It's easy to overspend in the garden - buying expensive plants, treatments and tools. However, the truth is that most costs are unnecessary. You can create a garden practically for free.
Here, gardening experts and some industry insiders share the best frugal gardening ideas that could save you hundreds of dollars.
1. Buy seeds, not plants.
I am often asked: "What is better to use: seedlings or seeds?" I always reply: "Seeds are the way!" »
If your plant doesn't grow as expected, go back to the store and buy a new one. If your seeds don't grow as expected, you have 10 to 300 possibilities left in your seed packet.
Another benefit of growing plants from seed is the wonderful and wonderful world of seed storage.
Seeds for life! This small investment in a packet of seeds will last for years, if not decades.
Advice from Jeffrey Johnson, Georgia-based master gardener, seed expert and founder of Depend on Planet Earth
2. Save factory waste
When browsing a garden center, go straight to the discounted plants section.
They may seem out of place now, but most perennials can be reclaimed to fill your garden at a fraction of the cost.
Sometimes plants are simply discarded because they die at the end of the season. Stock up now and you will reap the benefits next year.
Learn how to get tips from Caroline Bloomfield, Gardening's Marketing Communications Manager
3. Make your own herbal tonic
Save money on expensive liquid fertilizers by making a homemade plant tonic. Today, there are many organic options that you can try.
One of the most effective home remedies is tanning. Look for the Bucking 14 variety, which is high in potassium.
Put a few leaves in a bag, drop them in a bucket and leave them for a few weeks. Dilute fruit liquid to one part food to eight parts water.
Advice from Jenny Goulding, content editor for Gardening Know How magazine
4. Reuse pots and pans
Do not throw away pots or plant trays, but reuse them for next year's planting. A new purchase is a waste of money and plastic.
However, be sure to clean the container with a diluted bleach solution to prevent disease from spreading from one season to the next. Use 9 parts water to 1 part bleach.
Get advice from Laura Walters, content editor, on how to garden
5. Buy lots of soil and mulch.
Buying soil and mulch in bulk is a more economical option than buying individual bags.
If you choose to buy in bulk, you'll save a lot of money and optimize your shopping experience by reducing shipping time and costs.
Additionally, the reduction in packaging costs associated with bulk purchases contributes greatly to the overall availability of these products.
Buying bulk soil and mulch proves to be a more environmentally friendly choice by reducing the amount of plastic.
For example, a standard cubic yard of mulch might cost $50. To get the equivalent number of small 2 cubic foot bags, you would need to buy 18 bags of one cubic yard equivalent.
If each bag costs $8, the total cost would be $144, which is a significant savings and potentially covers shipping costs if a truck is not available.
Advice from Amy Dreis, Digital Community Manager, Gardening Know How
6. Expansion and prosperity
Growing some plants from seed is a cost-effective way to grow them, but propagation by division or cuttings is free.
Clumping plants are easily propagated by division, including perennials, spreading shrubs, succulents, rhizomes, bulbs and tubers.
Some plants need to be divided for health reasons, as they can overgrow after a few years.
Some plants can only be separated by the roots, others need to be separated with a shovel or sharp knife.
Coniferous and hardwood cuttings can be taken from various trees, shrubs and vines.
Coniferous cuttings are taken from new shoots in spring or early summer; They set up very quickly, but you will not be able to fit them all, so make sure you have some.
Hardwood cuttings are taken from more established trunks in autumn and winter; Development takes longer, but is generally more reliable.
Cut a piece of stem about 5 inches long diagonally where the nodes or leaves meet. Remove lower leaves and place in a poorly drained potting mix.
Twice a week, place the pot in the nursery or cover it with an airtight plastic bag. Cuttings need good indirect light and the potting soil should be kept moist until roots emerge.
After growing new leaves, you can transplant the plant into a larger pot.
