How to Save Money on Lawn and Garden Maintenance

You just got the quote back from your local lawn and garden contractor. It’s more than you expected. You start wondering—why does garden maintenance cost so much? And more importantly, how can you keep your lawn and garden looking great without breaking the bank?

The good news is that you don’t need to sacrifice a beautiful backyard garden to stay within budget. With a little planning and a few smart habits, you can cut down on maintenance costs while keeping your outdoor space looking its best. Here are some practical tips to help you save money on lawn and garden care in Brisbane.

There’s a ton of different native grasses, shrubs and trees which will thrive in Brisbane’s climate and are much cheaper to maintain than other plant species.

1. Prevention Is Cheaper Than the Cure

Think of your garden like your health—regular maintenance is far cheaper than waiting until things get out of control. A few simple habits will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

• Trim your hedges often – If you wait two years to prune your hedge, a simple trim turns into an expensive all-day job. Instead, light trims every few months keep them tidy and manageable. Plus you get to enjoy the hedge as it was intended to be.

• Apply pre-emergent herbicides – Weeds are much easier to prevent than remove. A pre-emergent herbicide stops weed seeds from growing, reducing the need for costly weed control later. Talk to your local nursery or landscape supply store to select a pre-emergent herbicide suitable for your lawn and garden. Make sure you follow the directions on the label properly.

• Aerate your lawn once a year – Brisbane’s soils can compact easily, leading to poor grass growth. Annual aeration helps water and nutrients reach the roots, keeping your lawn healthy without expensive fixes. If you’ve got a small area, a hand aerator is going to be fine for use once a year. Got a bigger lawn? Consider hiring a mechanical aerator from a local hire shop.

• Mulch your garden beds – A good layer of organic mulch reduces weeds and locks in moisture, meaning you spend less on water and weeding.

2. Choose Low-Maintenance Plants and Lawns

The plants you choose make a huge difference in how much time and money you spend maintaining your yard. Opt for plants suited to Brisbane’s climate and you’ll need less watering, pruning, and pest control. Make sure you check with your local nursery to select specific varieties or cultivars which will suit your garden and context.

So many landscape designers whether DIY or pro will select plants that look great but don’t think about the cost or effort to maintain. The 20 metres of Lilly Pilly shrubs planted densely along your rear boundary fence to screen your neigbhours may do the trick but are you prepared to trim it or pay someone to do it?

Put simply, if you don’t want to trim your Lilly Pilly hedge 3-4 times a year … don’t plant one!

Low-Maintenance Plants for Brisbane:

• Lomandra – Tough, drought-tolerant, and requires minimal trimming.

• Grevilleas – Native shrubs that attract birds and need little care.

• Kangaroo Grass – A native, low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawn.

• Liriope ‘Isabella’ – A low-growing, mowable alternative to turf.

• Callistemon (Bottlebrush) – Hardy flowering shrubs that attract pollinators and require little pruning.

• Westringia (Coastal Rosemary) – Compact, drought-tolerant, and ideal for hedging.

• Dichondra repens (Kidney Weed) – A native ground cover that thrives in shady or damp areas.

• Poa labillardieri (Tussock Grass) – A soft, blue-green native grass that requires little maintenance.

• Lomandra – Tough, drought-tolerant, and requires minimal trimming.

• Grevilleas – Native shrubs that attract birds and need little care.

• Kangaroo Grass – A native, low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawn.

• Liriope ‘Isabella’ – A low-growing, mowable alternative to turf.

Native Trees and Shrubs for a Privacy Screen:

• Hakea actites (Wallum Hakea) – A naturally bushy native that provides privacy and food for wildlife.

• Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) – A fragrant, bushy native that grows into a thick screen.

• Melaleuca linariifolia (Snow in Summer) – A small tree with dense foliage and white flowers, great for screening.

• Banksia robur (Swamp Banksia) – A medium-sized, fast-growing Banksia that provides screening and attracts birds.

• Leptospermum liversidgei (Swamp Tea Tree) – A dense, shrubby tea tree that forms an effective natural screen.

Brisbane home owners love a hedge. But not everyone is able or prepared to maintain them as they intended. If you aren’t prepared to trim the hedge yourself or pay someone to maintain, think about other low-maintenance shrubs or trees that you can plant instead.

3. Water Smarter, Not Harder

Water can be one of the biggest costs of garden maintenance, especially in Brisbane’s hot summers. By using smarter watering techniques, you can keep your garden lush while reducing your water bill.

Ways to Save on Water:

• Water early in the morning – Watering before 9 AM reduces evaporation, so your plants get the most benefit.

