The cheapest way to landscape a front yard is to do the work yourself in phases: edge the beds, mulch, and plant small one-gallon shrubs. Labor is usually about half of a landscaping bill, so DIY alone cuts a typical $3,000 to $8,000 front yard project down to $500 to $1,500 in materials.
Buy small. One-gallon shrubs run $8 to $15 and catch up to $40 five-gallon plants within two or three seasons. Seed bare lawn spots for around $0.10 per square foot instead of sodding at $1 to $2. Many cities give away mulch and compost, and neighbors often share divided perennials.
Plan before you buy. Testing a layout on a photo of your own house with AI front yard design costs far less than ripping out plants that did not work.