How to landscape on a budget?

Kathy Chojnacki
by Kathy Chojnacki

My mobile home is 76’ long, maybe 25’ to the road. It’s mostly shady with wet ground. How can I make it look cute and homey instead of awkward and plain? It’s tan with dark red shutters and front door. I have hostas lining the house on one side of the door and big rocks with mulch on the other side of the door. I don’t have much money. Thanks!

  4 answers
  • Pamela Pamela on May 21, 2019

    For next year , look into what flowers will grow in shady conditions in your area and buy seeds and start your plants indoors and then plant them out doors . Most seeds are pretty cheap and doing it this way is much cheaper than buying them from a garden center. You can pick up solar lights at the dollar store . Also the dollar store has lots of outdoor yard decorations , also decorations for your front door . You say your yard is shady , do you have a tree ? Plant around the tree . Look for flower bulbs that will come up each year and multiply on their own , like daffodils , tulips or Lily of the valley , for the next few years buy one or 2 bags of bulbs each year , then you will have flowers that come up each year , forever , and they will keep multiplying .

    Put up wind chimes or the little flag stakes that you put in the ground and you can change out the flags for each season or holiday . I see the flags for 3 or 4 for $12 .

    The best way , when you have a limited budget , is to do a little each each year .

    • See 2 previous
    • Kathy Chojnacki Kathy Chojnacki on May 26, 2019

      Can you tell me where to get those flags 3 or 4 for $12? Thanks!

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on May 21, 2019

    Kathy....I like to use pots...large, med and small....add flowers that you like for color.

  • Em Em on May 21, 2019

    I have a ranch that is 67 foot long and 28 foot wide. I look for sales in the nursery catalogs and get plants from anyone I know that wants to thin their plants. I have made it know that I will take most things and find a home for them and have gotten iris, lilies, black eyed susan, hosta, astilbe, etc. I have a hillside that is too steep to mow so I add things each year when I find sales and from neighbors that have too much. I don't waste money on annuals unless it is just for a pop of color by the door or a bare patch that need color like around my weeping cherry when the tulip leaves die back. I will put in a patch of something to cover the bare ground when they have died back. Mid summer is a good time to look for things on sale at the garden centers and catalogs, Brecks, Michigan Bulb, Spring Hill, House of Wesley are all catalogs that have half price sales.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 21, 2019

    Dollar General has some great prices on plastic pots. Some of them are very pretty and colorful. If you get large pots, you can fill the bottom with gravel, styrofoam, or mulch to save on potting soil. Then plant from bulbs. I was in Lowe's Thursday and they were marking bulbs and succulents down to rock bottom prices. I got some flowering cactus for $1. Also, check with friends who have things that spread. They may be willing to share cuttings. I have purple heart in my yard that was given from a friend that has filled in and added color. It only cost my time.