Did you realize some quick landscaping can both allow you to speed up the sale of your house and fetch a better price? Before listing my house for sale, I hired a landscaping company for $200 for quick facelift of my house -- it has paid off well.

(And it goes without saying that with a higher price, you will have more left for your savings account after mortgage payoff.)

• The biggest way to save is to do it yourself. And the good news is you don't need to be a landscape architect to pull off something posh.

• But hire a pro when it gets too complicated. Turning your backyard into a Japanese water garden, complete with a fountain and Koi pond, may be beyond your skill set. So know that sometimes the best way to save money is to recognize that you need a pro.

• Keep an eye on home values. A home's landscaping can affect how quickly your house will sell — and what buyers are willing to pay. According to a recent study by the American Nursery & Landscape Association, improved landscaping can increase property value by 7% to 14%. The study also found that landscaping can accelerate the sale of your home by five to six weeks.

• Plant to save energy. Put evergreen trees on the north side of your home, and leafy ones on the south side. That way, you'll block winter winds and summer sun. Carefully positioned trees can cut as much as 25% off your summer cooling bill.

• Buy big-ticket items in the fall. Prices for trees and shrubs are highest in the spring and early summer.

• Embrace mulch. "It holds moisture and suppresses weeds," explains Bruce Butterfield, research director of the NGA. Using mulch will also add detail to your flower beds and give your yard a finished look — without costing much money.