Yard Care on a Dime: How to Get the Look for Less

Trying to conserve some of your own green this season? It is possible to cut your landscaping budget without skimping on the appearance of your great outdoors. Here are 10 tips to help save you money and still make your yard a beautiful asset.

1. Take care of what's there. Removing dead or diseased grass, plants, shrubs and trees can be costly. So be sure to protect what already exists to avoid having to remove and replace. Survey your yard and make sure your current landscape is healthy. Then you'll only have to invest a bit of your time to keep them that way with proper care. If you're not sure what care to give or when, check out our Regional Calendar for tips on when it's best to fertilize, check for pests and more.
2. Make a plan and stick to it. Sketch out exactly how you'd like to enhance your landscaping. Take note of what are must-haves and what are extras you could live without. Before you head out to stock up, make a list of the materials you'll need and how much you'll need. Planning pays off by preventing overbuying and the temptation to impulse buy.
3. Choose wisely. Turf, plants and flowers that thrive in your region will take less time, effort and money to maintain. That's because native species better adapt to typical rain levels and native soils, and better resist pests. And that means spending less on watering, soil amendments, fertilizer, and pest control products.
4. Get it where it's cheap. When buying flowers and plants, check out supermarkets and garage sales. Typically, you'll spend a fraction of the price you'd find at specialty garden stores. But beware: Many times what you'll find will be of lesser quality, and your foliage may need some extra TLC. Sift through the selection to find the healthiest specimens. And be sure to check for bugs. If you see any signs of creeping critters, leave them behind. If your landscaping plans also include a pathway, brick edging, retaining walls or rock scaping, get what you need at a quarry instead of the garden store. You'll save a ton.
5. Get it where it's free. Can't beat building up your garden for nothing! You can do it by using cuttings from your existing plants to grow new ones. You can also divide your plants and then trade them with friends, family and neighbors. Species that spread easily such as iris, daylilies and hostas work especially well. Divide, share, replant and beautify!
6. Got patience? Go for the sales. Instant gratification comes at a cost. But if you're willing to wait, you can get great deals on shrubs and perennials that go on sale at the end of the summer. Sales on annuals also tend to start in July and August. Supplementing your garden with these "late bloomers" is an inexpensive way to keep colorful blossoms going later into the season.
7. Turn your scraps into something beautiful. Feeding your plants for free? That's beautiful - and easy. Simply start a compost bin and start dumping your scraps to create rich, plentiful fertilizer that doesn't cost a cent. Anything organic goes: Place food waste, leaves, fireplace ashes, or wood into your compost bin, then water and mix occasionally. Not only can you use your concoction as fertilizer. You can also use it as a soil amendment to improve your soil's structure, fertility, drainage and water retention. Learn more in our article on How to Start a Compost Bin.
8. Enjoy the ease of grasscycling. You can reduce your need for expensive lawn fertilizer by practicing a simple mowing technique called grasscycling - and save some time to boot. What do you do? Just cut smaller amounts of grass during any one mowing, and leave the clippings where they fall rather than gathering them to toss. The clippings add nitrogen to your lawn, so you don't have to fertilize as often. And they add organic matter to your soil, making it more fertile. A good grasscycling guideline: Don't cut any more than one-third the height of your grass when you mow.
9. Watch water use. Keep those water bills to a minimum by watering your lawn and garden only as much as needed to keep them healthy. How much is enough? Read our article, How to Water Your Lawn Correctly. And make use of Mother Nature by installing a rain barrel to capture clean water you can use for free. Most rain barrels are reasonably priced and can be easily incorporated into your gutter or drainage systems. Then you can connect your hose to the spigot in the barrel and water away without the worry.
10. Hiring help? Do it early. If you really want a hand with seasonal yard care needs such as lawn aeration, pruning or clean up, make plans early when hiring professional help. As demand for services and equipment increases when the season approaches or comes to a close, prices will be on the rise.