5 Deals to Transform a Yard or Garden: From Live Plants to Live Lady Bugs

With Earth Day upon us, it's the prefect time to give your yard or garden some much-needed tender loving care — in the form of retail therapy. Pay homage to the greenest of holidays with our deals, and you'll not only do your part to save the Earth (by way of a healthy, thriving yard), but you'll also save your wallet at the same time.

Everything in its place:
If you're new to gardening, it's probably best to keep your plans conservative; if you start with a massive space, it'll require more maintenance time (not to mention more money for plants), which increases the likelihood of your neat little garden turning into an overgrown backyard jungle. But with an area of just 48" x 48", this Suncast Cedar Raised Garden Bed will keep your working space — as well as your lofty horticultural dreams — in check.
Price: $69 + pickup, a price low by $51

Get growing:
Shopping for flowers is the most exciting part of planning a garden, which means the savings from this Spring Hill Nurseries plant sale should make you outright giddy. Since the store takes 50% off sitewide, you'll be able to populate the above planter without simultaneously crippling your budget. A bundle like this Easy-Care Summer Through Fall Sun Garden is a good value, and a foolproof way to start filling space since it includes 15 plants. We'd also suggest a flowering vine, like this Avant Garde Clematis, to take advantage of that delightful trellis.
Price: Sun garden bundle, $37.50 via code "04243415" + $10 s&h, $38 off; Clematis, $12.50 + $8 s&h, $13 off

Tame the beast:
For some plants, it's possible to pinch blooms and restrict the growth of leaves with just your fingers; however, many varieties will be too hardy. (Plus, no one actually wants a green thumb, despite the positive connotation.) Instead, grab this Craftsman 4-volt Cordless Pruner for hands-free trimming.
Price: $17.99 + $7 s&h, lowest we've seen by $10

Ladybugs to the rescue:
Few things are as frustrating and disappointing as putting hours of hard work and emotional energy into a garden, only to have it be ravaged by pests. An inexpensive — and completely "green" — preventative measure: Release 1,500 Live Ladybugs into your yard. The fabulously-named insect devours aphids, mealy bugs and more, earning its reputation as nature's own pest control. (And, we're pretty sure Green Dad would approve of this chemical-free bug killer.)
Price: $12.99 + $5 s&h, a price low by $4

Earth Day freebies:
Lastly, if your yard is in need of some shade or additional large-scale landscaping, then be sure to head to Lowe's this Saturday; the home improvement store will be handing out a free tree to each customer in honor of Earth Day. And if that's not enough, you could also spend $25 or more on trees at the Arbor Day Foundation's online store and get two forsythia plants for free. And at that price, it's easy to get into the Earth Day spirit.
Price: Tree, free + pickup, a savings of about $5; Forsythia plants, free with $25 purchase + $5 s&h, $9 off