After all the gardening it was finally time to use the grill for the first time this season. And a great meal doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here’s what I put together for the holiday weekend.

Turkey Burgers served with Chipotle mustard. I found some flavored mustards in the supermarket last week for just $1.50. I thought the chipotle and dill sounded like winners and I wasn’t wrong. Both add a really gourmet taste to sandwiches and burgers. And little items like these are inexpensive ways to add some zing to food.

The supermarket also had a sale on all its organic herbs. Just a $1 a box, and even though my herb garden is in full bloom, I just couldn’t resist buying a few. I bought dill, thyme, chives and basil. I used them for an herb butter to go with the baked potatoes. It also works great on toast. And I added herbs to the two different kinds of potato salad I made. I did some experimenting and used dill in one, chives and parsley in another. Simple, low cost, but full of flavor.

Vidalia onions are also hitting the stores now. I got a bag of about 12 for $3.95. I used some raw for the turkey burgers and caramelized some in a skillet inside instead of cooking them out on the grill.

The store had a sale on pineapples, $3.99 each. So my idea was to slice it, grill it and serve it with toasted coconut and dipped in melted chocolate.

I have got some leftovers that will be put to good use throughout the week. Caramelized onions will pair with cheese for some great tasting, easy to fix sandwiches. And the pineapple, I’ll chop and add to chicken salad, along with some toasted pecans and curry powder.

I did manage to find some mulch on sale. My local DIY store had some for $1.99 a bag. I also found a use for old t-shirts. Cut them into strips and use them as tiebacks for plants and shrubs. Works perfectly and is gentle on the plant.



For money saving tips visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm

It seems like I’ve been working non-stop in the garden this last week or so. I just planted the junipers I purchased from Costco and now I’m waiting to see if my local DIY store’s going to put the bags of mulch on sale.

The area of the yard where I planted these junipers did have river rock, but to save money I moved it to the backyard, figuring you get more mulch than rock in these bags, plus, bags of mulch are a dollar or two less per bag.
That’s one of the tricks I use to save money, see what you can move from one place to another and what costs less to buy. To save money I did have to make about 35 trips from the front to back yard with the wheelbarrow, and yes, my aching back! But who said saving money was always easy.

It’s not only rock you can move around to save a penny or two, but plants too. If I see a particular plant isn’t doing so well, I’ll move it to another area and monitor its progress. Some of them really thrive once they’re moved, and just a little work prevents them from dying and losing money on your investment.

And speaking of plants that thrive I was chatting with some neighbors who agreed with me that the best plant for beginning gardeners is the hosta. It’s sturdy, comes back each year, is almost indestructible, and therefore the best bargain in the yard.

I love watching all the gardening shows on TV and I heard this really great tip on one show last week. Some garden centers and nurseries have distressed plants that they just don’t have time or manpower to bring back to full health, and therefore are very willing to get rid of them. So if you see something that needs a little TLC, make them an offer. It’s definitely worth trying, especially at the end of the growing season.

Our lawn mower’s been in the repair shop many times over its lifespan and on Sunday for some unknown reason it just decided to quit. It was working okay the week before, but on Sunday, nothing. We decided it was time for its retirement and went shopping for a new one. Now I’m the one who mows the grass in our family and I’m also the only keen environmentalist in the family, and to my surprise my husband suggested we buy an electric mower (this one’s made by Black and Decker). No more gas, oil, pulling your shoulder out of its socket to start the thing, and no more taking it into the repair shop every now and then...all money saving features. If you’re in the market for a new mower definitely check it out. I’ve used it once already. It’s much quieter than the gas powered ones, easy to higher and lower...and keep this one to yourself, but I’m actually looking forward to mowing the lawn now!

For money saving tips on gardening and just about everything else visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm

Gardening has been one of my hobbies for as far back as I can remember. I never seem to be able to exit a garden store or nursery without finding at least a couple of plants that would look great in the yard. But just like everything else, having a nice looking garden is getting more expensive.

Experts say landscaping is one of the best returns for money when it comes time to sell your home. So I always look at each plant I buy as a good investment. Last week I managed to find some good buys that fitted into my gardening budget.

I stopped by my local Costco store...just to buy some cheese and salad items. Anyway, there in the entrance of the store was their new shipment of trees, shrubs and hanging baskets. I’ve been looking for some junipers for the front yard and found Costco had just what I was looking for and just $10.39 each.

Then on Sunday a local farm close to where I live had its annual fundraising sale. They sell just about everything, plants, herbs, shrubs, and at close to warehouse prices. I found five perennials I was looking for, and three pots of herbs, total price $22.

I also found this Web site that’s really helpful to gardeners of all skill levels. www.learn2grow.org.

For money saving gardening tips visit www.gardenandhearth.com/Bargain-Shopping.htm