Most citizens of Lawrence and throughout the United States let out a collective gasp when they received their heating bills this winter.  I know in my household we incorporated the “layered look” when lounging around and kept the thermostat low to keep our wallets fat.  Just as the weather is letting up and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel of bills, it happens, we go to fill up our cars and right back into the dark tunnel we go.  Plus the dreaded April 15^th, otherwise known as tax day, is looming in the not too distant future.  Something’s got to give without us terminating every activity we love to do in order to save our dough.

Well if gardening is one of those activities you thought you’d have to scratch off your dance card, think again.  There are many ways to get out into the yard, dig in the dirt and not break the bank in the process.

Water-Thrifty Gardening 

There is a plethora of ways to cut back on the water bills this gardening season and if you follow some of these simple “rules” you should notice a difference in your bill.

• Water early in the morning, plants and lawns like to be able to burn off the water application over the course of the day.  This will help to prevent molds and mildews from developing on your plants.
• Water less frequently but deeply, this will establish the roots of you plants.  If the water soaks deep into the earth the roots will head in that direction and ultimately get more water.
• Water the soil, not the plants.  By using soaker hoses and keeping the water off of plants leaves will help to keep some diseases at bay and all the water is going where it should be, the plants roots.
• Mulch, by generously applying a layer of mulch your plants will retain much more of the water you feed them.
• Chooses drought-tolerant plants.
• Mow the lawn at a high level and keep the clippings in the yard, those clippings will return valuable water back to the lawn.
• Let your lawn go dormant, the lawn will go brown but it will be storing it’s water reserves in the roots and when fall rolls around it will turn green again.
• Collect and recycle water by connecting downspouts to rain barrels to gather the runoff.  You may also consider using water from boiling pasta and steaming vegetables on your plants, once it has cooled of course.

Reuse 

• Look for found objects that would make good plant containers, poke a hole in the bottom and save a bundle on pots.
• Farmers will often put ad’s in the classifieds for free manure, they have too much on their hands and you don’t have to pay for it at a nursery.
• Old banana peels work well for rose fertilizer.
• The six-packs that plants come in at the nursery are great to use for sprouting seeds, once you wash them thoroughly.
• Save old potting soil in a big pile, the stems and roots will break down and actually enrich the soil, add some compost and replant this years pots with last years soil.

Bargains 

• Purchase smaller plants.  Plants that are a gallon or quart size usually represent being in a nursery for 2 years.  Those years of water, time and space will add up in the nurseries pocketbooks, so stick with smaller plants.
• Shop the end of the season sales.  Nursery’s generally have big sales so they do not have to over-winter many of their plants.  Scavenge for the good bargains.  Perennials are the best bet even if they are yellowing, as long as their root system looks healthy. 
• Buy perennials if you are on a budget because they come back year after year.

Sharing/Dividing 

• Embrace volunteer plants and plants that spread themselves, they are a blessing for the thrifty gardener.
• Start your plants from seed.  Even go as far as to collect seeds from your own garden when you dead head.  Possibly even organize a seed exchange with friends and neighbors.
• Take cuttings from plants like Fuchsias, geraniums, coleus, flowering maples and propagate them.
• Divide crowded plants such as daylilies, hosta, iris and yarrow and either spread them around your garden to fill up the space or exchange them with friends for plants that they have that you would like.
• Go shopping with a friend with the understanding that you each buy a different plant and then at the end of the season either divide that plant or take cuttings and share.

In these expensive times it is still important to not be cheap, spend your gardening dollars wisely on things such as fences, tools and furnishings.  Items that you want to withstand the test of time often will require more dough up front but will be a great long term investment.  So do not despair this season and think that you simply cannot afford to add to the yard, you can and your pocketbook won’t be any the wiser.

• $457 amount annually per household on lawn and garden expenses.
• $38.4 billion amount annually spent nationwide on lawn and garden retail sales.
• $28.9 billion amount annually spent on professional landscaping, lawn service and tree service.
• Real estate agents estimate that landscape expenditures result in a 15%-20% return on investment.