8 Ways to Cut Costs in Your Garden

Done right, caring for your yard and garden leaves you with two kinds of green: the kind you tend and the kind you spend.

As it turns out, few amateur gardeners are doing it right. Most homeowners base their watering and planting habits on what their neighbors do, says Bruce Butterfield, the research director for the National Garden Association. That’s a big mistake. You could be misinterpreting your neighbor’s advice. He could be working with an entirely different ecosystem. Or he simply could be wrong. Odds are good you’re over-watering – and therefore over-paying, Butterfield says.

Instead of peering through the fence for help, try these eight tips for a more energy- and water-efficient yard:

Take advantage of rainy days to cut your water bill. Venkappa Gani, a Houston-based master gardener with the technology trade association IEEE, uses a rainwater harvesting system that filters rain from roof gutters into a large tank. Just as effective: Put a rain barrel or other container outside to collect a few gallons -- enough to round the flower beds with a watering can. A gardener in Providence, R.I., using 10 gallons a week at 29 cents a gallon could save nearly $70 over six months.

Grass that’s cut too short will struggle to grow and require more water, Butterfield says. Never chop off more than a third of its height at a time, and keep it at least three inches tall, he says. Don’t bag the clippings, either; they provide the lawn with water and nutrients.

With houseplants, window boxes and other potted plants, make sure there is plenty of room in the container for growth over the course of the season, says Karla Chandler, the curator of the Helen Mattin Warm Temperature Pavilion at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York. If there isn’t enough soil amid all those expanding roots, the plant may need more frequent watering.

Strategically planted, trees can help you regulate the temperature of your house, cutting back on energy costs. Planting evergreens on the north side of your house blocks the winter winds, while deciduous trees like maples along the south side of your home shield against the summer sun, says Chris Cipriano, the president and CEO of Cipriano Landscape Design in Ramsey,N.J. Those trees can cut annual heating and cooling bills by up to 25% -- or up to $278 for the average U.S. household, according to the Department of Energy.

Every plant has specific soil, climate, sun and water needs. If they go unmet, the stressed-out flora may suck up double the amount of water in their effort to survive. Stick to plants that are well-adapted to the area and the conditions of your yard, Gani says. Garden centers can point you to native and drought-resistant varieties -- and cut your outdoor water bills in half.

Mulch and compost retain moisture and allow you to wait longer between waterings, Chandler says. Both also result in healthier soil, which promotes deeper roots and gives plants access to water deeper in the soil. That means less water from your hose and a lower utility bill.

Set the timer on the sprinkler system to no later than 9 a.m., Butterfield says. Heat can evaporate the water before plants have time to soak it up. Ideally, irrigate the yard only on days when it isn’t windy. Strong gusts can carry water away from areas that need it, leaving others too soaked.

An efficient sprinkler system uses 45% less water, Cipriano says. Look for water-efficient sprinkler heads or a drip system, and a controller that will automatically delay the cycle if it rains (about $60 at Home Depot (HD)). In Miami, which charges $5 per 1,000 gallons of water, an equipment upgrade could pay for itself within a year.