Shopping, for me, is always done out of pure necessity. I donât get any pleasure out of it and would rather be doing a whole litany of things outside the confines of a store, rather than being inside it. There is one thing I do enjoy about shopping though. It is that at Kohlâs at the end of the whole experience, I get to look up at the large screen that details the purchases and circled in red, is the amount of money that I saved. It is a good feeling knowing that I chose wisely and am saving some money.
This column, the third in a series of four, highlights ways that you may be able to save money on your landscaping and gardening projects. The two previous columns have covered topics such as resources to consider using when planning a project and ways to develop a landscape design. With that information in hand, the implementation of the project begins.
First and foremost, purchase with a purpose. Know what you are buying. Make sure it is the appropriate plant for the environmental conditions in which it will be placed. Yes, we would all like to purchase a pair of jeans that is one size smaller than we actually wear, but even if they are on sale, it will be a waste of money.
Collect coupons and codes. Before shopping check the storeâs website paying special attention to any coupons or codes that might be available. Signing up for a weekly email often results in some introductory offer. Seasonal sales are also a great way to save a few dollars.
Organize a plant exchange among friends and/or neighbors. It seems that most of us have things in our yard that might actually grow a bit healthier or flower more if they were divided. Collect some empty containers, a few extra plants, and call it a Planting Party! Please be sure to label all of the plants that are exchanged though.
The toughest question my kids ask me each year is âWhat do you want for your birthday?â Honestly, anything that I really want I am probably going to drag myself to the store to get. I have started to answer those questions by asking for an âExperiential present.â Thatâs a fancy way to say I ask them to do something with me. Want some yard work done? Consider asking for help instead of a present for your birthday, Motherâs Day or Fatherâs Day.
Purchasing plants that are low maintenance will save you money in the short and long term. While low maintenance is a very non-descript term, with a little research you may be able to make better plant purchasing decisions. Low maintenance may refer to the fact that the plant doesnât need as much overall care as other plants. This could include pruning, watering, and/or fertilizing.
Plants come in various sizes. If you are on a tight budget you may find that a smaller size plant will work better for you. I have never seen a direct correlation between the size of the plant and the success rate of the plant. The one exception to that may be planting from seed. Often times I hear from homeowners that have tried planting seed directly into a flower bed and then really arenât sure what are seeds and what are weeds when the plants start to germinate.
Purchase plants that are disease and/or insect resistant where applicable. There are certain families of plants that are particularly susceptible to insects or diseases. Crab trees for instance often get apple scab. Try to save yourself years of expense from treating the disease by purchasing a tree that is apple scab resistant. The same would be true for roses. Insects are often a problem on roses. By looking for roses that insect resistant the potential is there that you may save yourself time and money over the life span of the roses. It is important to note that the plants are only insect or disease resistant not insect or disease proof.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
