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A Compost Primer
Most gardeners and landscapers will agree almost unanimously that the single best thing you can do for your lawn is to add compost. Good, organic compost can remedy almost any problem you have with your soil. If you soil is too acidic, adding...
Finding Anything You Need About Landscaping On The 'Net
If you're researching resources on landscaping, anything got
notably easier since the dawning of the cyberspace. Can you
remember the time when you had to buy some books when you wanted
to come across anything appropriate to landscaping? Not a...
Gardening: Creating Your Own Private Paradise
What comes to mind when the word "gardening" crops up (no pun
intended) is a lady in her golden years happily oblivious to the
outside world, efficiently caring for flowers, shrubs and all
other kinds of plants, in her own Garden of Eden.
...
Rooftop deck makeover
Flat rooftops can offer great opportunities for conversion into attractive entertaining or relaxing areas, but contemplating a vast expanse of drab concrete or asphalt and envisaging how to attack such a problem, can be a rather daunting prospect. ...
Viburnums: Shrubs With All Season Interest
Viburnums: Shrubs with All Season Interest Viburnums are the
most attractive, versatile, adaptable shrubs for any landscape.
They can be used as hedges or screens and in mixed
perennial/shrub borders. They can also stand alone as...
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Low Cost Home Landscaping Tips
Installing and maintaining landscaping around your home can be a
costly undertaking. Even the perfect landscape can end up a
source of vexation instead of pleasure -- if it costs you more
than you can afford to install and keep up.
With these few helpful tips, you can save money on your
landscaping without sacrificing quality or beauty.
Plan Before You Spend
Plan before you make any purchases. Without a plan, you may buy
things you don't really need, and that can waste money.
Begin with a rough sketch of your landscape design. Next find
out exactly what you need to make it possible. If you need
advice, there are a number of websites where you can get ideas
for creating your project. Specialty stores and some home
improvement warehouses have experts on hand who can give you
pointers.
Once you've done your homework, and know exactly what you need,
you can start spending, without fear of money wasters intruding.
Purchase In Phases
Your written plan should include a timetable for when you will
install each portion of your landscape. Most people can't afford
to make all the changes at once. Planning your landscape project
in phases lets you buy what you need as you go, and as the money
becomes available. This phased financing lets you avoid the
interest and fees associated with home improvement loans or
putting your purchases on credit cards.
Don't Sacrifice Quality
It's good to remember that cheaper is not always better. If
there is very little difference in quality, then buying the
cheaper item is naturally the best course. However, local stores
are often staffed with seasoned experts who will share their
wisdom for free if you ask questions while making a purchase.
Specialty stores can give you accurate information on installing
a water feature, for example. If you are inexperienced in
landscaping, you can save money in the long run by spending a
little extra for better service, experienced help and advice.
Check Plants Carefully
If you're making your purchases at a "big box" store, be sure to
carefully inspect plants for diseases and insect problems. These
stores seldom give their plants the kind of care that a nursery
would. If the plant you buy is diseased, you'll have
to buy it
all over again when it dies, and that's money down the drain.
Furthermore, the disease or pest can spread to your other
landscaping. Many nurseries offer warranties and guarantees free
of charge on their plants.
Buy When Prices Are Low
If you plan your landscaping ahead, you can determine when each
phase needs to be accomplished. You can buy lumber during the
winter when it is cheaper, and store it until you are ready to
use it. Buy trees, shrubs, perennials, mulch, and soil late in
the season when the prices go down. In most places, you can wait
until October to make your maintenance purchases and still have
time to winterize your landscape. Keep an eye out for plant
sales at local nurseries. You can find really good quality
plants at low prices this way.
Pursue Other Resources
Explore alternative resources. Stores are not the only places to
get what you need. You can order through catalogs or online.
Membership in a garden and seed club can yield very good prices
on many items, as well as useful advice.
Try arranging a plant exchange in your neighborhood. Some cities
offer low-price or free mulch and compost, and you can check
construction or demolition sites for free stones and bricks.
Neighborhood Cost Sharing
Approach your neighbors about sharing costs. If you pool your
resources, you can get some good deals on items bought in bulk,
and everyone benefits. In the same vein, you can share the
rental fees for machinery such as chippers, tillers, and
aerators. If everyone chips in a few dollars, you can work out a
schedule that lets each neighbor use the equipment before it is
due back. This is a great way to reduce the costs of your
landscaping.
By heeding a few of these money-saving tips, you can hold down
your costs and create a beautiful landscape that you can afford
to maintain.
About the author:
Visit
Home Landscaping to learn more. Ron King is a full-time
researcher, writer, and web developer, visit his website at Website
Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the
resource box is left intact and the links live.
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| Landscaping Ideas | Landscape Design | Landscaping Pictures |
| Information for homeowners on hardscape and softscape elements in landscape design. Includes a chat room and forum. |
| landscaping.about.com |
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| Gardening - Landscaping |
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| www.homeandfamilynetwork.com |
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| Gardening |
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| Landscaping - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Landscape architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Gardening Landscaping & Design - Landscape Gardening for Patios ... |
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| EERE Consumer's Guide: Landscaping |
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| www.eere.energy.gov |
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| Planning the Home Landscape |
| Advice and tips for planning, preparing, and constructing a new landscape area. |
| aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu |
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| Landscaping Ideas, Designs, Pictures and Plans for the Home. |
| Respond?s community provides landscaping ideas for the home. Find landscaping designs, pictures and plans to help you design the best landscape for your ... |
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| Landscaping & Design |
| Turn your yard into a spectacular showpiece, whether you're planning all-new landscaping or hoping to update a flower bed. |
| www.bhg.com |
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| Great Lakes Environment: Greenacres-Green Landscaping |
| A key source of Great Lakes environmental information. |
| www.epa.gov |
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| Landscaping - Outdoors - homesite.com.au |
| Landscaping - homesite.com.au, Australia’s No.1 home and garden web site. |
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| H2ouse.org : Tour : Landscaping |
| Attractive gardens and landscape add to the value of your home and bring ... Upgrade the look of your landscape by learning the how-to's of proper lawn care ... |
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| Landscapers | Landscaping |
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| Complete Landscape Design for Do It Yourselfers |
| Do it yourself tips, tricks, guidelines, and resources for home landscape design. |
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| Landscaping Ideas | 2854 + Landscaping Pictures |
| Landscaping Ideas To Make Your Homes Beautiful. ... Click here to access all 4290+ landscaping photos, and get instant access to valuable savings coupons to ... |
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| Landscaping for Energy Efficiency |
| Are you looking for cost-effective yet eye-pleasing ways to lower your energy bills? Planting trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and hedges could be the answer. |
| www.pioneerthinking.com |
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| Edible Landscaping Online |
| Only the most productive disease resistant varieties make it onto the approved list here at Edible Landscaping. Our plants are guaranteed to arrive healthy ... |
| www.ediblelandscaping.com |
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| Free Landscaping Ideas, Landscapes, Front Yard, Garden Landscaping |
| Landscaping ideas that transform your boring, unattractive yard into the picture perfect oasis you've always dreamed of. Find out h... |
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