A Quick Garden Cleanup

by Diane Bostick of “His and Hers Fix-Its”

 

Recently a customer of ours opened a restaurant near downtown Syracuse, and we had been doing some small repairs inside the new establishment.

 

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The garden by street side was a 6’ wide by 18’ long mess of weeds. In the west corner of the plot was a city tree, braced by wire so as not to be disrupted. What could be done on a small budget to make this presentable for the opening in three days? They asked me this as I was flying around organizing my husband to finish things inside.

 

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The answer was a vigorous de-weeding, removal and pruning of the salvageable bushes, spreading of red mulch (we got 5 bags at Home Depot for 10 dollars and needed two more after all was said and done), and ½ bag of crushed white marble chips (they gave to me for half price because it was opened, about $1.80).

 

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After the re-implantation of the saved shrubbery, more mulch went to fill in bare areas, and a line of the white rock went around the shrubbery

and the tree.

 

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Alright, it’s not intricate, but it was fast and clean and popped enough to reflect well the first night of the delicious opening. It was a whole big improvement out of that old mess of weeds we started with..  And the cost, between labor and materials, only $295.00.

 

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So, when you’re in a pinch, and you have a mess on your hands, don’t panic. A little imagination and affordable, eye catching materials, and some hard work can save the day without leaving you broke!