Ideas to make a garden grow

Back in the spring, you were confident you would have an award-winning garden by now. You thought you planned and planted well, but as you enjoy a glass of rosé on the back porches of friends, you realize that your garden pales in comparison.

Never fear, it’s not too late. Here, gardening pros share their favorite tips for saving money on your summer garden upgrades.

Buy small: While big plants look impressive, smaller plants are less expensive. Alice Rossiter, founder of Alice’s Table, producer of floral arrangement events, said, “Purchase the younger, more economical sizes. While smaller in the beginning, the plants will quickly grow to the same size as the marked up, larger sizes.”

Team up: Rossiter suggests creating a “purchasing pod” with your friends or neighbors. “You’ll save about 20 percent buying flowers — like annuals — by the flat, versus individual cell packs,” she said.

Spend to save: Sometimes you need to invest more up front to save long-term. Morton said, “Investing in drip irrigation or soaker hoses will save a lot of money in the long run. Burying those under the soil or mulch will deliver small amounts of water straight to the roots of your plants. This is better than soaking the top of the soil as it is better absorbed and also conserves water.”

Go slow: Be prepared to take your time. “In many cases, those opting to do home landscape projects might be working with limited financial resources, so we recommend purchasing your materials in phases,” said Don Caroleo, owner of The Garden Dept., a nursery and landscaping business on Long Island, New York. “Not only does this help keep costs under control, but it allows homeowners to adjust their plans and designs as they work.” Clark Howard helps you save more, spend less, and avoid ripoffs. Visit ClarkHoward.com for more info, or get his bestselling books signed with free shipping at GetClarkSmart.com.