Build a Terrific Garden on a Budget
Like most hobbies, costs related to gardening can add up before you know it. Luckily, it is possible to maintain a fabulous garden on a budget.
Share and Swap With Friends!
Another great way to expand your garden at little cost is to share and swap with friends and neighbors. If you have more seeds than you can reasonably use in a season, see if neighbors or friends would like to do a seed exchange.Similarly, if you have extra plants when it is time to divide plants, a plant swap can be an easy way to add diversity to your garden.
Divide and Conquer
Work With What You've Got!
Some plants can be easily divided--essentially turning a single plant into two plants. Eventually each will grow to a full-size plant, and the only cost to you was a little hard work! Hostas are terrific for dividing. Spider plants are also naturals--these plants shoot off "baby" spider plants that can be picked off the stem and planted.Dividing plants has other benefits, as well, such as preventing overcrowding and rejuvenating older plants.
Dollar Store Deals and Other Bargains
Garden supplies from nurseries and hardware stores can add up quickly. Luckily there are terrific deals to be found at dollar stores, thrift stores, and other places.
- Take advantage of your local dollar store. At our local Dollar Tree, I've found seeds as well as basic tools such as spades and planting gloves.
- Look outside the gardening department, especially at the dollar store. My best find this year at the Dollar Tree has been huge plastic buckets, which are perfect for my container garden. They are deep enough to give my tomato plants plenty of room to grow, yet are lighter and much more affordable than "traditional" planters. Saucers and plates from the dollar store can also be used to catch any water that drips from the bottom of your planters.
- In the spring, the dollar special section at the front of the Target store tends to have items including seeds, planters, gloves, trowels, and other tools, as well as garden accessories such as candles, lights and decorations.
- Thrift stores can be a terrific source of unique planters and supplies. In addition to traditional planters, I like to purchase unique mugs and bowls to use as planters.
Helpful Gardening Books from Amazon
The Curious Garden
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/05/2009) 
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/05/2009)
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 12/05/2009)
The Great Debate--Annuals vs. Perennials
Plants are generally divided into two categories--annuals and perennials. Annuals complete their life cycle in a single growing season--types of annuals are petunias, marigolds and impatiens.Perennials, on the other hand, live for multiple growing seasons. Examples of perennials are
chrysanthemums, ferns, hostas and hydrangeas.
Obviously, perennials can be a terrific way to make the most out of your gardening budget because with the right conditions, the plants will come back year after year.
In some areas, plants may be considered annuals when really they are perennials, so it can help to do your research. For example, a tropical pepper plant would be considered an annual for purposes of growing in northern Illinois. However last year at the end of the growing season I moved my pepper plant indoors. It went dormant for the winter, but then sprang to life again in the spring and looks as hardy as ever!
Money Saving Tip--Start Your Own Seeds!
Starting a plant from seed can be much cheaper than buying a plant at the store. Home and garden stores often sell seed starter kits, with dehydrated soil pellets in individual compartments, but you can make your own seed starters at home from items you have on hand. For example, empty (clean) prescription bottles and egg cartons can be filled with soil and used to plant seeds. Instead of buying cardboard seed compartments at the store, why not cut down empty cardboard cereal and cracker boxes to use? With a little creativity your options are unlimited and your savings can be huge.
Garden Photos From Flickr
great caesar's ghost...
Garden Ready for the...
Old warehouse
Banksy sign
Reindeer in London
Belgo
Candy Cakes
Reindeer in London
Covent Garden market
wasp on window
automatically generated by Flickr
Read Before You Plant
Save money and avoid expensive mistakes!
Doing a little research before investing in new plants, seeds or garden gadgets can lead to big savings. Before making a purchase, think about the location you intend to place your new plant. Will the soil and light be adequate for it? How will the plant interact with the rest of your garden?Obviously there are many places on the internet to learn more about various plants. Other resources include your local nursery or home improvement center, friends and family gardeners and the public library. One of my favorite websites, paperbackswap.com, allows you to trade all kinds of books, including gardening books, and that can be a great source of information.
Money Saving Tip--Make Your Own Compost!
Turn kitchen scraps into fertilizer.
Compost can be a great way to help your plants grow without the use of chemical fertilizers. Things you can put in your composting bin include dry leaves, grass, straw, fruit peelings and vegetables. Hybrid earthworms are a helpful addition to your compost bin. Cute Gardener Gifts from CafePress
Other Helpful Gardening Lenses
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Benefits of Keeping a Garden Journal
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Garden journals can be as formal or as casual as you like. Your garden journal can be a comprehensive reference tool for you to use in planning future years, or it can be a simple memory book to look back on. This lens is dedicated to resources relat...
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Urban and Container Gardening
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It's possible to pack a lot of garden into a tiny amount of space! Whether you're working with a patio, deck, balcony, front porch, or window boxes, with a little creativity you can grow your favorite plants and vegetables.
Helpful Links
- Dividing Perennials in 10 Easy Steps
- Step-by-Step instructions for dividing perennials.
- DIY Network on Dividing Plants
- Another step-by-step resource which includes photos.
- Lowe's on Propagating Plants
- Helpful information about various ways to propagate plants of different types.
- Frugal Gardening
- Tips on frugal gardening.
- How to Compost
- Helpful tips for beginners and experts.
What do you think?
Have any tips to share?
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- seedplanter seedplanter May 15, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
- This time of year I live and breathe gardening. I like your approach, because "divide & conquer" is such a great help to a gardener on a budget. Plus it's one way to share with friends and neighbors, which I like to do. Thanks. I'm lensrolling it over to my Backyard Makeover: Before & After lens.
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- Swisstoons Swisstoons Mar 28, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
- Some useful information here. But check your category. Animals...? Home & Garden is the one I think you want. :)
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Reply
- JustBon-Crochet-Designs JustBon-Crochet-Designs Feb 8, 2009 @ 1:17 am
- Some very useful info here. As a gardener, I'm always looking for some budgeting tips. :)
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Reply
- SPF SPF Jul 17, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
- By the way... Feel free to submit your other gardening lenses to my group.
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by devilsworkshopcrafts
Dedicated to exploring the forgotten arts and lost causes, including gardening, baking, cooking, crafting, sustainability, and more. (more)
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