Green Home Trade (Important Info)

Homeowners sometimes mistakenly believe that in order to have a lush, well landscaped yard you have to invest loads of cash. The truth is, there are a ton of ways to get really cheap plants and materials so that you can turn your backyard into an oasis without spending a fortune. On a tight budget this spring, my husband and I were determined to get our yard looking great. We utilized a few of the resources below to get the look we were looking for- affordably.

Stop Paying for Plants!
If you have time, and patience, you can easily grow your own plants just by taking cuttings off the plants you already have in your yard- or can find around town. Last spring I took cuttings from hydrangeas and camellias in my yard; cuttings from azaleas from a local park; and cuttings from shrubs from my neighbors yard (with her permission of course!) and was able to produce almost a dozen new plants that were ready for planting this spring.

How to: Cutting is one way to propagate a plant where you cut off a small portion of an established plant in order to grow a new plant from the cutting. Some plants are easier to propagate than others so some of this will just take trial and error. Use this webpage on Plant Cuttings to get detailed step-by-step advice on how to make successful cuttings from existing plants. Once your cuttings are established, you can plant them in your yard. Remember, while they may still be small the first year, they will grow! Ask a local nursery about the maximum growing potential for your plants so you can pick the perfect spot to plant them.

Money Does Grow on Trees…or Vines at Least!
Make your garden earn for you this summer by planting a vegetable and herb garden. The Burpee Seed company announced a few months ago that the average family can save up to $700/year by growing their own produce.

How to: Find out what herbs and vegetables grow well in your area by asking around at a farmers market or produce stand. If you start early enough in the year, you can grow your veggies and herbs from seed. Otherwise, you can probably purchase some cheap seedlings from a local farmers market. Find a really sunny spot in your yard as vegetable and herbs require a lot of sun. Give your seedlings room to grow and plenty of water. You might want to consider using an organic pesticide if bugs become a problem- however- there are ways to make this from scratch without spending money at the store. Read this eHow article on How to Make Homemade Pesticides. If you have an overabundance of fruits and vegetables, can or jar them so that you can enjoy them in the winter time. This will save you even more cash!

Use CraigsList.com for Cheap Materials
Instead of paying full price for landscaping materials at home stores, use other resources to find really cheap deals. Ever heard the expression, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” That’s how I felt a few months ago when I found a woman on CraigsList who was looking to get rid of all the pine straw she had raked out of her yard. Since I really needed something to line the bed of my rose garden, the deal worked out perfect. I rid her of her pine straw problem- and got some free bedding material in return.

How to: Before purchasing mulch, pine straw, bricks or other materials for your garden beds check CraigsList.com. Also, local builders often donate extra building materials which you can in turn find real cheap at a local Habitat for Humanity Homestore. And don’t be afraid to wheel and deal a little bit. Make a fair offer on a stack of patio stones and you might just get it!