A gasoline-powered aerator improves your lawn by poking holes in the soil to let air, moisture and nutrients circulate. But renting one from a hardware store can cost almost as much as hiring a pro. One way to save: Coordinate a date with a neighbor and split the cost of a one-day rental—you should be able to aerate an average-size yard in no more than 3 hours.
COST About $45 per person for a shared 24-hour rental
SAVINGS $10 or more off the 4-hour (half-day) rental price
They're pricier up front, but flowering perennials like asters, peonies, lavender and phlox make more sense in the long term than bloom-and-die annuals. Not only do they come back every year, they love to propagate—so dig them up, divide them and replant them throughout your yard to multiply your investment over time. They also require less work during the growing season: Their roots go deeper than annuals', so they don't need as much water.
COST $10 to $20 per 1-gallon perennial
SAVINGS $7 to $25 per flat of annuals a year after three years
Collect Rainwater
There's no need to pay money for something that falls free from the sky. Trim your water bill and keep your plants hydrated by using a rain barrel to catch runoff from your roof. Deluxe versions have a mesh top to keep out debris and a spigot to fill watering cans, but an old trash can is a good alternative (cut a hole in the lid to fit your downspout). A typical 60-gallon barrel will take care of several large flower beds for two to three weeks, and it takes less than an inch of rainfall from a standard-size roof to fill it up.
COST Free; $70 and up for a rain barrel
SAVINGS About $10 a year
1. Garden Clubs
Gather with like-minded growers to get the inside scoop on what flourishes in your area, tour neighborhood gardens for inspiration, or swap perennials and half-used seed packets.
2. Cooperative Extension Office
Your local offshoot of the USDA has info about environmental initiatives (such as free mulch or soil pH testing), educational opportunities and other garden-related news.
3. Yard Sales
Your local offshoot of the USDA has info about environmental initiatives (such as free mulch or soil pH testing), educational opportunities and other garden-related news.
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