may be a good year to buy plants.
Growers expected 1992 to be a big sales year. But, Daniels said, sales are not turning out to be as large as they had thought. This has caused a surplus of plants.
This means shops such as his, Blue Ridge Nursery & Gardens, can get some good deals from growers eager to reduce their supplies.
Early in the season, some of the discount stores in Roanoke were advertising shade trees at $14.91 each and fruit trees starting at $8.74 each.
Also, rose plants were available at $2.46 and $3.63 each at one store and $3.77 at another.
Fertilizer to help these along was available at prices ranging from $1.99 for a four-pound box to $17.99 for a 25-pound bag.
Grass seeds were available for $3 to $5 for three or four pounds of standard varieties up to $8.79 for speciality blends.
Once everything is in place, Arbogast said, it is best to apply fertilizer to lawns in the fall. Mowing grass the proper height is important to weed and pest control in lawns. The Virginia Tech extension service recommends that grass not be mowed shorter than 2 1/2 inches.
And established ornamental plants are likely to need fertilizing and pruning, Arbogast said.
Any homeowner who undertakes the job of landscaping and feels uncertain about it can get help from any Virginia Tech extension service office. Through those offices, insects and plant diseases can be identified along with a program of what to do about them. Also available is help in every step of the landscaping job.
by CNB