Landscaping for less

By Darla Hernandez (darlah@wsbt.com)

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To save money on landscaping, experts recommend planting small plants or perennials that will multiply. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: May 25, 2009 at 1:06 PM EST

Story Updated: May 29, 2009 at 10:09 AM EST

GRANGER — Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer and that means many will begin pruning and planting in the yard.

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Dan Freeze with Ginger Valley nursery in Granger says when landscaping for less, have a plan.

"Knowing where you are going to landscape and having some dimensions so you don't over buy,” he explained.

Freeze says small plants will save you big bucks and they will grow. Perennials are another growing trend.

"Fill in with your gaps, maybe some perennials — those are very inexpensive plants but yet they come back every year and multiply,” he said.

If you are on a budget and want to dig up some landscaping materials like mulch or compost, Organic Resource Facility in South Bend is the perfect place.

"We are saving like $80 because this is free and we just come out here and get a whole bunch of bags and keep coming back and forth,” said Ashley Shaw.

If they load it for you it's $4 a yard up to 3 yards; if you load it yourself it's free. But make sure to bring the right tools because there are no shovels or bags. There's no limit to what you take. The service keeps landfill costs down and cuts your costs, too.

"If you shop around we are the cheapest around,” said John Ranschaert with Organic Resource Facility. “We have quite a few community gardens happening this year that they are getting all their material from us and saving money."

So whether it's backyard barbecues or front yard flowers, landscaping for less can be done.

“It's cool,” added Shaw. “You don't have to spend any money, you just come out here and get it free, bag up your own mulch."

Click here for more money-saving ideas and advice, and watch WSBT News at 5 p.m. every Monday.

Click here for gardening and landscaping advice with WSBT Meteorologist Andrew Sweeney, and watch WSBT News Saturday Morning.

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