Many of us look forward to the summer months for a variety of different reasons. Perhaps it's the time you take a good, long vacation or the kids look ahead to lazy days playing in the sun and, still, others look forward to digging in the dirt and starting a summer garden. Whatever the reason, it is a time to enjoy and have fun.
Maybe this summer you are thinking about starting a vegetable or flower garden. Gardening, in many respects, can be very rewarding. However, it can also become an expensive hobby without proper planning and preparation. When you get your garden plan together, it should also include a budget. Decide on the type of garden you want, the kinds of vegetables or flowers you want to plant, what type of products you'll use to enhance your soil, any other garden products, and how much you will spend on these items.
Without understanding and planning for these things, you might find yourself spending more money than you anticipated. This, sometimes may take out the joy and fun of creating the beautiful garden you envisioned. There are, however, things you can do to cut back on the cost of a garden without sacrificing the beauty and design of your garden.
1. Check out local native plants. Buy plants that are cultivated for your area and your climate. These will cut costs to your overall budget. Non-native plants can incur extra costs due to specialized maintenance and care. Of course, if you absolutely must have one or two non-native plants, by all means add them to your garden. Just remember the more native plants you incorporate into your garden, the more lush, green, and dense your garden will look for a longer period of time.
2. Try out second hand garden tools. Classified ads are a good source for locating garden tools that are in good condition. Many people wanting to replace their tools and wanting to upgrade find it convenient to dispose of them through the classifieds. Whatever the reason, a bargain allways makes good sense. Afterall, you'll use them to play in the dirt, so why not save yourself some money.
3. Mulching is a time and money saver. Mulch holds moisture in better than soil alone. Your need for watering is less. Using mulch also eliminates bothersome weeds, therefore, less time spent pulling weeds. The exception might be that there are some people who enjoy pulling weeds!
4. Search the classifieds for free plants. Classified ads can sometimes be a good source for finding free plants. Families moving out of town or out of state may not have the space for extras like plants and will place an ad give away these plants. Another good source is your neighborhood news boards. Families in neighborhoods that are may be moving will utilize this method to find good homes for their plants.
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