Stunning gardens define resident Chip Wade’s Atlanta home.

Focus on using natural boulders for retaining walls and other features says Wade. It keeps your garden from getting too formal, and formal is expensive.

One of the best ways to bring visual interest to your garden says Wade, is to mix materials: boulders, pavers, pebbles, river stone. It not only gives a more naturalistic look, you aren’t tied to just one high-cost material, but you blend pricier and more inexpensive materials.

Don’t see an elevation change as an impediment or unfortunate circumstance, but as an opportunity. A garden with levels adds more interest, and is more naturalistic without the cost of hauling in materials to create elevation variety.

Annuals have to be replaced seasonally, but perennial plants like these hostas and heucheras will come back year after year and eventually grow to fill out your garden (Wade’s garden is still relatively young). The cost savings is clear, says Wade: fill your yard with smaller (cheaper) perennials and you only have to plant once.

Don’t put all of your landscaping eggs (or dollars) in one basket. Wade recommends buying an assortment of plants if you aren’t sure what will do well in your landscape, to see what does well. That way, you won’t waste money on all the same kind of plants that might not do well. But definitely do your research before you plant: check that what you are buying will work with the soil, light levels and the garden zone where you live.