Our water includes sewer and a rain fee (when it rains ). I water the grass twice a week when it hasn't rained, so our bill can go up to $60 in the summer. That, and I have to use a soaker hose for my shade garden when it hasn't rained and they start looking wilty.

We pay trash every three months (my in laws that live in another county, their trash is included in their property tax bill). Our garbage company recycles everything (including glass). But, we don't have a separate bin for recyclables, they say they separate stuff at the trash center (whatever it's called).

Agree, it can be super hard to find and see the tiny number on so many plastics.

...if this is the year I stop gardening, I need to be more clear with myself about buying so many plants...! My husband was cracking up when I came inside all dirty & sweaty on Sunday and I said "digger chick" was not consulted when "shopping chick" was buying clearance plants.

Water the grass? That just makes it grow!

Hamwild, what is a "rain fee" ? They charge you more when it rains?

No, they charge when it DOESNT rain! 😆Just like the gas company here adds a special fuel charge in the winter to cover whatever happens in the winter that prevents them from delivering gas through the pipelines, or whatever. Maybe because the usage is larger. Here in the South, a lot of folks use natural gas to heat with. Also for their water heater, cook stoves and dryers.
Next year I won't stop gardening, but I will not have as many pots. Either that, or I need to buy a better hose.

A good hose and watering attachment of choice really are worthwhile. If you have some bigger areas, a sprinkler. (Ham, my one rule for running my sprinkler is to make sure none of the spray is hitting the grass.)
Just don't get one of those shrinking hoses. They DO NOT LAST. I tried 5 of those and none lasted more than a couple of weeks. I've found that the key to keeping a hose as long as possible is to never let it rest with a kink. It's worth the time it takes to wind it into a circle. Laying flat in the shade is best if looking at is isn't bothering anyone. Once a kink gets "weathered into" it from heat/sun/cold, there will always be a kink there and that's where the holes form, at the sides of a kinked spot.

Don't I know it! I'm getting a "kink less" hose, one of those that are strengthened inside, next year. I do coil my hose as you describe, but it still gets kinks in it.
Can't use a sprinkler here, or you have all kinds of nasty fungal diseases.m

Pots were the first I gave up mainly due to daily watering.

purpleinopp said:Water the grass? That just makes it grow!

You'd think so! But, it only seems to take off when it rains.

Weedwhacker said:Hamwild, what is a "rain fee" ? They charge you more when it rains?

Yep! Well, they charge us period if it rains. I think it is for "runoff." You don't get the fee if you have a retention pond. We don't get the fee every month it looks like. It's like $5, but hey, I could use that $5 to almost pay for Hulu every month.

purpleinopp said:A good hose and watering attachment of choice really are worthwhile. If you have some bigger areas, a sprinkler. (Ham, my one rule for running my sprinkler is to make sure none of the spray is hitting the grass.)
Just don't get one of those shrinking hoses. They DO NOT LAST. I tried 5 of those and none lasted more than a couple of weeks. I've found that the key to keeping a hose as long as possible is to never let it rest with a kink. It's worth the time it takes to wind it into a circle. Laying flat in the shade is best if looking at is isn't bothering anyone. Once a kink gets "weathered into" it from heat/sun/cold, there will always be a kink there and that's where the holes form, at the sides of a kinked spot.

Our sprinkler doubles as a garden bed waterer out front. I have three beds that need watered, but two get watered when I water the grass. The Yuccas are in a spot where the ground dries and gets rock hard for some reason with a lack of water (not that they mind, but their older leaves will yellow some with too much drought). And the bed in the middle of the yard gets full sun all day long. They're not as drought tolerant, so they seem to appreciate the supplemental water. My third bed gets less sun and part of it is my "rain garden" which never dries out, so I don't bother watering it.

I usually prefer to hand water. it's a good way to "de-stress" after work plus I get to keep tabs on the plants. in the beginning of the season when it starts heating up is when I use the sprinklers. for several years I'd lug around 125ft of rubber hose always being careful not to squash the plants behind me. it was exhausting. then the metal hoses came on the scene. what a game changer! they weight nothing, they never kink and they don't destroy the plants when they roll over them. worth every penny. i had to buy 2 to make 100ft because they only came in 50ft rolls. the only draw back-they can only be run over with a vehicle a few times before they get flattened but they still work. this year I got "AQUA JOE" at Home Depot. just as good and super light weight, never kinks and you can run over it all you want without smashing it. good water pressure too. thats the first hose on the faucet and it reaches across the driveway then the stainless hose get hooked up to that. i can go back and forth with no effort and no kinking.

