Frugal Purposeful Landscaping
Raking the dead tall grass out from the area of my yard which hosts wildflowers on occasion, I considered the advantages of frugal, purposeful, landscaping. This pile of straw-like grass would soon be repurposed as mulch for my tomato plants and save me a few dollars and the time needed for purchase.
Eyeing rocks always popping up these days in our drought racked soil, I add them to my collection next to the side porch. My knock-out roses grow well in this area and the stones have made my weeding job much easier. I like the look of the stone mulch next to my colichey gravel driveway.
Slowly but surely, I am circling the patches of trees down my drive with rocks brought back from our family evening walks. Carrying a rock back with me not only adds to my frugal landscaping, but provides some exercise and helps keep my grandmother arms strong. (My new grandson already weighs in at 19 pounds and just 4 months old!)
Keeping a bucket in the shower to catch water and dumping out my dishwater when not too greasy on our thirsty soil, makes me feel better. We have had only about an inch of rain in many months. Right now with water restrictions due to the worst Texas drought in a 100 years, I am grateful my landscaping plans for our front path are still on hold.
Most of my plantings have done well in our black clay soil. Knock-out roses and Chinese privet shrubs still seem to be hanging on through this summer of triple-digit temperatures and no rain. It pleases me to know, if these should succumb to conditions beyond my control, they were purchased at end of season sales (with a coupon of course!)
My eye takes in a very special rose recently planted and a watering priority. This bush Husband and I bought and planted in memory of a grandbaby born too soon, shortly after conception. Now when I water this rose, I am rejoicing with the knowledge a new baby is in womb and doing well.
Husband and I have decided that a part of our purposeful landscaping will be to plant a rose in honor of all of our grandchildren. Oh, I do hope our rose garden will be full! After some deliberation, we decided to wait to plant the rose for our new grandson born in May, until the drought has ended. Hopefully we will plant soon!
What a delight I have had watching the birds revel in the bird bath I made for them from an old crock insert to an electric frying pan given as a wedding gift many years ago. I am glad I saved the insert even though the pan has been long gone. The birds have so appreciated my repurposing of this item.
Far from a Better Homes and Gardens spot, our yard has far to go! With a very small budget for the embellishment of our almost one acre, finding ways to landscape with a frugal, purposeful mindset makes the job work best.
How do you landscape with a frugal mindset?
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4 Responses to “Frugal Purposeful Landscaping”
September 21st, 2011 at 9:36 am
What a nice post and your ideas are so efficient! I did notice that you didn’t mention rain barrels? They work well for those dry seasons and can fill up almost instantly if they’re hooked up to your gutters.
September 22nd, 2011 at 7:17 am
The only frugal purposeful landscaping idea I have is saving seeds from year to year. This year I planted seeds for moss roses in my window boxes and marigolds in the garden that I saved from last year. I did the same with basil (which hasn’t done well) and I still have lots of seed from it for next year.
I am going to remember your idea of a bucket in the shower next year when we have a dry spell.
I just want to let you know that I am praying fervently and with expectation that God will send rain to Texas so that He will get the glory and so His people will be able to share with their neighbors praise to Him for His provision.
September 22nd, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Chris:
I have considered rain barrels but have not as yet tried this. I forgot to mention that I do keep open plastic containers under my back deck and catch a fair amount of water in these after a rain.
Melinda:
Thank you for your prayers! We had some rain showers last evening with lots of lightening and even lost our internet for 24 hours.
September 24th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I’ll begin to pray for uneventful, steady rain!
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