With so many things vying for our family’s money, lawn care always seems like one of the last things to get accounted for. I can only find something to spend out hard-earned cash on that outranks lawn care. I don’t, however, want our yard to take on the neglected, brown look that so many homes have taken on lately (foreclosures are hard on curb appeal). How can a family have a presentable lawn without spending more than we absolutely have to? Here are a few things we’ve tried.
Do It Yourself Lawn Care – Although I would love to delegate the mowing and trimming tasks to someone else, paying someone else to perform our yard maintenance is way too expensive. We have a relatively small yard, so we just have to relegate ourselves to the reality of having to drag the mower around. (Mr. NMOM usually has this job but I think that’s because he actually enjoys it somewhat – except when it’s 100 degrees outside).
Limited Bedding Plants – I love a splash of color in our landscaping as much as anyone does. I don’t love, though, the extra time and care it takes to mow around flower beds. Buying plants for these beds can carry a hefty price tag, too. Limiting our family to one or two flower beds allows me too enjoy a few flowers without edging up the cost of our landscaping too much.
Choose Hardy Plants – Whether you’re choosing shrubs, flowering plants, or the type of grass to use in your own, your choice of plant can go a long way towards keeping costs down. Try to choose plants that belong in your region so that you don’t have to feed them tons of fertilizers. You can also select drought-resistant plants that won’t need an excessive amount of water during the hot, summer months.
Everything Starts from a Seed – When you buy mature plants, a portion of your payment can be attributed to the labor that some nursery worker put into nurturing a seed into the beautiful plant you see today. If your budget is limited, you can save money by putting that labor into your plant yourself. Start bedding plants from seed during the early spring. You should also skip purchasing sod; seeding your existing yard may not be as gratifying right away, but you’ll certainly save money.
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2 responses so far ↓
1 saving money on household expenses // Jul 30, 2009 at 1:58 am
According to me saving money is very important factor, so we have to see all small things from which we can save single penny. This recession applies to household expenses. Check out some ways for saving like always look for sale, don’t use bottled water, always buy from same shop. Evey person should inculcate the habit of savings for brighter and secured future. For more details on saving money refer http://www.prime-targeting.com/tips-on-saving-money-on-household-expenses/
2 David // Jul 30, 2009 at 6:07 am
With respect to lawn care, I would also add in there some well-timed watering schedules.
You can make your waterig more effective by watering before 8 AM and after 10 PM.
They force us to do it here in Atlanta because of a water shortage.
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