17 Clever Methods to Reduce Garden Expenses During This Season
Garden Savvy on a Budget
Saving money is crucial in today's inflationary world, and gardening is no exception. Here are some frugal tips to help you cultivate a thriving garden while keeping your wallet healthy.
1. Seeds are Your Buddy
Seeds are your best friend when it comes to saving cash. A single packet can provide you with plenty of annuals for under $5, while purchasing nursery flats at the same rate might cost you four times as much. Don't hesitate to start seeds indoors using upcycled household items to lower costs even further [1].
2. Free Plants Galore
Some plants, like geraniums and hostas, can be easily propagated via cuttings or division. You'll end up with more (albeit smaller) plants at no extra cost, perfect for donating to friends or swapping with fellow gardeners [2].
3. Strategic Spending
Opt for purchasing plants and gardening materials during the off-season to benefit from sales and discounts. Annuals, perennials, and woody plants are often marked down in mid-summer and late summer, respectively. Look out for half-price sales on trees and shrubs in June [2].
4. Buy Small or Divide and Conquer
Smaller plants in 4-inch pots are half the price of their gallon-size counterparts. These smaller plants may need more attention when it comes to watering during their first year, but they'll quickly catch up to their bigger siblings [2].
5. Share and Trade
Share the cost of multiple seed packets with a friend or coworker, allowing you to both grow a variety of plants. Trading plants brings fun and economy into the picture. Offer a plant you've divided to a friend or neighbor and receive something else from their yard in return [2].
6. Neighborly Collaboration
Borrow tools from friends or neighbors to save on costs. Tools like tillers, chippers, and aerators are large and usually used infrequently. If a friend or neighbor has one, ask to borrow it and reciprocate the favor later with something from your gardening toolbox [2].
7. Upcycle and Repurpose
Transform old items found around the garage or on the curb for new gardening purposes. Old windows, raised beds, and greenhouses can be built using reclaimed materials [2].
8. Groundcovers to the Rescue
Hard-working groundcovers like creeping Jenny, chocolate ajuga, and variegated lamium are potent enough to cover large areas, reducing the need for filler plants. They also require minimal weeding [2].
9. Self-Seeding Annuals
Self-seeding annuals are a gardener's ally. Purchase a pack of seeds once, and allow the plants to mature, flower, and self-seed. The following year, you'll have more plants without buying extra seed. Some of the easiest self-seeders are bachelor's buttons, calendula, spider flower, cosmos, larkspur, zinnia, hollyhock, and rose campion [2].
10. DIY Compost
Create your own compost instead of buying it from the nursery. Fill a trench in the vegetable garden with leaves and kitchen scraps, then backfill with soil as you go along. Switch growing locations each year [3].
11. Free or Discounted Mulch
Never pay full price for mulch. Look for sales, open bags on discount, and free mulch from municipalities. Wood chips are often given away for the taking [3].
12. Grow for the Long Haul
Perennials are a wise investment considering they come back year after year without needing to be purchased annually. Buy them on sale at the end of their blooming period and enjoy them the following year [3].
13. Buy Used Tools
Search for used tools at garage sales, estate sales, or thrift stores. Older tools with high-quality craftsmanship can often be found at a fraction of the cost of new [3].
14. Economize on Potting Soil and Mulch
Save money on potting soil and mulch by filling the bottom third of pots with inert materials such as polystyrene foam or packing peanuts. Similarly, line tall raised beds with cheap materials like logs, branches, or rocks [4].
15. Native Plants Rule
Native plants are those that grow naturally in your region and are better adapted to the climate and ecosystem. This means less need for fertilizing, watering, and protection, reducing costs in the long run [4].
16. Bulk Buys
Purchase bulk soil, compost, or mulch from garden centers or local landscaping companies to save money and reduce plastic waste [4].
17. Grow What You Love
Focus on growing what you enjoy eating or using the most. There's no point in spending time and money on fruits or vegetables that will never make it to your table. Also, consider growing herbs, which are costly at stores but can be easily cultivated with minimal investment [5].
References:[1] https://www.bhg.com/gardening/how-to/plant/chop-and-drop-method-for-garden-maintenance/[2] https://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable-garden/setting-up/how-to-save-money-in-your-garden/[3] https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-care/advice/how-to-make-compost-for-garden-soil/[4] https://www.bhg.com/gardening/materials-tools/how-to-make-raised-garden-beds-from-scrap-materials/[5] https://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable-garden/setting-up/indoor-smart-gardens-for-beginners/
- Embrace the DIY lifestyle and start caring for your yard by creating your own compost using kitchen scraps and leaves from your home-and-garden [10].
- Save on gardening costs by propagating your own plants, such as geraniums and hostas, through division or cuttings [2].
- For a beautiful and budget-friendly garden, invest in native plants that are better adapted to your region, requiring fewer resources for growth [15].
