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I'm sure that you have driven the streets of your neighborhood and cursed under your breath at that house with the perfect landscaping and the exotic flair that sets it apart...it might even have one of those coveted "Beautification Awards", and even though your yard is nothing to laugh at, you still dream of having a yard worth a "Beautification Award". It's not difficult to create a beautiful and exotic garden if you follow a few tips:

1) Know your area. Those lush Hawaiian flowers might grow great in San Diego, but they'll burn to a crisp in Arizona, so you have to know your area and your "region" and then go for plants, flowers and trees that are known to strive in your area.

2) Don't be afraid to ask for help. I've found that it is not only easy, but worthwhile to take a trip to your local nursery and have a little discussion with one of their senior staff members. It is their job to steer you toward plants that fit both your aesthetic needs and your growing needs. This tip also goes for your neighbors, if you happen to see the owner of that beautifully exotic yard outside, stop by and ask for the names of the plants that you like the best. Most people are more than willing to talk about their yards and their houses.

3) Plant at the right time of the year. Make sure to know when the best time of the year is to put those precious plants into the ground. Keep the beds and the dirt rich and filled with top soil, and make sure there is no danger of freezing. Most of the time, the spring is the best time of year for planting.

4) See if your friends will give you some cutting from those plants that you love in their yards. My husband's mother gave me several cuttings from a "Canna" bush last year, and now they are thriving four feet high in wooden buckets in my front yard.

If you want an exotic garden on a budget, you need only follow some of these tips. You don't need to hire a professional landscaper, when you can create the perfect yard on your own!

Learn more about this author, Sarah Williams.
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