Money-Saving Hacks For a Lush and Vibrant Landscape
Do you dream of a lush landscape where you can spend your days, relaxing amidst the beauty of evergreen forests and blooms galore? These landscapes don’t just exist in fairytales, and despite popular belief, you don’t need a million dollars to grow a beautiful space!
In this blog, we will highlight some of the key money-saving hacks you can use to grow a landscape that fulfills all of your wildest planting dreams! We will also highlight a few of our favorite economical planting choices to get you started.
How to Save Big While Growing a Gorgeous Yard
Shop Small & Grow Tall
Our number one tip for saving money on a yard makeover is to shop small and grow tall. By this, we mean opting for the less robust, smaller option, but choosing a plant variety with a fast growth rate. A great example of this is in the realm of planting for privacy. Many of our fast-growing privacy trees are available in small container sizes, but don’t let their initial size fool you! The majority of our fast-growing evergreen trees grow at rapid rates, nearing 3-5 feet per year.
Plant For The Long Haul
If you’re new to gardening, you may not know the difference between annuals and perennials. But the difference could save you big in the grand scheme of things! Annuals, while bold and beautiful, complete their entire life cycle in one growing season. They sprout, bloom, and die all within a year. Perennials, on the other hand, come back year after year, often with a stage of dormancy from late fall through the winter.
In short, while perennials may sometimes cost a bit more at the time of purchase, they fill out and multiply over time, so they are a long-term investment. An added bonus with perennials is that year after year, as they grow and spread, you can dig them up and divide them to spread them throughout the garden.
Plant at Prime Time
A final tip for saving money in the landscape is to shop and grow in the fall. Despite popular belief that spring is the best time to garden, fall is actually the most ideal time, both for money-saving purposes and for the sake of healthy, happy plants! Fall’s mild weather puts less stress on new plants, meaning they need less frequent watering and will save you money on the water bill. Additionally, in the fall, landscape plants put more energy into growing strong roots. A stronger root system and multiple seasons to become established mean your plant will be happier and healthier next spring and summer, which would cut down on replacement costs.
The end-of-season discounts are the final reason why fall is the prime time to landscape. It’s no secret that plant nurseries have their biggest sales of the season in the fall and winter months, making it the perfect time to stock up and grow your dream landscape at a fraction of the spring prices!
Budget-Friendly Plants That Pack a Punch
Fast-Growing Trees
If you want to grow a lush, living privacy wall in record time, our three best-selling evergreens, Leyland Cypress, Thuja Green Giant, and Murray Cypress, are unbeatable. All three boast rapid growth rates of 3–5 feet per year, quickly transforming open spaces into serene, secluded retreats. The Leyland Cypress offers soft, dense foliage and remarkable adaptability, the Thuja Green Giant delivers a naturally uniform shape with exceptional pest and deer resistance, and the Murray Cypress thrives in heat and humidity with strong, year-round coverage. Together, they’re low-maintenance, budget-friendly, and perfect for quickly creating the privacy you want.
Large, Fast-Spreading Perennials
For long-lasting beauty that keeps giving year after year, consider some perennials that are hardy to the elements and spread quickly. Daylilies, Hostas, and Black-Eyed Susans are unbeatable budget-friendly picks. Daylilies are hardy, low-maintenance, and multiply quickly, hostas thrive in shady spots and can be divided to fill new areas, and Black-Eyed Susans offer a long bloom period, drought tolerance, and the bonus of reseeding themselves—meaning more plants without spending more.
Flowering Shrubs with Multi-Season
Interest
In addition to perennials and fast-growing trees, incorporating shrubs with multiple seasons of interest is a great way to save money in the landscape. A few standout options include our Autumn Encore Azaleas, our fall and spring-blooming Camellias, or Spirea shrubs. These plants either offer lustrous evergreen foliage or a vibrant show of fall foliage! Not to mention the seasonal blooms that bring unmatched beauty to the landscape year after year.
Classic Evergreen Shrubs
A final key to landscaping on a budget is to include lush evergreen shrubs. These plants bring year-round color, are often relatively low-maintenance, and add beauty and value to any outdoor space. A great money-saving option is opting for inkberry hollies instead of boxwood shrubs. Inkberry Hollies boast similar lustrous leaves and compact form, but have fewer disease issues and are often a much cheaper option.
Save Big In The Landscape Today
Creating a lush, vibrant landscape doesn’t have to drain your wallet. By choosing smart, budget-friendly plants, planting at the right time, and focusing on long-term growth, you can enjoy a beautiful outdoor space that evolves and multiplies yearly. From fast-growing evergreens to hardy perennials and versatile shrubs, these money-saving hacks make cultivating the yard of your dreams possible without overspending. Start small, plant wisely, and watch your landscape flourish!