I just received a beautiful Christmas card in the mail from one of my best friends. It features a photo of her three children sitting in her front yard surrounded by plump hydrangeas, colorful azaleas, and big purple orchids. (Did I mention she lives in Hawaii?) After staring at the picture for a while I looked out my own bedroom window at the brown grass peaking out from what remains of our recent snowfall. When you are surrounded by snow, frigid temperatures, and dormant vegetation you often forget there are areas of the world where homeowners are treated to year round blossoms.
My friend’s garden serves as the inspiration for this blog. (It’s been a while since I wrote a blog about gardens.) To help me shake this cold weather slump and simultaneously provide a service to you I offer these tips (mainly for those of you whose yards and gardens are currently under several inches of snow)… after all, spring is just four months away.
Keep It Cheap and Simple
Whenever I look at my yard after a serious spring thaw I feel like calling in the professionals. Resist the urge to do so. If you need planting help consider calling your county’s agricultural extension office. The employees there are just as helpful, knowledgeable (they provide information on what to grow, what climate zone your home is in and the length of your growing season), and patient as professional high-priced gardeners, but they offer their services at no cost to you.
Another way to save money: Grow plants from seeds rather than buying them. If you are even more frugal you could collect seeds from your own or a neighbor’s plants. However, if you decide to go this route, remember growing from seeds takes time and effort. If you find the seeds you are fond of require a lot of attention, such as special lights, treatments, etc. it might ultimately be cheaper to buy plants. Though, if you do opt for plants, you may want to think small rather than big. Stroll around any lawn and garden store and you’ll soon realize that more mature plants cost more.
As for adding simplicity to your garden, here’s a tip that has served me well: Plant perennials. Perennials bloom year-in and year-out, whereas annuals bloom once and that’s it. Avoid replanting every spring by dotting your yard with a few perennials. Another tip: visit your local botanical garden to see what plants and flowers flourish in your region. Often you can purchase seeds or cuttings from the garden’s shop to add to your own garden.
Check back for more simple and affordable ways you can add to your garden.
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