Not only does landscaping the yard improve curb appeal and increase a home’s value, it also purifies the air from dust and other pollutants. With some thoughtful planning and a little creativity, you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a lush looking garden. Here are some budget-friendly landscape ideas:
Nurturing Young Plants and Shrubs to Maturity
Mature plants and flowers, although visually appealing, are more expensive than younger plants because they cost more to raise, using more water, nutrients, time, and storage. For the price of one large plant, you’ll easily get anywhere from three to fifteen young plants. If you’re on a budget, you’re better off buying younger plants and then, nurture them to maturity. However, don’t go for seedlings as these are much more vulnerable to the elements. Plants a few months old are more tolerant and can withstand some level of stress. Apart from their affordability, due to their small size, young plants are also easier to plant. Because they establish roots more quickly than mature plants, they compete against weeds better.
Choose Perennials Above Annuals
Perennials are plants that live through at least three winters, some coming back every spring for decades! Annuals bloom for one season then die. While some perennials may cost you a little more than annuals, you won’t have to replace them every year which saves you some money. Some perennials that do well in Canada include:
- Ornamental grasses (Festuca, Miscanthus and Pennisetum glaucum)
- Coneflowers (also known as echinacea)
- Garden Peony
- Hosta
- Sedum
- Lamb’s ear
- Gaillardia
Using Cuttings
Growing flowers and plants from cuttings is a cost-effective way to create a stunning garden. Many plants can grow from cuttings and clippings so you don’t have to continue to buy seedlings. To avoid replicating defective genes, only clone from a healthy mother plant. The mother plant should also be large enough so that the removal of one or more cutting doesn’t kill it. Something else to note, both the mother plant and the cuttings experience stress after cloning, so for stronger stress tolerance, a good plant fertilizer is essential to provide the necessary nutrients to help them through the transition.
Plants on Sale
When on a tight budget, discounted plants can result in huge savings. Just like clothing retailers, some nurseries place their plants on sale to either create room for new merchandise or push last season’s plants. Although some nurseries will discount plants whose flowers and leaves look scorched and unkempt, as long as the stem is green and healthy, you can usually salvage them by planting then quickly and watering them sufficiently. Beware not to purchase plants that have any bugs or signs of disease. If you don’t know how to inspect plants, bring along someone who does. Most nurseries tend to have clearance sales at the end of spring and summer – so be on the lookout.
Once you have your plants in the ground, proper care should follow, otherwise, your efforts will be unfruitful. Watering the plants, weeding, aerating the soil, proper fertilizing, and trimming are some best maintenance practices. With our Landscaping and lawn care services, we can work with your budget to help you come up with a yard your neighbours will feel inspired by, too. We can also maintain your lawn so it remains revitalized and beautifully green.