Advice from Melanie Griffiths, editor of Gardening Know How magazine
7. Make your own compost
Build a compost pile and add organic matter to the soil. Composting is not only an economical method, it is an environmentally friendly way to reduce waste and improve soil health.
Use kitchen scraps, grass clippings and other organic materials. This method naturally enriches your garden soil and eliminates the need for expensive chemical fertilizers.
It's important to make sure your compost has the right combination of green and brown material and turn it regularly.
Tips from Jean Caballero, landscape design expert and co-founder of GreenPal
8. Save money on raised beds and containers.
Building your own raised bed from local, reclaimed or reclaimed wood allows you to adjust the height and width to suit your needs, allowing you to sit on the edge and simplify maintenance.
Be careful not to use treated pine in your bedding because the chemicals can seep into the soil.
Think outside the box to see what can be used for beds as well as containers, from cut logs, scaffolding boards, old barrels, tires, ladders, crates, trash cans, buckets or cans to chimneys.
Look for bargains in unusual places like thrift stores and vintage markets: A person's trash can be your treasure.
Demonstrate the ability to reuse objects as containers. Don't forget to drill a drainage hole.
Advice from gardening expert and author Lee Clapp
9. Scatter the ashes of the fire
Are you lucky enough to have a wood stove or fireplace? If so, you can enjoy a little more this winter by spreading ashes on your flower beds.
Such ash is an excellent source of potassium and lime. However, it should not be used in alkaline soils or beds containing acid-loving plants.
Jenny Goulding's advice
10. Save your mother!
Don't throw away your fall mums when the weather changes. I live in zone 6b and many of my potted chrysanthemums survive the winter.
Plant them in your garden to ensure fall color returns year after year.
All you need to do to keep them looking good is to give them a hard prune (cut in half) in early summer just before the 4th of July.
Advice from Laura Walters
11. Switch to your mother tongue to save money
Choose plants adapted to your region's native or local climate. These plants require less care and water, saving money on water and maintenance.
They are also an excellent way to promote biodiversity by providing important food sources for native wildlife, including valuable pollinators.
Tips from Marvin Magsura, lawn and landscaping expert and co-founder of Retaining Wall Supply
12. Use rainwater wisely
It is important to conserve and reuse rainwater where possible. Build at least one rain barrel, but be creative with other solutions.
I attached the drain hose to a rain barrel and buried it in the ground under the flower bed on the back patio.
This allows me to water my plants without much effort or expense.
Find out how with advice from Kyle McCann, Head of Horticultural Marketing
13. Share your love of plants
We all have plants that seem overgrown. If you're ready to share the love, why not consider transplanting native plants or creating your own?
Whether you choose a local community group or a trusted group of friends, family and neighbors, plant swaps are a great way to free up space on your property and, more importantly, fill your wallet.
Easily give your surplus ornamental plants and crops to others in exchange for some of their local treasure!
Use all your social media accounts or spread the word through your nearest account.
It's a great way to save money, and as an added bonus, you're sure to meet some new gardening friends.
Jenny Goulding's advice
14. Take care of your equipment
Keep your garden tools in good condition! Regular cleaning, sharpening and maintenance will extend their life so you don't have to replace them as often.
Additionally, you should only invest in basic gardening tools that are multi-tasking rather than the latest time-saving gadgets.
Advice from Marvin Magsura
15. Make your own plant stand.
Making your own plant support can save you a lot of money.
The simplest support for rock climbers is a wigwam made of three or four sticks or poles, placed at angles and fixed at the top.
Chopsticks can attract your attention. Therefore, store upside-down cans or bottles on the shelf to avoid injury.
Willow, hazel and birch are all excellent choices: simply cut short, strong, flexible branches and you'll have material ready to use.
Place twisted and cane supports as cages for plant growth.
You can make a TPO out of sticks or bamboo containers, stick them into the ground to secure them, and then tie the top down.
Reuse the carrier to make a bug hotel, or put it in a woodpile for wildlife
Tips from Lee Clapp
