As the cost-of-living crisis continues, it can be surprisingly inexpensive to keep your garden looking fantastic whilst maximising its potential to save you money in the long run.
Research your plants. As tempting as it is to pick up the prettiest looking plants, think first about the environment your garden provides and the sorts of plants your garden could support. Where possible, try to avoid plants that have had to travel a long way – these will naturally be more time consuming and expensive to maintain. If you are concerned about there being another drought, have at look at the RHS for advice on the best drought tolerant plants.
Plant trees. Well positioned tress can save you money in both the winter and the summer. In the summer they provide much needed shade to cool the areas around your house. In the winter they provide a convenient wind break to keep your house from getting too cold.
Group your plants based on their watering needs to avoid wasting water. Make sure you check how much water a plant needs before deciding where to plant it. This way, when watering, you will know which areas of your garden need more, and which less, water.
Use bark or mulch around trees and plants in borders. This is a fantastic way to protect your plants and save money. Bark and bark mulch can be bought cheaply, is easy to use, protects the soil and roots from the heat of the sun, retains moisture, and is completely organic and so composts down adding value to the soil as it does so. Find out more about bark and bark mulches here, and what we have available here.
Use ZEBA in your soil. ZEBA moisture retaining granules are a fantastic way to save money all year round. This all-natural product absorbs up to 500 times its weight in water, releasing it as and when the plant needs it. Completely safe and biodegradable, the granules will break down into a microbe food source and add value to your soil. Use it in both borders and just before laying turf. Find out more about the benefits of ZEBA here.
Make sure you have water butts. Avoid using tap water by reusing rainwater collected in water butts. Find out more about saving water through the RHS.
Re-use grey water from household tasks. Similar to using water butts, grey water is perfectly fine to use in your garden as long as it doesn’t contain bleaches, disinfectants, dishwasher salt or stronger cleaning products. Find out more here.
Check your hose pipe. If you’re using a hose pipe, make sure there are no leaks that could be costing you money in wasted water. If you need a new hosepipe, have a look at our range here.
Don’t lay turf in hot weather. As surprising as it is for a turf company to say, we always strongly recommend not laying turf in very hot and dry conditions. Heat and lack of water stresses new turf and it can be challenging (and expensive) to keep it healthy. If it is still necessary to go ahead with a new lawn, it is vital to keep it very well-watered from the moment it is laid for at least 2 weeks. Follow our guidance on laying turf in hot and dry conditions here.
Remember, if there is another heatwave, get the most out of your watering by doing so early in the morning whenever possible. This allows the water to soak into the ground before evaporating in the sun. If you need to water in the evening, try to do so early on to prevent the water sitting in the soil overnight which can lead to diseases.
If you’d like further help and advice, we are here to help. Simply call us on 01935 850388, email us at enquiries@sherborneturf.co.uk, or message us on our website (click the green "Ask Us" button in the bottom, right corner of this page) or social media.
