CHARLOTTE – Landscaping can get expensive. There’s the cost of materials, like fertilizer, dirt, bulbs, bushes, rocks and mulch needed to grow all of those plants. You also have to think about the labor that goes into it and whether you want to pay for someone to do that labor or you’re going to end up doing it all yourself. There are many ways to save money with your yard. Here are five of them:
- Choose a grass alternative
Lawns are expensive to maintain. Grass requires a ton of water, plus fertilizer and weed treatments for stubborn lawns. And if you don’t maintain it correctly you may need to re-sod, which can cost even more. Grass alternatives, such as mint, thyme, bishop’s weed, and lamium can spread quickly and can survive through tough times, such as drought or low temperatures. Some people choose to put grass alternatives only in the areas of their lawn that are hard to maintain.
2. Save water and make your own compost
It’s not hard to make your own rain barrel. With just a few tools and some good glue, you can attach a spigot to a trash can and set up the contraption under your downspout. Composting can also be a cheap and easy alternative to expensive mulch and soil products. All you need is a correctly built compost pile. After a few weeks of tossing old banana peels, cut grass, dead leaves, and other compostable material into the pile, you’ll have a nutrient-rich soil that you can use to jump-start your garden.
3. Get cuttings from your friends
There are many plants that don’t need seeds or bulbs to start new growth. One easy way to start a new garden or to get some new plants for your lawn is to ask your friends for cuttings from their plants.
4. Plant perennials
Both perennials and annuals are beautiful, but only one comes back every year – perennials. If you don’t want to spend a ton of money every year re-doing your garden, buy perennials. They’ll come back every year for free.
5. Shop offseason
Plant flowers in the fall. Look for perennial flowers on sale in the nursery when the season is ending. Wilted flowers will grow next spring if the roots are still alive and aren’t wet and mushy. Strong roots equal strong flowers next spring.
