New gardeners are often surprised to discover how expensive gardening as a hobby can be.
There are thousands of tools, gadgets and plants for sale. They may not be expensive individually, but the cost adds up remarkably quickly.
This problem is exacerbated in the spring – the season for new growth and waste.
Luckily for gardening newbies, there are plenty of ways to start a spring garden that won’t break the bank (and might even save you money!)
Contents
1. Start small
All gardeners, whether beginners or experienced, seem to suffer from a similar problem: reluctance.
There are thousands of beautiful plants to choose from, and plenty of brilliant tools and gadgets. How not to love them all?
When starting a garden on a budget, especially a spring garden, moderation is (unfortunately) essential. And the best way to practice moderation is to start small.
To start, choose one or more plants. Choose plants suitable for beginners with similar needs to avoid additional expenses for specific care products. It’s better to expand your garden over time than to start with a garden full of plants you can’t care for.
Also consider what tools and products you really need before making a purchase. Some tools are essential, others can be considered nice to have.
Starting small is a helpful mantra for any budding gardener. This gives you time to understand your plants, adapt to their needs, and cultivate your garden with your skills.
2. Plan your garden before planting
You go to your local garden center and come across a beautiful plant. You have never seen anything like it. And what are the possibilities? It’s on sale. You rush to buy one (or more) and eagerly bring it home, only to find that the conditions you need are not at all suitable for the open space of your garden.
We have all experienced it. But with a limited budget, picking the wrong plants can be expensive. This is why good planning is an invaluable tool.
Before you start your spring garden, decide where you want to grow. By defining a location, you can assess the light, water and soil conditions of the area and choose the plants that grow best there, save money on soil amendments, give extra water or trying to revive a dying plant that isn’t getting enough light. blow (or too much).
Impulse garden purchases are always exciting, but they can backfire on you and your budget in the long run.
3. Plant seeds
As the saying goes, Patience is a virtue. Starting a garden from seed may not produce the immediate results you hoped for, but it can save you tons of money and can lead to unexpected benefits.
Although it may take longer, starting plants from seed can produce healthier plants in the future. You have full control over your environment and growing conditions from day one. The plant does not have time to adapt to its environment, and you can eliminate the potential stress of transplanting. This gives the plants time to root firmly and get used to your garden environment, saving you time and money on plant maintenance.
As corny as it sounds, it’s also incredibly rewarding. The process of watching a small seed grow into a flowering plant is one of the great joys of gardening.
If you already have seed plants, gardening will cost you nothing. Simply save the seeds (or buy some from your neighbors) and start the process over. This way, gardening isn’t cheap, it’s completely free, and it gets easier and easier to save seeds as you build your plant collection.
4. Grow plants you can eat
Growing your own food is more popular than ever. Not since the Victory Garden movement of the World Wars has the horticultural industry seen so many new entrants investing in their own garden. And by participating in this trend, you save money at the same time.
Many fruits and vegetables are easy to grow from seed and (depending on the plants you choose) grow relatively quickly compared to other common spring garden plants.
Some fruits and vegetables can also be grown from leftovers. Instead of throwing kitchen scraps in the trash, you can reuse them and grow even more food than you started with.
Here’s a quick guide to the fruits and vegetables you can grow from leftovers and the best ways to grow them:
| spring onion | Tomato | Garlic |
| Kale | mango | Ginger |
| leek | Attorney | Onion |
| Pineapple | pumpkins | Turmeric |
| Cabbage | Cucumber | Dad |
| salad | peppers | Yam |
| Celery | pepper |
Growing food is already cheap and could end up saving you money on groceries, leaving you more to spend on those lovely plants you left behind in the first place.
5. Spread
The propagation is like magic in the garden. You start with one plant and end with two. Or three, or four, depending on what you’re spreading. It’s the holy grail of free gardening. And best of all: it’s also good for the plants.
Some plants are more difficult to propagate than others and each requires a specific method of propagation.
Plants with multiple joints along their stems can be propagated by cutting stems, while others will grow from leaf cuttings (Sansevierias, For example). Cluster plants can be divided by separating the existing plant at the roots. Some plants produce shoots, called suckers or seedlings, which do the work for you. Just pull out the plant, replant it and wait for it to grow. Or, as mentioned above, you can propagate your plants from the seeds they produce.
If you’re starting a spring garden for the first time and don’t have any plants to propagate, find friends who love plants and borrow them. All you need is a cutting or seed to get started. Many friendly gardeners will be happy to help you.
We have all kinds of propagation guides here for roses, lavender, rosemary, hydrangeas, and many types of houseplants.
6. Make your own containers
For container growers, pots can become one of the biggest expenses. If you go the popular terra cotta route, a large pot can drain your entire gardening budget. Cheaper options, like plastic, aren’t as attractive and aren’t environmentally friendly. How about spending nothing and making your own containers instead?
Affectionately known as upcycling, it’s an ideal weekend project for thrifty gardeners and creatives alike.
With a few holes for drainage and some structure to hold the plant upright, technically anything can be a pot. Old kitchen items, furniture or even shoes make unique and quirky garden containers. Make sure whatever you choose is the right size for the plants, has adequate drainage, and doesn’t contain any material that could harm your plants.
A good rule of thumb: thoroughly clean anything you plan to plant (including nursery pots) beforehand with soap and warm water to ensure there are no harmful bacteria that could infect your plants or the soil.
7. Make your own compost
For all your nutritional needs, look no further than your bric-a-brac. Composting is something anyone can do, no matter where you live or how much space you have. It’s also good for the environment. Plus, save money on store-bought compost and organics to improve soil quality.
Dispose of appropriate garden waste, such as grass clippings and dead leaves, in a trash can or in a designated area of your garden. Kitchen scraps can also be thrown in the pile, such as vegetables, fruits and grains, but not meat or dairy products. Keep away any weeds or diseased plants that could spread problems to other areas of your garden.
Some scraps may need to be broken down or soaked first and may take time to compost into usable compost. But for gardeners on a budget, the investment is worth it.
Saving money when starting a spring garden isn’t difficult. Really, the only hard part is patience and delayed gratification. But if you follow these budget tips and slowly expand your garden, you’ll be even more grateful.