Landscaping Ideas on a Cheap Budget

Start landscaping with a well-designed plan and go slowly.

Whether you've inherited a yard in need of renovation or you have a newly constructed house with an empty lot, you'll quickly learn that landscaping isn't cheap. Get educated first by reading books on landscaping design or visiting a botanical garden. Develop a two- to three-year plan, and build your garden slowly. Don't skimp on soil amendments. Good soil will pay for itself down the road in healthy, fast-growing plants.

Lawns

Seeding a lawn is much less expensive than laying sod. Fall is the best time of year to plant seed, according to Cornell University; you'll use less water, and fewer weeds will compete with the young seedlings. A lawn grown from seed may take two or three years to fill in completely, and you may have to reseed bare spots. The extra effort pays off, though, because seeded lawns are healthier and have deeper root systems than sod.

Edging

Homeowners will discover that design elements such as stone and metal edging quickly dent the budget. Instead, try Victorian edging, a simple trench system used by gardeners before edging materials were available. Dig a V-shaped trench along the edge of flower beds to keep soil out of the lawn. Trenches are attractive and simple to mow, although they do require yearly maintenance.

Perennials

Instead of buying enough plants to fill in a perennial bed, buy only a few. Within a year or two, they'll be large enough to divide and replant. Soon, they'll spread to fill in any empty spaces.

Fall Planting

Buy perennials and trees in the fall on clearance. Planting in the fall when temperatures are cool is less stressful on perennials and trees than planting them midsummer. Most survive the winter just fine, especially if you apply a wood chip mulch.

Leftovers

Ask friends for their leftovers. Sooner or later, gardeners must divide perennials, and most are happy to share any they don't need. If you're ambitious, learn how to take root cuttings from friends' plants. You can add plants quickly to your yard using this method.

References

• Cornell University Gardening Resources: Lawn Renovation and Establishment
• Fine Gardening: Economical Edging for Beds
• "The Garden Primer"; Barbara Damrosch; 1988

Resources

• Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Growing Perennial Flowers