• Install a drip irrigation system – Drip systems deliver water directly to the roots, using less water than sprinklers. Some people hate drip irrigation systems as they are liable to block up or break, and you’re almost guaranteed to put a shovel through a line at some point.

• Use a connected irrigation timer - Try a smart connected irrigiation system like Rainbird which allows you to set-up zoned irrigation around your property to get the right amount of water where it needs to go only when it is needed.

• Collect rainwater – A simple rain barrel can save hundreds of litres of water each year.

• Group plants with similar water needs – Place drought-loving plants together and keep thirstier plants in one area to avoid overwatering.

4. DIY What You Can, But Know When to Call a Pro

Some garden tasks are easy to do yourself, while others can cost you more if you try to DIY them and get it wrong. If something feels a little sketchy, its best to call in a professional who has the experience, knowledge and the equipment.

Tasks You Can DIY to Save Money:

• Mowing – Invest in a reliable mower and keep up with regular cuts.

• Weeding – A few minutes pulling weeds each week saves hours later.

• Mulching – Spreading mulch is easy (its phsyical work but at least its not technical!) and saves you money on water and weeding.

• Basic pruning – Learn to trim shrubs and trees properly to prevent costly overgrowth.

• Tool maintenance - Keep your tools and mowing blades sharp to ensure cl

When to Hire a Professional:

• Large tree removal – Cutting down big trees is dangerous and best left to arborists.

• Major hedging jobs – If a hedge is out of control, around pools or high fences, or if its a very tall hedge, a professional can shape it properly.

• Irrigation system installation – A well-designed system saves money in the long run.

• Stump grinding and removal – Stump removal requires specialised equipment and is best done professionally.

• Lawn restoration and topdressing – If your lawn is in bad shape, a professional can improve soil quality and grass growth efficiently.

• Pest and disease management – A pro can quickly diagnose and treat serious lawn or plant issues, preventing costly damage.

• Retaining walls and hardscaping – Poorly built retaining walls can fail over time; professionals ensure stability and longevity.

• Drainage issues – If your garden has pooling water or runoff problems, professional solutions prevent long-term damage.

If you hire professionals for the big jobs and handle the small stuff yourself, you’ll strike the perfect balance between saving money and keeping your garden in top shape.

Don’t try this at home! Leave the high-risk jobs to the professionals and call your local arborist.

5. Buy in Bulk and Share Costs With Neighbours

Garden products like mulch, soil, fertiliser, and plants are often cheaper in bulk. If you only need a small amount, consider teaming up with neighbours to split the cost. Yes, that does mean knocking on your neighbours door and starting a conversation!

Ways to Save With Bulk Purchases:

• Buy mulch by the cubic metre – A bulk delivery is often half the price of bagged mulch.

• Order plants in trays – If you’re planting a garden bed, buying a whole tray of plants is cheaper than individual pots.

• Share tool rentals – Need a stump grinder or aerator? Renting with a neighbour reduces costs.

• Group lawn care services – If your neighbours also need mowing or hedging, you may get a discounted group rate. This applies to pretty much any service you can think of. Most contractors will build some sort of travel price into their quote so if they’re on your street for a day or two you may able to negotiate a cheaper price per service.

6. Reuse and Repurpose to Save on Costs

You don’t need to spend big to improve your garden. There are plenty of ways to reuse materials and cut down on costs.

Money-Saving Ideas:

• Use fallen leaves as mulch – Instead of buying mulch, rake up leaves and spread them over your garden beds. Obsessing over there never being a single dead leaf in your garden bed gets expensive quickly. Don’t worry about spreading hedge cuttings or dead branches, they’ll break down over time.

• Propagate plants instead of buying – Many native plants, like Lomandra and Grevilleas, grow easily from cuttings.

• Repurpose old bricks or pavers – Use them to create garden borders instead of buying new materials.

• Turn kitchen scraps into compost – Save on fertiliser by making your own nutrient-rich compost. A one-time investment into a compost-turner can give you somwhere to mix grass clippings, kitchens craps and garden waste into a fantastic garden resource.

Final Thoughts: A Great Garden Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune

A beautiful, well-maintained lawn and garden doesn’t have to be expensive. By following these money-saving tips—preventing issues before they get expensive, choosing the right plants, watering smart, DIYing when possible, buying in bulk, and reusing materials—you can keep your garden thriving on a budget.

Brisbane’s climate offers plenty of opportunities for a low-maintenance, sustainable landscape. With a little planning and regular upkeep, you can enjoy a lush, green outdoor space without spending a fortune.

Need help setting up a low-cost, low-maintenance garden? Contact Cambium Land Management for expert advice on designing a budget-friendly, sustainable landscape or ask about our complete lawn and garden maintenance packages for Brisbane homes.