20 Ideas for Saving Money and Time in the Garden

How much time and money is too much? A.Don’t have time B.1 to 4 hours C.4 to 8 hours D.Wish I had more time A.$50 to $100 B.$100 to $300 C.$300 to $500 D.I don’t keep track What takes the most time? What costs the most?

Start with Good Design Know your plants Know your soil Know your climate

Low Maintenance that doesn’t look it Simplicity Repetition Personality Editing

Use big plants Arching, cascading or vase shape with wide spread Low-growing with mounding or irregular shape Larger plants = Fewer plants

Use evergreen plants Color and foliage all year Neat growth habit = less trimming

Choose colorful foliage over flowers Flowers = deadheading, regular maintenance Large foliage with color and interesting shapes and textures Coarse textures, complex shapes

Use plants with a naturally pleasing form Requires less trimming Plants with a loose, open form can grow naturally Mix forms for variety and interest

Use a simple plant palette with fewer, hardy plants Repeat the same types of plants in several beds Group plants with same water needs

Slightly crowd plants Install so they touch and slightly overlap at maturity Dense foliage helps keeps weeds down

Fit the plant to the space Slow-growing, small plants in small areas Match the natural shape of the plant to the shape of the space

Use small trees or large shrubs for shade Fewer leaves to rake Trees with small leaves don’t require raking

Be OK with bare soil and leaf litter Leave sandy soil bare under trees Leaves under trees for mulch

Use structures for spatial organization of the garden Provide edges and mass to frame plant material Gives garden a finished look

Use containers and planters in plant beds and on patios and decks Containers add year-around color and texture Use only one or two long-blooming or foliage plants for easy care

Use garden ornaments Functional ornaments- supports for plants or homes for wildlife Large ornaments- avoid scattering small ornaments around yard

Use several small patios or seating areas Small open areas organize the yard into functional spaces Lay brick, pavers, or stone on sand for drainage

Use overhead structures to provide shade Arbors and pergolas where trees are a maintenance problem Or where trees cannot be located- close to buildings or utility lines

Use outdoor furniture for color and texture Set the theme for the landscape Show personal style and color preferences Use durable outdoor materials and fabric

Use garden walls, low fences, and pathways Separate beds with pathways or short walls to provide a neat look

Build in planters around decks and patios Keep plants and mulch contained and off patio Easier to water and trim plants from the deck

Hide or disguise unattractive areas Hide dog runs, blank walls and work areas Screen with fence, lattice, vines on a trellis Cover bare areas with large rocks, stone pathways, dry stream beds

Stormwater management Route water away from house Retain water on site for irrigation Protect areas from erosion with rocks