Money-Saving Lawn Care Swaps That Can Cut Costs Without Sacrificing Your Yard

Keeping your lawn and garden looking their best can get expensive.

Between fertilizer, water, equipment, mulch and plants, it’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars every year without realizing it.

Years ago, Dollar Stretcher contributor Barb Hacker shared several simple “swaps” for reducing lawn care costs. Her ideas are just as practical today as they were then.

I’ve updated them and added a few more money-saving swaps that can help you maintain a healthy yard while spending less.

1. Instead of a Gas Mower, Consider a Reel Mower

If you have a relatively small, flat yard, a manual reel mower may be worth considering.

Modern reel mowers are lighter and easier to push than many people remember, and they offer several money-saving advantages:

• No gasoline.
• No oil changes.
• No extension cords or batteries.
• Very little maintenance.
• Less expensive than many powered mowers.

Like any mower, the blades need occasional sharpening and the moving parts benefit from periodic lubrication.

A reel mower isn’t ideal for every yard, but for smaller lawns, it can eliminate ongoing operating costs altogether.

2. Instead of Buying Fertilizer, Make Compost

Barb’s second swap may save money in more ways than one.

Instead of buying bags of fertilizer and soil amendments, start a compost pile using materials you already have.

Compost can be made from:

• Grass clippings
• Dry leaves
• Garden trimmings
• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Coffee grounds
• Eggshells

Over time, these materials break down into nutrient-rich compost that gardeners often call “black gold.”

Besides improving garden soil, compost can help reduce the amount of commercial fertilizer you need to buy.

3. Instead of Using Tap Water, Collect Rainwater

If you pay for municipal water, watering the lawn can become surprisingly expensive during dry weather.

A rain barrel connected to a downspout can collect water for much of your outdoor watering needs.

Commercial rain barrels are widely available, but many homeowners also build their own using food-grade barrels.

Be sure to use a tightly fitting lid or screen to help keep mosquitoes and debris out of the water.

4. Instead of Buying Every Plant, Join a Plant Swap

Perennials multiply.

That means many gardeners eventually have more plants than they need.

Look for swaps hosted by:

• Garden clubs
• Churches
• Community centers
• Local gardening groups
• Neighborhood associations

Or consider organizing one with friends and neighbors.

5. Instead of Relying Only on Chemicals, Start With Natural Solutions

Commercial pesticides and herbicides can be expensive.

While they certainly have their place, many common gardening problems can sometimes be reduced through simpler methods.

Barb suggests a few examples:

• Plant daffodils where moles are a problem.
• Grow chives near roses to help discourage black spot.
• Plant marigolds around vegetable gardens to help deter rabbits.

Healthy soil, proper watering, choosing the right plants and encouraging beneficial insects can also reduce the need for chemical treatments.

Remember that natural remedies aren’t guaranteed to work in every situation, so research approaches that fit your specific pest problem.