How Does Your Garden Grow? Building Beautiful Roots

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

They say April showers bring May flowers, but first WE have to plant them.

But, say experts, when it comes to picking out flowers, picking the ones you think look the prettiest, isn’t enough. You need to have a plan. And, that means thinking about what look you’re going after and how much you can afford to spend.

Experts suggest sketching a rough draft of your yard or area you’ll be working in and deciding how much of each item, including mulch, new beds, flowers, plants, etc. For a more “polished” look, you may consider hiring a landscape architect or designer for a one-hour consultation.

Take you time with this project add experts, adding that most of us may tend to get overwhelmed as we try to tackle it all at once. Start by looking at your finished project and prioritizing what’s most important to you. Do the work in “baby steps”; maybe even one season at a time, shopping off-season for the best buys, and in no time you’ll admire your work and how “quickly” your garden grew.

Looking to cut back on costs even more? Consider creating your own mulch using compost, grass clippings, newspaper, etc. “Pretty” it up by adding a layer of pine needles or bark mulch over it. These items are often sold in bulk at most garden centers and aren’t too pricy. You can even consider splitting the cost and the mulch with a (local) family member or neighbour. In fact, why stop there? Consider sharing the cost of other gardening items and tools, such as chippers, tillers, etc.

Last, but not least, keep an eye out for good “yard sales”. What experts mean by that is taking the liberty to look for ways to cut corners when shopping for and constructing your garden. Look for plant sales or ask neighbours, friends, etc. if they have plants and perennials they are willing to share or would like to take from you. Try planting your own seeds rather than buying potted plants and look around construction and demolition sites for bricks and stones and “investing” in lightweight faux pots in lieu of real ones, which tend to cost more.

Long Island Home & Lifestyle Articles > How Does Your Garden Grow? Building Beautiful Roots