Gardening on a Budget

Email Page

Print Page

Sarah Landicho

Extras

Add Photo to Journal

Photo Credit: Sarah Landicho

While I can reshape my frontyard garden and add some structural plant material, other changes will have to wait until spring.

My plans have been foiled. I had a number of big ideas for my garden this fall, but because of some budget constraints, I’ve been forced to cut back. That doesn’t mean my garden won’t eventually bloom into what I’m envisioning – it just means it’s going to happen more slowly.

Perhaps my dreams were a little grand to tackle in just one season anyway. I had planned for improvements in both my front and back yards – and when I’m digging things out by hand…well, it just might’ve been too much. But no matter. With a little patience and elbow grease, my plans will come to fruition.

The garden in my front yard needs a little expansion. When I originally planted it two years ago, I didn’t think it out too well. I basically just put into the ground what I thought would do well. Now I’m actually thinking toward the future. I need to dig out some more space so the very shape of my planting bed is more aesthetically pleasing. I need height. I need more plants. I need bulbs. I need another tree.

And I need more money to get what I want.

So I’ve got to take the patient approach. I need to figure out my plan – what I’d like to see where, and then only plant what I can afford for now. That means planting my tree and buying the bulbs I want. And I can still reshape the garden, amend the soils and mulch the area. That’ll be it for now.

I’ve got the same story going on in my back yard. We had a new garage installed last year, and we’ve got to cover about 18 inches of unsightly concrete that now rises above the grass. The drip line from the garage roof is only about 9 inches wide, so I’m limited in my plant choices. I’ve spent the past 12 months mulling over what I want to add. I’ve finally figured out what I’ll plant for the most part. The sad fact is I simply can’t get it all at once – no matter how much I want it. But hey – at least I can get started.

Facts

Prices for the same plant may vary, so if you’re on a budget, look around. As long as what you’re buying is good-quality, why pay more?
Soil nurtures your plants their whole life through. (So don’t skimp on amendments.)

Tips

Consider sketching out the plans for your garden, so you won’t forget the plants you want to include when the time comes.
Be wary of end-of-season plant sales – sometimes they’ve just been through the wringer and won’t survive through to the next gardening season no matter how much care you give them. (But do look for container and other hard-good sales – you simply can’t go wrong with them!)

Page 1 of 2

Next Steps

Courses | View All

Creative Containers
Containers can go anywhere, add value and provide luxury to a gardener regardless of experience. Take the Creative Containers course to learn great ways to get started in gardening.

Articles

Bright Ideas for Springtime Bulbs
Enjoying a colorful garden full of flowering bulbs come May means thinking spring long before the April showers! Learn when and how to plant spring-blooming bulbs now – and then get set to enjoy an instant show of rewarding color later.
Accessorize! (Dressing up Your Garden)
Plants aren’t the only things that make a garden great. Garden accessories bring a touch of whimsy and add continued interest to the yard when plants can’t show off their best features.
Shrub Selection and Planting
Knowing what you want – and need – from your shrub is an important step in plant selection. Here are a few questions to consider when picking a shrub, as well as some planting tips.

RATE THIS PAGE

On average this item has been rated a 3 out of 5.