Gardening is a fantastic way to update your yard and take in the beauty of nature. But landscaping is expensive, right? It doesn’t have to be! There are some ways to save and create a beautiful yard at the same time.
Related: Cheapskate’s Guide to Saving Money
Do It Yourself
Get out an enjoy nature and plant your gardens. You can save hundreds of dollars by doing the work yourself and in the end you’ll appreciate the fruits of your labor!
Use Perennials Instead of Annuals
Perennials are plants that come up every year. The cost of perennials might be more expensive to start with, but in the long run you’ll save quite a bit. There are lots of hearty perennials that will winter over in even the coldest climates. In addition, the time you spend in the garden will be quite minimal after the initial planting.
Perennial Swap
You can fill your yard with perennials for FREE by exchanging perennials with your friends! If you have ever been to a perennial farm, you probably know they continuously split the perennials to sell. You can do this yourself. Once your perennials are established you can take a section of them (down to the roots) and replant them.
Tip: Dig them up when they are first coming up in the spring. I have been doing this with friends for a few years and love the variety!
Related: Cheap Healthy Recipes
Mix Permanent Plantings with Perennials
Perennials are less expensive than shrubbery, so mix it up. Instead of purchasing all trees and shrubs, add perennials to the layout and save some money.
Use Perennials in Pots
If you already have established perennials in your yard, split them and use them for fillers in your pots. At the end of the season you can plant them in a different location in your yard! I’ve done this with hostas and daylilies in the past to fill in my large pots.
Start your Annuals from Seeds
You’ll save a bundle by spending a little time growing your annuals to mix in with your perennials. You won’t need a greenhouse, either! I planted my seeds in the pots I wanted them in and covered them with saran wrap (to keep the heat and moisture inside). I kept them in the garage in front of the window to get started.
Use Permanent Ground Cover Instead of Mulch
Using permanent ground cover will cost you more in the beginning but will save you more money and time in the long run. Instead of using mulch, invest in river rock or volcanic rock. Rock will last indefinitely and won’t need much work from year-to-year.
If you love flowers and potted plants, you can spend hundreds every year. With a bit of thought, you can save a bundle! How do you have on gardening? We can all learn from each other, so leave your gardening tip in the comments!
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