Is Gardening Expensive? Thrifty Tips for Green Thumbs
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Some put off gardening because they think gardening is an expensive hobby. But the joy of gardening doesn't have to break the bank.
Gardening has been proven to lower stress and benefit your overall health and sense of well-being. Don't let a lack of funds keep you from reaping these benefits!
In this article, we will cover saving money on plants, potting soil, fertilizer, mulch, tools and equipment, water, and pest and disease management.
1. Saving Money on Plants
Echinacea Purpurea Purple Coneflower
Choosing Affordable Plants: When it comes to saving money on plants, the key is to choose budget-friendly options. Go for native and drought-resistant varieties that spread easily. For instance, Echinacea Purpurea (purple coneflower) and Rudbeckia Hirta (black-eyed-susans) are excellent examples of perennials that propagate without much effort. Just be sure to leave the seed heads on during the winter, and you'll have plenty to share with friends and fill your own garden. They self-sow very easily.
Propagation Methods:
Division: You can also multiply your plant collection by dividing them in spring or fall. Simply dig up the plant and cut it into sections. You can use a knife, a shovel, or even a reciprocating saw.
Cuttings: Many plants, including annuals like Petunias, can be propagated quite easily. Purchase one early in the season and take cuttings to fill your garden on the cheap.
Seed Saving: Saving seeds and growing new plants from them is a rewarding cost-effective way to fill your garden.
When to Buy: Consider shopping for perennials and shrubs in the fall when they are often heavily discounted, sometimes up to 75% off. If the ground is not frozen, you can plant them right away, and they're likely to thrive. If you have gardening friends or neighbors, let them know you're starting a garden on a budget. They might have extra plants to share with you.
Related article: Multiply Your Favorite Plants for Free with cuttings
2. Potting Soil, Fertilizer, and Mulch
Potting Soil Savings:
Leaf Mold
If you plan to create a container garden, potting soil can be expensive. You can significantly stretch a bag of potting soil by making your own leaf mold from mulched leaves. This not only saves you money but also enriches the potting soil.
Garden Compost
You could also use finished garden compost instead of store-bought potting soil. You can add sand for drainage.
Related Article: A Comprehensive Guide to Diverse Composting Approaches
DIY Leaf Mold
Mulch leaves using a leaf mulcher, this is the one I use, or simply mow them.
Put them in a compost bin, or even a large plastic bag.
Wet the leaves and poke holes in the bag for air flow and let it sit over the winter outside.
By springtime you should have what is known as leaf mold.
Fertilizer Alternatives:
You can make your own all-purpose fertilizer by cutting up leafy garden material and soaking it in water for a few weeks. Dilute the solution 10x with water. This homemade fertilizer is excellent for annuals, vegetables, and container plants.
You could also buy a good liquid seaweed concentrate. It is very economical as 1 gallon of it makes up to 470 gallons of fertilizer!
Manure is also a great source of fertilizer. That is the main reason I keep chickens, but you don't need to go out and get livestock. You can buy cheap bags of manure at the garden center.
Budget-Friendly Mulch:
Mulching is crucial for water conservation, weed suppression, and plant nutrition. Shredded leaves, hay, grass clippings, and pine needles are cost-effective options for mulch.
3. Thrifty Garden Tools and Equipment
Smart Tool Shopping: You can find essential garden tools like a garden fork, spade shovel, metal rake, trowel, hoe, and pruners at low prices or even for free by checking Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or garage sales.
Economical Seed Starting Supplies:
Trays: I recommend spending some money on good quality trays if you can. It just makes it so much easier to have a whole bunch that you can stack together.
I get sturdy trays from bootstrap farmer. They will last a lifetime. You get what you pay for.
Seed Starting in Various Reused Containers
Containers:
Plastic meat trays work great for seed starting. All you need to do is drill a couple of holes in them.
Chinese food takeout containers are also great because they come with a clear lid. This is great for seed starting because the lid acts as a humidity dome.
Mushroom containers work well too.
You could also use buckets for growing plants. You can get them for free at bakeries in grocery stores. Just ask them if they have any buckets they're throwing away.
Another place I've started getting free buckets is the florist in the grocery store. They give away the black buckets the flowers come in. Just ask if they have any buckets you can have.
4. Water Conservation
Giant Rain Barrel
Efficient Irrigation: In dry areas, drip irrigation is a cost-effective and efficient way to deliver water directly to your plants' roots, ensuring they get the water they need.
Harvest Rainwater: Set up a rain barrel to catch rainwater using a simple container like a garbage can. Connect it to your rain gutter to collect water for your garden.
Choose Drought-Resistant Plants: Opt for drought-resistant plants like Lambs’ Ear, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, and Sedum.
5. Pest and Disease Management
Homemade Pest Control: You don't need to spend a lot on pesticides, as they may not be safe to use anyway. Create a simple insecticide at home by mixing water with a squirt of dish soap and using a spray bottle. This is effective against aphids and mites.
Companion Planting: Companion planting can help keep pests at bay by providing beneficial insects with a food source. Consider planting host plants like Brussels sprouts and calendula as a trap crop for aphids next to things like grapes and kale. Leave the pests alone on these plants and you will attract beneficial insects like ladybugs to come and feast on them.
Powdery Mildew Prevention: Prevent powdery mildew by spraying a mixture of dish soap, baking soda, and water on the leaves of susceptible plants early in the season.
Recipe for DIY Powdery Mildew Preventative:
1 Tablespoon baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon of mild liquid soap
1 Quart of water
shake together in a clean spray bottle
I've tested this out and I can tell you it really works!
My Peonies always used to get powdery mildew when we would get a lot of rain. Not anymore. Even in the rainiest of summers the foliage looks great all season long.
As you can see, gardening does not have to be expensive. Get creative, and you'll discover even more ways to save. Happy gardening!
