Hey everyone! I'm a new owner of a 1.8-acre yard that's beautifully landscaped, with a well-maintained garden filled with thoughtful plantings, trees, and shrubs. The previous owners clearly invested a lot more outside than inside, and they had the same landscapers for two decades. I recently got in touch with the landscaper to help identify some plants and discuss their care, but unfortunately, hiring them isn't in my budget right now. I'm looking for advice on how to take care of the garden myself!
I've found out that they used sweet peat organic mulch, which I know can be expensive as I might need 10+ yards of it. I'm also curious about the best fertilizer to use since the landscaper mentioned it and also perlite, which I thought was just a soil aid.
I have a mix of plants like limelight hydrangeas, daffodils, tulips, mature hollies, and more. Since I'm located in the northeast, I'd love to hear your pointers on affordable fertilizers and other tips to keep my garden thriving without breaking the bank. Thanks!
2 Answers
The best way to get experience is definitely through trial and error! You might want to check out some gardening groups for more tips and advice. And trust me, don't let any mow-and-blow service mess with your shrubs — it's a disaster waiting to happen!
Weeds can be your worst enemy, so make sure you stay on top of them! Fertilizing isn’t mandatory; it’s nice to do but not essential right away. Some fresh mulch can really make your yard pop, but it's not necessary every year. Make sure you identify your hydrangeas because how you prune them can really affect their blooms! And don’t stress too much about the bulbs; they’ll die back naturally and come back next spring. Just keep an eye on any shaping you need to do on your trees and hedges — only if required, of course! Letting things grow naturally for a bit could also be a good experiment.
Thanks a lot for the insight! The garden was gorgeous when we got it, and I’m eager to keep it that way without emptying my wallet. I’m also planning to mulch and fertilize what I can. By the way, I have a couple of peach trees and one apple tree, which I hear might need a buddy for pollination. So much info online contradicts each other, so it’s great to hear from those who know what they’re doing.