Gardening can be quite expensive, but it is gratifying to see the seedlings you have planted and cultivated grow into full bloom. Maintaining a garden can be hard, but if you want your plants to grow, then you have to do it. You can maintain your garden yourself but if you are a busy person then you can get services such as hedge maintenance, jet washing, etc online for your garden. Here are some tips for stretching your landscape dollar.
Do Some Mulching
A ‘mulch’ is a layer of usually organic material applied on the surface of the soil. Mulches typically include tree bark, wood chips, dead leaves, hay, and other organic material. These mulch layers contribute to the overall health of the soil as they generally help retain moisture, suppress weed growth, control soil temperature, and make the garden beautiful.
Mulching is a long-established horticultural procedure, and for good measure. Mulching has a whole host of other benefits such as protecting plants from the freezing and thawing brought by winter, slowing down soil erosion, keeping plants off the ground to avoid disease, and warming the soil just before spring.
Maintaining a layer of two to three inches of mulch around and under your plants will save them from disturbances caused by weather. However, be careful of over-mulching as they can suffocate the plant. Mulches are also convenient hiding places for pests such as snails and slugs, so take the proper precautions.
Vinegar Does Wonders in the Garden
Vinegar is not only a wonder ingredient in the kitchen, but it also has plenty of uses in the garden. You can save money by using vinegar in the place of many commercial things.
Clay pots, when aging, absorb lots of salts, minerals, and calcium from fertilizers. Instead of buying new ones and struggling to move plants to their new home, mix vinegar with water to clean them. Spraying pure white vinegar onto wall and walkway crevices eliminates weeds. Vinegar sprays also deter ants and fruit flies, kill weeds, prevent fungus, and cleans the rust from garden tools.
Choose Hard-Workers
If you find yourself spending more time taking care of your flower garden than relaxing in them, then considering replacing them with hardworking plants, they are plants that perform for months on end, without asking much in return.
Hard workers bloom for longer, are less susceptible to pests and diseases, and require little maintenance. Perfect for the busy garden owner. Hard-working plants will look good for more than a season, saving you some money from purchasing separate crops for separate seasons.
Propagate Plants
Instead of stocking up on multiple seedlings and cultivating all of them, grow only one and propagate it to multiply them. Plant propagation is the surest and easiest way to increase your plants in little to no expense.
Vegetative propagation processes include grafting, layering, division, and cuttings. All are great ways to grow numerous plants all at once without spending more money on seedlings. Plants that grow from the propagated parts are essentially clones of the parent plant, so they inherit their traits. If you cloned a hardy plant, then the offspring will be robust, too, helping you save money.
Solar Energy Powered Lighting
If you are more on the affluent side, then chances are you have a more extensive garden full of pathways, fountains, and ornamental lights. In this age, alternative sources of electricity are prevalent, and solar-powered gardens are becoming more common.
A solar garden pond or water installment adds ambiance to the place, as well as helping the birds, bees, or insects. The presence of water in a garden helps cultivate the ecosystem all year round. Accent lighting, low-level pathway lighting, and security lighting allow the enjoyment of the garden even at night. Power them with solar panels to save up on electricity bills.
Quality Tools
Invest in tools for the long run. Buy garden tools that would last long. They may be a heftier up-front investment, but it pays to know that your devices will not break down and break apart easily, and if cared for enough, may never really be needed to be replaced.
Yes, it may be hard to pass up that cheap shovel, but when you’re digging in rocky or clay soil, or frequently needs to cut and prune, then it pays to have the quality tool.
Cardboard
Cardboard is one of the easiest ways to deter the growth of weeds and is wholly organic. It is biodegradable and lasts for more than a season.
Trim the weeds and grasses to ground level, then lay cardboard above them. Afterward, soak the pieces of cardboard with water, and then cover them with a thick layer of rock or mulch. This will prevent those pesky weeds from cropping up around your plants ever again.
Leave the Clippings
After mowing your garden, leave the grass clippings on the ground. It is a great way to save on fertilizer as they’ll decompose and add their nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
However, care that you don’t leave too many grass clippings, especially if you let the grass go long between mowings. Too many clippings and grass could smother your soil and the lawn, as well.
Maintaining a garden does not have to be super expensive; you just have to be a little bit creative. Stave off a few bucks from your garden maintenance with these money-saving tips.
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