Backyard Landscaping Ideas For The Frugal Gardener

If you are looking to add beauty to your yard

, but are on a limited budget, making the most of what you already have can drastically cut your expenses. There are many backyard landscaping ideas that are easy to do while saving you money. Some can make a huge difference, even save you money, and be surprisingly thrifty.

Checking with your municipality for free mulch is a great place to start. Many cities and towns turn tree clippings into mulch, and allow residents to take it away. This is a much cheaper option than buying it by the bag, especially if you need lots. By helping the soil to retain water, mulch can cut down on the watering needs of your yard, and even save you money when the water bill arrives. Spread it around the roots of plants and the bases of trees and it can help naturally fertilize as well.

By splitting your existing perennials, you can have double the plants with zero cost. Checking online for the proper way to do this, and in what season, can help ensure you do not damage the plant and are successful when replanting it. More perennials mean that you will need to spend less money on buying annual flowers, and perennials spread and multiply each year.

Building a simple compost bin will give you plenty of free fertilizer for your lawn, garden and flowerbeds. Make a frame with wood, enclose the sides with chicken wire, and fill with grass clippings, leaves and kitchen scraps. Place it in an accessible area, and turn it regularly with a garden fork to ensure even decomposition of the materials inside.

If you are green with envy over your neighbor's plants, ask to take clippings so you can add them to your own landscape. Seeds can also be collected from annuals and planted the next year. A quick internet search will tell you how to properly root the plant clippings.

You can also save money on your water bill by installing a rainwater collection barrel. Pre-assembled packages are available, or you can buy a simple barrel and make your own. Hardware such as a tap is inexpensive, and installing it is reasonably easy with a drill and caulking. Ensure that you cover any openings with screen to discourage mosquitoes from using it as a breeding place. Use your collected water for plants, but never for drinking.

Bricks and stones can sometimes be obtained from demolition sites. Always obtain permission before you even set foot in the area, and never take anything without asking. Bricks are handy border material, and could be used for an inexpensive fire pit, if they are allowed in your area. Using stones in your landscaping is a natural and beautiful way to add interest to a simple flower bed without spending money at all.

Landscaping on a budget does not mean you cannot have a beautiful yard. Planning for what you hope to accomplish, and finding ways to obtain materials inexpensively, or even free, is not difficult. Use the resources available, and this may lead to frugally creative ideas of your own.

by: Richard McIntyre

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