Saving Money on Yardwork

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

15 Jul 2007 08:10 PM

Yes, it's another post that stems from our preparing our house to sell. This time, we are looking at the back yard. I've always been one to save money on anything I can, but with yards, you have to keep them looking good, for fear of the complaining neighbors or zoning issues. However, the time when the yard needs to look its very best, is of course, when the house is for sale.

I thought I would share with you over the course of the next several days, the easy ways we have been saving money on our yard in 2007, as well as some of the tricks we are using to sell the house (which also will help tremendously at our new house for easy, and inexpensive upkeep).

Tip #1 - If you pay for a lawn service, cancel it. Even if you pay the kid next door. That $10-25 you save, and more if its a professional service, will mean up to $120-$400 savings a year! Now, imagine what all you could do with that extra money. And buying a used lawn mower is as difficult as getting up on a Saturday morning and visiting a few garage sales, or scouring the newspaper ads.

Tip #2 - If you can create a compost pile, add grass clippings, kitchen waste (such as coffee grounds, etc), and leaves. This will save you money on mulch and fertilizer for your yard.

Tip #3 - Use ground covers such as crape myrtle, and certain ivies, because they need less fertilizer and water than grass does. This goes without saying, the cost of the fertilizer and water is eliminated.

Tip #4 - If you are friendly with your neighbors, perhaps you could exchange cuttings of greenery or other flowering bushes and plants. It's free and the yards will look great.

Tip #5 - If you have patches of grass that are hard to get to grow, or are brown - forget the high end sod. Grass seeds or plugs work better and are far less expensive.

Do you have any tricks you use to keep yard maintenance down?

Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

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