I never have trouble gardening. Bugs and disease are nonexistent here. Weeds?...*every now and then* I see a sprig of grass. It's so odd how the purslane, dog fennel, chamber bitter, may pop vines, etc., avoid my garden. Coyotes and deer don't give me any trouble either, I don't think they like my melons or peas. Watering....no biggie. I just plant some seeds, kick back in a lawn recliner and watch perfect plants spring from the ground! It's simply paradise here, so easy!

Oh, it's nice to live "in the country".

Yes, we have Waste Management as well...recycle every other week.
We have a well for water so no water bill, and a propane tank for gas...which fuels the stove and heater in the winter. We also have a wood stove when it gets really cold, as it does snow here every winter. There is always enough wood for the stove as we have plenty of oak trees on the property.

We do not have a lawn, only a few neighbors have one. And usually a small one in a designated area, such as right by the house.

Even though we have a well, we have to be careful to conserve water. Our well has never gone dry, though.

Hilarious, Ed LOL!!!

breith95 said:I usually prefer to hand water. it's a good way to "de-stress" after work plus I get to keep tabs on the plants. in the beginning of the season when it starts heating up is when I use the sprinklers. for several years I'd lug around 125ft of rubber hose always being careful not to squash the plants behind me. it was exhausting. then the metal hoses came on the scene. what a game changer! they weight nothing, they never kink and they don't destroy the plants when they roll over them. worth every penny. i had to buy 2 to make 100ft because they only came in 50ft rolls. the only draw back-they can only be run over with a vehicle a few times before they get flattened but they still work. this year I got "AQUA JOE" at Home Depot. just as good and super light weight, never kinks and you can run over it all you want without smashing it. good water pressure too. thats the first hose on the faucet and it reaches across the driveway then the stainless hose get hooked up to that. i can go back and forth with no effort and no kinking.

I'm so glad to see your recommendation on this Aqua Joe hose, @breith95. We've been contemplating using them down at our cabin. We only have one exterior hose bib on the cabin and I have to lug 125' of rubber hose from there all the way around the cabin to water there. It's not only heavy when full of water, but it kinks constantly dragging it around 3 sides of the cabin. I can sure use 'light weight' at my age. HD is showing them under $35, so not as expensive as had thought.
This way if I'm watering all the way out the perimeter fenceline and the hubs runs over it with the riding mower (we're usually doing both tasks at the same time when we drive down there).........no problema! Thanks for the tip and recommendation!

Intheswamp said:I never have trouble gardening. Bugs and disease are nonexistent here. Weeds?...*every now and then* I see a sprig of grass. It's so odd how the purslane, dog fennel, chamber bitter, may pop vines, etc., avoid my garden. Coyotes and deer don't give me any trouble either, I don't think they like my melons or peas. Watering....no biggie. I just plant some seeds, kick back in a lawn recliner and watch perfect plants spring from the ground! It's simply paradise here, so easy!

You made my day, Ed.

Hamwild said:
...they charge us period if it rains. I think it is for "runoff." You don't get the fee if you have a retention pond. We don't get the fee every month it looks like. It's like $5, but hey, I could use that $5 to almost pay for Hulu every month.

That seems so weird to me - but I WAS thinking it might have something to do with runoff.

We're on a small water system (about 200 customers) run by our township; the water comes from a deep well - Lake Superior water, they tell me (which seems as weird as getting charged extra when it rains, given that I live right near Lake Michigan - geology is quite strange). Happy to have excellent water, even though it costs us $49/month for up to 5000 gallons (we're essentially always under that amount, but I admit we did go over once during a dry period this summer). We have 4 rain barrels that I normally use for watering in the two high tunnels, but when it's hot out I can go through those in a little over a week.

Ed, this is especially for you (came across it on Pinterest):

I need those myself!!

Hmmm, the first plant labels that make sense!!!!!

Except maybe the "cheaper than therapy" one - sometimes I think therapy might well be cheaper than gardening!