More Bang For the Buck

Picture:

Old heirloom biannual hollyhock. This flower self seeds or seeds may be gathered and planted elsewhere.

Bang for the buck ideas:

1. Buy seeds instead of buying plant sets.


2. Some seeds take too long to germinate in our Zone 5 - using plant sets for these will end up giving you more produce over the summer.


3. Some showy annuals cost more than perennials.


4. Plant only annuals in pots that will stay blooming the entire summer (some won't) instead of replanting spring, summer and fall.


5. Periodically pinch back annuals to keep them thick and blooming.


6. Many herbs are good decorative flowers and food product combos.


7. Dwarf vegetables and fruits are good color additions to pots and flower gardens.


8. Many annuals can be brought inside as houseplants in the winter then replanted next spring.


9. Buy perennials late in the fall (one month before a freeze) to find sale prices.

More bang for the buck ideas:

1. Sunflowers are bird food, beautiful flowers, and can screen unsightly areas.


2. Some annuals may also self seed.


3. Flowers provide bees, butterflies, wasps and hummingbirds with nectar.


4. Some plants provide erosion control because of their root systems and dense habits.


5. The cost of a tree today will only increase as it gets older - shade, value of the wood, beauty, habitat.


6. The less grass you have to maintain, the more you save on fuel, machines, and emissions. Figure if you cut the area of your current grass in half, then half the amount of gas, machine upkeep, fertilizers, insecticides, grass seed and you certainly have a long range B4B.


7. Support local nurseries, garden shops and school plant sales.


8. Buy from plant auctions.


9. Don't throw away or let it go to waste.


10. If you have too much to eat fresh, freeze or can.

The following annuals have seeds that are easily collected and may be used the following spring:

Zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, Four O'Clocks, sunflowers, Shasta Daisies, Cornflower (bachelor buttons), cleomes, nasturtiums, and morning glories. (This is just of few of the very easy ones.)

Share - Share - Share:

• See if your local food pantry, homeless shelter, domestic abuse shelter, senior citizen center and nursing homes take fresh produce.


• Share with neighbors, friends, the elderly, the disadvantaged, and a local restaurant.
  
• Take produce and flowers to your church on Sunday. Send both home with others.


• Make a bouquet and take to someone who needs a lift.
• If your seed packet has more than you can use, give the rest to another gardener.