Smart Garden Spending

Money alone doesn’t make a good garden. Sure, it sure does help, but few gardeners have an unlimited budget. Stretch your hard-earned garden dollars with smart shopping and clever landscaping. Here’s a few ideas:

• Visit your home garden center often. Garden centers offer different plants and supplies throughout the year. If you stop by often, you’ll get the best plants at the best price at the best time. You’re also more likely to see the plants at their peek or in bloom!
• Ask!! Your garden center associates know a lot, so use them. If possible, go on a nonweekend day when the staff have more time to give you full attention. Bring in photos or drawings of your garden or map so they can better envision whatyou need.
• try a plant by buying only one. If you like an expensive perennial, buy one and see how it looks in your garden. The only way to know is to give it a try
• Know your light. This is fundamental to making the right plant choices and avoiding losing a lot of expensive plants
• Learn to propagate your own plants. Starting plants from seed or from cuttings is easy and can give you dozens of plants for only a few dollars, even if you have to invest in start-up equipment such as a potting medium and a good grow light
• Share plants! give your friends, family and neighbors divisions of your favorite plants. They are likely to return the favor
• Split costs! If you’ve been yearing for a chipper-shredder but are unable to afford it or justify it’s limited use in one yard, go in with a trusted neighbor or family member and share it
• Consider renting. If a tool isn’t in your budget, renting it occasionally might do the trick
• Grow plants that do double duty. A cherry tree, for example, has gorgeous flowers in spring and delicious fruit in the summer. A hedge of lilacs creates privacy and provides armloads of flowers. You get twice the pleasure for the same amount of work and money