Is it normal for a perennial garden to cost a lot?

I'm doing a brand new garden - the flower bed will be about 25 feet long and 3 feet wide. I've picked out the flowers I want to plant (all perennials) and it looks like it's going to cost around $1500. Does this sound right, or it high/low?

Is it normal for a perennial garden to cost a lot?
That's about right - I own a landscaping business... last season I did a job for a client who had several small beds that probably added up to about that area. They wanted lots of perennial bulbs. The bulbs ranged from $2 to $13 each, and since different plants bloom at different times, it's almost like you have to fill the space 3 times... so it can really add up fast in a large space. But you can really make it look nice and your expenses will not be as much in following years.


Good luck, have fun and enjoy it!!!!!!!!!
Reply:That sound's like way to much for a garden, just remember perennial grow quite a bit in one season. you might want to pyre start some with seed which is allot cheaper to purchase then the actual plant. Pants such as cone plant come in purple,white and yellow.Black eyed Susan, Shasta daises the list goes on and on and they will produce flowers the first year. I would suggest going to your local hardware store and check out the seeds they will tell you on the back when to start them. And I am sure that there will be someone in that department to help you with the materials that you will need. After about 2 years you will be able to divide your perennial or the first year you can save the seeds from them , anyway you will have more plants than you can handle...........Good Luck
Reply:It depends. If you're buying plants that are already fairly well-established, then it will cost more, because you will see them at their mature size almost right away (since they may already be a year or two old when you buy them).





If you want to save some money, you can buy smaller plants, but sometimes they won't do much flowering the first couple of years because they're busy getting their roots established. If you don't mind waiting a few years to get the full effect, buying smaller plants can save a lot of money, especially if (as A.C. Girl said) you wait until the end of the planting season, when nurseries and home improvement stores are marking things down. Also, check for little carts full of rootbound plants, or ones that the store didn't water very well. They're usually marked down significantly, and all they need is to be planted/repotted/watered. You'd be surprised at the really nice plants I've nursed back to health, and at times I've gotten them for around $1!
Reply:If you are doing this yourself, that price sounds high. It also depends on what you are planning on putting into the garden. Keep in mind that perennials love to spread and in just one year will grow hardier and larger. Only buy from a reputable nursery and preferably locally grown plants, they will stand up better during the dormant season.
Reply:my relatives is a landscaper and says you should budget 15.00 per square foot for perennial garden . . this covers soil amendment, plants, and mulch.
Reply:I hope you keep in mind the spacing needs of your garden. I began my garden 70' long by 15' wide with perennials and annuals from seed. I got alot of perennials from neighbors and some (daylillies) from the side of the road(with permission first). The annuals that I planted reseed themselves. The biggest problem with the size of my garden was the control of weeds. It was a labor of love and took around 3 years to be "maintenance free"(LOL)
Reply:You could almost build your own water garden for that cost.





What kind of plants are you putting in it? I could build you a nice one that size for about half that. Who are you having put this in for you?
Reply:Depending on the plants you picked that could be about right but it sounds a little high...think of it like this though...you plant once and your done... it would be easy to spend a couple of hundred dollars EVERY year with annuals... you could try buying different plants or use a mailorder catalog and plant smaller plants, most pernnials grow to full size by the second or third year.
Reply:Depends on so many things, as the other answers have indicated. Have you already got tools and are you doing the labor yourself? $0. Do you have friends with perennials you like and are needing to be divided-- or from which you can root cuttings? $0. Do you have yard clippings/compost with which to amend your dirt? $0. Can you rake leaves/pine straw for mulch to cover the dirt? $0 Also, be sure if you're buying plants that they are right for your zone and conditions--that's a real money waster. Your amount of patience can be a real money saver; smaller is cheaper. Just allow room for growing in the years down the road. Excess space can be filled in the meantime with annuals you can start yourself from seeds from friends. $0.
Reply:I don't know what type of plants you are talking about but it can cost that much for high end stuff. However, $1500 for 25' x 3' is way too much to pay. Maybe you should consult with a local garden club to see if there are any members who can give perennials they are dividing. Many gardeners who have old planting perennials are more than happy to give this stuff away. I gave away a ton of hosta's that I divided up..When I purchased them, they were like $10-$25/plant!
Reply:Awfully high! Where are you buying your plants? Many garden catalogs offer perenials, and don't see how you can spend that much on such a small space--perhaps you are overplanting. Perenials vary in size, use the full plant size as your guide so you don't put too many plants together. Also--see if any friends have plants that can be divided, look at garage sales in early spring, buy small plants at feed and seed stores. I buy perenials for my beds at a local feed and seed, pay from $1 to at most $5 for really nice plants. You can also grow many perenials easily from seed with much success, and save a lot of $$
Reply:That sounds a little hight but a lot of that could be building materials and a lot of my money went into good quality dirt as well. Check with a landscape yard for dirt by the yard instead of bags often they will deliver it also and save a lot of money on individual bags of soil.
Reply:That sounds about right. I am a landscape designer in Toronto and for my clients it works out to $12-$14 per Perennial.


Shrubs are good value and ideally in a bed that long you will want at least some sort of a climber or a couple of shrubs (a broadleaf evergreen or a Sandcherry perhaps?) Also, try saving money by buying less perennials and waiting a year or two then dividing them
Reply:That sounds high, but it is a huge space, and you don't want to skimp - keep in mind, your perennials are a one time cost and if you care for them properly you will reap the benefits of a beautiful garden!


To cut the cost, buy only some of the plants and wait until the end of the season, when most greenhouses have at least 50% off of their plants.
Reply:It sounds very high to me. Does the $1500 include labor or just plants? How many plants do you think you need? I think 1 every 1.5 square feet would be a lot b/c if they live they grow. And then it will be very crowded. 25*3=75 square ft 75/1.5=50 plants If you are talking 1 gallon plants, then $6-7 each would be about the price. 7*50=$350. But if you get 3 gallon plants, they will cost more ($13-17?) and take up more space. Say 1 plant every 3 sq ft if in 3 gallon pots. 17*25=$425.





Of course, you could start the plants from seeds. Or you could root pieces from your friends/ family's plants for almost free. Or you could get divisions of plants....
Reply:it does sound about right .it depends exactly which plants you chose.. it's a large area so will cost a lot to start .if money is no object then jump right in and go for it ..if money is a problem try picking a few you can afford and plant them this year.plant closest to the house or your outdoor living area first for maximum enjoyment.. then next year you can add as much as you can afford ..you may be surprised to know a lot of very nice gardens started like that..perennials cost more to purchase but when established they will last as long as you take care of them..some will need to be mulched some will need to be divided from time to time.. i think you can get the message from that so good luck in your new garden..