San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Home Trends
Redoing your garden on a budget.
Outdoor spaces around the home became vital in 2020, as COVID19 forced people to shelterinplace and spend more time at home than they normally would. And while the era of lockdowns seems to be coming to a close, gardens will likely continue to be an important selling point for homes.
Unfortunately, lawns can be a hassle. They require lots of water, attention and constant maintenance. The good news? It doesn’t always have to be that difficult.
From native plantings to patios to water features, there are plenty of easy ways to transform the look and feel of your front or rear garden, even on a budget.
Backyard experts say it’s surprisingly easy to find materials that are inexpensive, or even free in some cases.
“Reuse stones that are dug up during planting or ‘urbanite’ (repurposed cement chunks) as free hardscaping,” said Jon Downing, a botanist for Bay Natives, a nursery in San Francisco. “Use flat stones and cement — surprisingly cheap — to line a pond, garden or makeshift fire pit.” Another way to improve the look of your garden on a budget is by clearing out weeds and invasive growths.
“Pulling weeds is very important to promote diversity and keep the weeds from overtaking new plantings,” Downing said. “Weeds steal water and resources from nearby plantings.”
Mulching is another great way to improve the overall health of your garden.
“Mulch is very helpful for keeping moisture in the ground and lessening evaporation,” he said. “It adds humus to the soil over time and also suppresses weeds, which adds up to less work, less water used and better soil quality.” Downing also encouraged gardeners to opt for native plantings whenever possible. Native plantings are those that are indigenous to a given region. Experts at your local nursery can help identify which plantings are native.
“Native plants are cheaper in the long run and also more ecofriendly,” he said. “They also are attractive to native pollinators and birds, and are evolved for the area’s soil type, temperature and exposure.”
Heat lamps can also benefit a garden, providing a warm place to gather on chilly evenings and mornings. They’re operated by propane tanks and are widely available.
Bark and crushed stone can be used to create pathways and patios. A small dining set atop a crushed stone patio provides an ideal space for al fresco dining.
No patio is complete without somewhere to sit. Invest in some benches or deck chairs to provide you and your guests a comfortable place to get off their feet.
A coat of stain or paint can bring new life to an aging fence. Look for a tone that complements the colors of your garden, or select a bright color for a bold contrast.
Solarpowered pathway lights are another inexpensive item that spruces up a garden. These can be placed along walkways or around a patio to keep the space illuminated late into the night. Some twinkle lights, strung up around the patio, are an alternative. Since they operate on electricity, you won’t have to worry about the lights underperforming if there wasn’t enough sunlight during the day for solarpowered lights.
A bloom box is another costeffective way to liven up a garden. These gardening boxes come in a variety of sizes and configurations, so there’s bound to be one that suits your needs. Raised planter boxes can eliminate bending and stooping when it comes to tending the garden.