Thrifty Flower Gardening

Flower gardening can be an exhilarating experience and is a hobby enjoyed by many. Growing your own blooms is especially satisfying. What might not be so pleasant, however, is the hefty price tag that often comes with producing a beautiful garden. Gardening can be expensive but there are plenty of ways to cut costs and still enjoy the blooms.

Plant Perennials

Planting perennials will help you save tremendously. Perennials are plants that die in the fall and spring back to life in the spring. They bloom for short periods of time, but they make a colorful statement each time they return. Lilies, daffodils, and tulips are just some of the perennials that come back year after year. Plant the bulbs in the fall and these lovely flowers will usher in the spring. Irises are also perennials that are easy to grow. They multiply quickly and ‚”offshoots” can be broken off (be careful to keep the roots intact) and planted elsewhere. To create a truly satisfying perennial experience, choose plants that bloom at various times and plant in intervals.

Ornamental grasses add a bit of zest to your garden and also come back yearly. Remove the surplus plants the following year and relocate or share with a friend. There are times when you have to divide and replant perennials, but that’s what makes them so wonderful. Your initial investment will produce a garden that you can enjoy for years to come.

If the thought of dividing plants is too daunting, you can try working with an Azalea. An Azalea is a flowering shrub that produces a profusion of blooms during its growing season. Plant a hedge of Azaleas and enjoy the ‚”evergreen look” when all of the flowers have faded. Azaleas are perennials and that makes them easy to plant and maintain. Perennials require less water than other plants which means savings on your water bill as well.

Propagate Annuals

Perhaps you prefer annuals–those lovely flowers you tenderly plant in the spring, diligently care for through the summer, and sadly watch die as winter approaches. These flowers are sown, grow, flower, set seed and die in one season, meaning you will have to buy new flowers in the spring. But, take courage. The tradition of planting your annuals can continue–practically free! You can collect and dry the seeds from fading annuals at the end of the summer.

Zinnias, impatiens, marigolds and cosmos all have seeds that develop from dying blossoms. Plant these seeds indoors in mid-winter and by mid-spring you will have sturdy seedlings to transplant outdoors. Or, sow directly outdoors when all danger of frost has past. Cover seeds with a thin layer of soil and water lightly until germination takes place. Now that’s economical! Of course if seed collecting and drying is too much of a challenge, you can always purchase seed packets at your local nursery and proceed from there.

Love that potted geranium that has been cheering your heart all summer? Bring it indoors for the winter. Place it under a sunny window and it will continue to grow–perhaps even blossom! In any event, the foliage will be beautiful. Snip off one or two of the stems and place them in a container of water in a sunny location. In a few weeks these ‚”cuttings” will develop roots and you can pot them. When the weather warms up a bit, the new plants and the original can be placed back outdoors. Now, that’s two or three plants for the price of one! Planting annuals can be fun. Collecting seeds and developing cuttings ensures flowers for the next planting season–future flowers for your future garden!

Produce an Ever-blooming Garden

Perhaps you want to have an ever-blooming garden that transcends the seasons. Try layering and overlapping by combining annuals and perennials. Add a few weather-hardy plants. Autumn Glory and Great Orme are shrubs that flower in cool weather. Violas and snapdragons are strong and, if weather conditions are not too extreme, will bloom in the winter. Icicle Pansies are tough enough to survive the snow, as are Winter Aconite and Christmas Roses.

If you really love flowers but don’t have the patience (or the strength) for heavy duty gardening, you can work with artificial blooms. Pot artificial silk flowers and strategically place them around your yard. Leave them through the winter, if you like. When all the snow and ice have melted, they will still be there to perk up your environment. Replace them when you get ready for a ‚”new look.”

So, there you have it. Insufficient funds should not keep you from having a beautiful flower garden. With a little work and a little ingenuity, you can produce a multitude of blossoms for just a few dollars.