No matter where you turn, the cost of everything keeps going up while wages seem to stagnate. Even though minimum wage is slowly rising, inflation is rising much faster, which makes it hard to budget, even at the best of times. Why not look at ways to landscape your lawn and garden, which can make your home the loveliest on the block while saving you tons of money in the process? Have you ever thought of growing your own fruits and vegetables? What about herbs? Some of these have the most beautiful blossoms and foliage on earth, but the best part is the savings you will realize on your grocery bills. Here are some ideas to explore.
Tips for New Gardeners
If you have never grown any of your own edible plants, you may want to learn how to germinate seeds, when to plant and when to harvest. You’ll also need to know what kinds of nutrients your plants will need for optimal growth and how to care for them along the way. New gardeners should always check out sites like Lovebackyard.Com to find reliable tips on fruit and vegetable gardening.
Beware of Crawlers
If you have limited space, the one type of plant you’ll want to avoid is a crawler. For example, zucchini is a great squash to grow in limited space because it is a ‘bush’ type squash. However, spaghetti squash is a crawler that sends tendrils out, which can easily take over the entire space you’ve allocated to it! It is important not only to know when to plant your veggies but also you will need to know how your plant grows, especially in small spaces. In fact, even without a garden area, some vegetables and fruits do very well in pots or containers.
Companion Plants for Added Beauty
Then there are companion plants that do well when growing next to each other in your garden area. This is because they release nutrients the others need for optimal health, but sometimes one plant adds something that the other lacks. Consider for a moment garlic and roses as companion plants. There is nothing particularly appealing about garlic. You eat the bulb that grows underground but the leaves are simply green stalks shooting up as the garlic grows.
When planted next to roses, both plants do extremely well in their companion nutrient-sharing life cycles. What is lovelier than a rose? When it comes to landscaping, you might not want to invest in decorative plants, but when they nourish plants you are growing to eat, the expense is well worth it, wouldn’t you say?
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
You may not get it right the first year you try your hand at landscaping with edible plants, but over time, you will find that you really can save tons of money by producing many of your own fruits, vegetables, tubers (potatoes) and greens. Have you checked the price of fresh produce lately? If you’ve noticed just how expensive these commodities are, you’ll be happy to have your very own garden that also serves to add beauty to your lawn and garden. Have fun and may you have a bounteous harvest this year and every year to follow.
