Landscaping on a Budget
I’d Like a Husband…Sometimes….
It’s so frustrating.
I like to pride myself on being a single mom who gets things done without the benefit of a husband. OK, so at the present, bills are getting paid and my boys have what they need, and for the most part, want. I’d be lying though, if I said there weren’t times when I wanted and felt like I needed a better half. A husband, someone who can take those tasks off my plate that I just don’t want to deal with. I’d like a husband…sometimes.
Why would the blissfully single Bean want a husband? The fleeting desire comes from my challenges in the landscaping world. Improving that curb appeal. I’d like to come home from work, and while the day might have been ugly, have perennials and annuals welcome me home, reminding me of how colorful and pretty life is; despite the bumps.
So, going back to the usefulness of a husband. He would have taken cared of this – our home would be his domain – his kingdom. The pride he feels would be evident by the actions he takes to make sure the exterior of his home was something to see. I wouldn’t have to go through the frustration of making all the calls for a landscaping project – just to hear nothing back. It wasn’t until I purchased a home that I realized how insanely difficult it is to find help – particularly if you are a single woman. Listen: landscapers, contractors, handymen & mechanics, these folks don’t take you seriously until there’s a gruff, male voice on the other end; it’s just what it is.
Do it Yourself Bean.
Well. Where do I go with this realization? Find someone to marry? Yeah. No.
I’ll end up where I always do – plan to get the project done myself. Landscaping was particularly daunting because, I had absolutely no idea where to even start. One thing I was sure of though, I needed to act fast, the side of my house was so overgrown with weeds – it was embarrassing coming home to that mess. I’d literally drive home, throw on shades, and quickly run into the house. Yes, I am that over the top and yes, it was that serious for me. I had to act fact. I had to learn the landscaping game and get my house all the way together.
Learn it Yourself & DIY Bean.
I’m a visual learner – you can talk perennials, annuals, shrubs and flowers from now to eternity and I wouldn’t understand the nuances of blending these gardening elements to produce an elegant, landscaped look. I had to see; which is what I did. I looked at what people in the neighborhood were planting and where. I searched through Pinterest to look for color, patterns and the type of flower that caught my eye. When I finally decided on the look I liked – I developed a plan. From there, I put money aside for the project and went to the local nursery to get what I needed.
Planning and Execution.
Thankfully, there’s a farm about 15 minutes away that carries a large assortment and they were having a sale on spider perennials (Chlorophtyum Comosum). To cover the side area of my house, I purchased eight which was the perfect number I needed. I also brought two flats of (Begonias) to plant in front and in between the spider shrubs to soften and add a nice effeminate color to contrast against the green. Lastly, I purchased mulch to give the area a nice, polished look.
Even purchasing mulch required patience. There are so many different types and colors even: woodchips, bark, pea gravel, stone. Red, Black, Brown. It takes research and thought into the look you want. I got the woodchips – black mulch. Woodchips are the most commonly used mulch in my neighborhood and I decided that black would make my pink Begonia’s “pop” better.
Altogether I spent close to $125 for the project. I love to piece meal – buy items piece by piece to complete a project. This doesn’t work with landscaping – I had to put money aside and purchase everything I needed all at once.
Put your Back into It.
I had all the materials, now came the back breaking labor.
I carved out my afternoon, knowing I’d need a few hours to get this done. Thankfully, my brother cleared the area of all the weeds, so I had a nice blank canvas to work with. Armed with Beyoncé’s Lemonade Album and a couple of can’s of Bud Light Ritas a girl went in. It was hot – only music and drank was going to get me through.
First, I took time to position the plants. I planned the pattern they were going in and made sure they were set up this way. I set it up as a plug and play – the plants would already be how I needed them – instead of figuring out the pattern out as I dug.
Now the hardest part – digging the holes for the shrubs. Friends, I’m not sure why I chose mid-summer to do this, but there I was; digging while the unforgiving sun beat down my back. Since I was planting bushes, I dug holes twice the size of the plant. Also, it was easier to dig the holes all at once; get the back-breaking work out of the way. I will say, I dug a couple of holes and I took a ten minute rest in between to take a couple of swigs of my drink, breathe, and get my strength back up to do the next set. As a woman doing this type of work, I would definitely recommend breaks in between (I mean, without the liquor of course). It’s not sexist either, women are just built differently, we need to pace ourselves.
I then filled the holes. Easy part. I’m a tomboy at heart, I like playing in the earth with worms. This part of the process also meant taking the shrub out of the sleeve, breaking up the plants soil – then planting into the ground.
Begonia’s came next. Love the pretty pink color against the green. Begonia’s do very well in my neighborhood, by summers end, they got HUGE!
After everything was planted into the ground; I gave it a nice soaking with the water hose.
Much better!! It looked 90% great at this point. Wow, now it doesn’t look like single-toothed barbarians live in my house!
But, it wasn’t at 100% until I mulched. The mulch gave the area a richness and depth. See how the mulch makes the area just pop??
The next morning, there was a beautiful dragonfly that spent the morning buzzing there– I’d done something right. Looking at this, I was proud of myself; affirmation that while having a husband certainly makes things easier, I don’t need one. While harder, I able to get what I needed done. I saved a lot of money too… had I found a professional landscaper to do the job for me, it would have cost around the range of $50 an hour plus the materials and it took me about four hours start to finish. I’m glad for the lesson – I’ll do it myself. I sincerely thank every asshole landscaper that didn’t call me back.
Next landscaping project is the front of the house and adding perennial garden to my backyard. Damn homie. Time to roll up my sleeves!
Blissfully Yours Friends,
