The
Frugal Gardener
By Rachel Paxton
Gardening
can be expensive, and for those on a tight budget,
garden projects may fall way to the bottom of
your list of spending priorities. I love spending
time at home in our yard. Though we have never
been able to spend the kind of money I'd like
on landscaping, over the years I've learned
creative ways of making a little bit of money
go a long ways.
Divide
and transplant
It doesn't take long for plants to start to
take over your flowerbeds. I grow some herbs
and daisies that seem to creep inches through
the flowerbed each week. Instead of letting
plants like these take over the flowerbed, transplant
them to another part of the yard.
Flowers
like daisies are easy to dig out in big clumps
and move around wherever you want them. Within
a few years, the investment in a dozen flowering
shrubs or flower bulbs can multiply into many
times the amount you recently purchased.
Give
and receive
It's fun to trade plants with friends and family.
I've landscaped much of my yard this way. Iris
bulbs from one friend, grape vines from another;
it adds up fast! And all from people who were
looking to get the excess plants out of their
yard. After your yard has had a few years to
get established, you will be able to share also.
This is the best way to plant your yard with
no expense at all.
Look
for unexpected opportunities
One of our neighbors gets free sod from several
local curb companies. After finishing a job,
the companies unload leftover sod at his house.
When he doesn't have a need for the sod, he
gives it to us. We've put down several hundred
dollars worth of sod at no cost to us.
Creative
containers
I like to plant in containers, but they can
be quite expensive. Get creative about your
garden containers. People use wheelbarrows,
toolboxes, kitchen sifters, colanders, old boots,
children's wagons, baskets, and many other items
for creative container gardening. Just ensure
there is adequate drainage so the water can
find its way out. See http://www.gardenguides.com
for more container gardening ideas.
Weigh
the alternatives
It's easy to get carried away in the vegetable
garden. I get all caught up in having a little
of this, and a little of that, often spending
more than I had intended and growing vegetables
that cost next to nothing at the grocery store
when they're in season. For example, in season
I can buy 4 or more green peppers for $1. Perhaps
it's not worth it for me to grow green peppers.
Tomatoes, on the other hand, are definitely
worth the effort and will save us a lot of money
throughout the summer.
Shop
end-of-season sales
It's
easy to remember to do this when shopping for
clothes and other household items, but don't
forget about watching for plant sales. You can
get great deals on outdoor plants and trees
at the end of the season. Even annuals that
are almost out of season are a good buy. They
won't bloom again until next year, but for the
savings it is worth it to plant them now and
wait until next year to enjoy them.
You
can also find excellent deals on fruit trees
at the end of the season. Don't forget to check
out the sidewalks of grocery stores and neighborhood
markets.
As
you can see, you don't need a lot of money to
have a nice garden. Just use your creativity
and you'll be surprised at the results.
Rachel
Paxton is a freelance writer and
mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?,
an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick
easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize
your home, home decorating, crafts, and frugal
family fun, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com
and Suite 101 at http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/creative_homemaking.
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