Every garden is different, but every garden requires attention. Depending on how much attention you give your garden, you may start to feel your wallet getting a little lighter. However, with a few tips from the experts at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, your garden can be gorgeous without spending a lot of money.

A few tips to consider when starting or even adding to a garden:

Use yard ornaments or bird feeders.

By incorporating diversity into your garden, you not only add to the overall look, but you may help in the overall production of your flowers, plants or vegetables. For example, you can use a bird feeder to attract birds that will help repel pests from your flowers and vegetables. Stepping stones can be added to a garden to provide a walking path, but also to give butterflies a place to absorb heat.

Be aware that mulch is all around you.

Pay attention to what your neighbors or family members are getting rid of when they do yard work. If you notice they are bagging leaves or pine straw, ask if you can take it off their hands; leaves and pine straw can be used as mulch. Some cities have an organic waste program that provides residents with the option to load various materials that can be used as mulch for a small fee. Research your city to find out if such a program is offered. If not, perhaps you can be the one to initiate something that's not only beneficial to gardeners, but helpful in keeping the city looking nice. (Extension experts recommend that gardeners avoid using wood chips as mulch because it deprives plants of needed nitrogen.)

Remember that location matters.

A good garden starts from the ground up. If you have healthy soil, then you will have good plant and flower production. However, if you aren't sure what type of soil you have, Extension experts recommend doing a soil test. For more information on soil testing, contact your county Extension office.

Be informed.

The next time you are looking for a good book about gardening, Extension expert, Kerry Smith, recommends picking up Lois Trigg Chaplin's "The Southern Gardener's Book of Lists." This book outlines various types of flowers and plants that thrive in certain seasons in the South.

Choose the correct place for your plant's needs.

A few various plants, flowers and trees that do well in Alabama include the following:

Sedums — height and texture varies, drought and sunlight tolerant.
Salvias — grows in spring, summer and fall, available in 20 different colors and can grow from 1 to 5 feet tall.
Hellebores — a shade tree, comes in two varieties, Lenten rose (available around Easter) and Christmas rose (available around Christmas).
Surprise lilies and naked pink ladies — grow best in the fall.
Daffodils, day lilies, lullaby baby lilies and pink flirt lilies — good investments, last a long time and have few pest problems.

Cheap isn't always best.

If you purchase flowers or plants at a discount price there is usually a reason they are on sale. Thoroughly inspect all of the flowers and plants you buy before purchasing. Usually the best place to purchase flowers and plants is at a privately owned greenhouse because the people are more likely to know their products much better.

Contact your county Extension office for more information and tips on how to add to your garden without taking away from your wallet.