Tips for Gardening on a Budget

Gardening can be a very expensive hobby. The prices of larger plants, shrubs, and trees, in particular, can really add up. Supplies such as soil and fertilizer, as well as gardening tools, are often pricey, too. Still, it’s definitely possible to garden on a budget. We’d love to share some smart tips to help you keep gardening affordable and save money.

Here's how to save a lot of money in the garden!

Make it yourself

Making things yourself is a perfect way to save money. You’ll be surprised at how many valuable items you can make yourself for free—or at minimal cost. Consider, for example, propagating plants yourself by sowing seeds, taking cuttings, or dividing them. This way, you’ll save a lot of money on buying garden plants. But you can also easily make many supplies yourself: from compost and leaf mold to fertilizer and mulch. Are you a bit handy? Then you could, of course, also consider making your own garden decorations and even garden furniture.

• Sowing Your Own Seeds Instead of Buying Plants

• Propagate your favorite plants by taking cuttings or dividing them

• Make Your Own Compost

• Make your own leaf mold (also known as leaf compost)

• Make Your Own Fertilizer

• Make your own mulch for paths (for example, from wood chips and pruning clippings)

• Grow your own vegetables, fruit, and herbs and save money at the grocery store

• Make Your Own Garden Furniture from Recycled Materials

• Make Your Own Garden Decorations

• Recycle (plastic) jars, bags, containers, buckets, etc., and turn them into planters

• Plant a cut-flower garden or border and enjoy (almost) free cut flowers

Make the Most of Your Environment

Don’t forget your neighbors! Many people have gardening tools and supplies sitting in their sheds that they never use, or items they use only rarely. Often, all you have to do is ask, and you can easily borrow garden supplies and tools. That saves you a lot on purchase costs. You could also buy in bulk together to save money. The gardens of neighbors, family, and friends are also a valuable resource: just think of how many seeds you can collect there and how many cuttings you could take.

• Swap seeds, cuttings, plants, shrubs, and trees with family, friends, neighbors, or your local gardening club

• Borrow or share tools

• Buy plants online with your neighbors, family, or friends and take advantage of volume discounts and free delivery

• Collect seeds and take cuttings from the gardens of neighbors, family, and friends

• Consider joining a local gardening club or gardening association

Enjoy Nature

Natural materials are fantastic for use in the garden. They often have a beautiful, weathered look and add a lot of character to your garden. Think of tree trunks, stumps, large branches, willow twigs, large boulders, stones, and gravel. Please note: Of course, the idea isn’t to strip nature bare. In fact, people often appreciate it when you clear away branches and leaves from your street—for example, after a storm.

• Collect rainwater in a rain barrel or water storage tank and use it during dry periods

• Use natural materials (tree trunks and stumps, branches, boulders, rocks, and gravel)

• Collect all the leaves on your street and make plenty of leaf mold

• Reuse your own pruning waste: consider using it as mulch or compost

Save

Often, you can't avoid buying some materials, supplies, or plants. But even then, you can still keep a close eye on the price and save a lot.

• Keep an eye out for sales (often at the end of the season)

• Buy plants when they're small and give them time to grow

• Check out secondhand garden tools, patio furniture, and garden decor

• Buy used planters and flower pots

• Buy secondhand plants

• Choose solar-powered garden lighting

• Use old sheets, burlap sacks, or old pieces of nonwoven fabric as winter protection

• Plant a lawn from seed instead of using sod

• Save money on tiles and opt for gravel or crushed stone