Gardening is an art, which requires an aesthetic sense of creativity, deep interest, prolonged involvement, and skills. A relaxing and soothing hobby, gardening brings peace of mind and pleasure to a person, in the world of constant chaos and the rut. When you are in the garden with your garden tools, the whole world shuts out and only the nature remains. The smell of the fresh air, the touch of the soil, the sweet-smelling flowers, the raw scent of the leaves, convey a sense of your own very ‘Eden’. No wonder, why gardening is one of the most common and sought after hobbies in the world. The advantages are copious like fresh air all day long to breathe, nice aroma from the flowers, homegrown vegetables, etc. In case you own a large piece of land, then growing your own plants can also save you lots of money on your grocery bill. It is a wonderful thing to have a garden with flowers blooming in all seasons. Gardening is an expensive hobby that demands more of your effort and time as well as money. So is there any possible way to have a budget garden? Yes, there are several ways through which you can actually cut down your gardening costs by making wise choices. Here are some frugal gardening tips for those who want to stay within their budget line.
Frugal Tips For Gardening On A Budget
- Get together with your gardening friends and buy seeds in bulk. Seeds purchased in bulk are 25 to 35 percent cheaper than buying individual packets.
- Boost the soil frequently as it is the key to the wonderful garden. Blend up leftover organic kitchen waste and add this to the soil for better nourishment.
- Plants die when frost hits but you need not have to replant. Sunflowers, Cosmos, Poppies, Lambs Ear, Alyssum, Yarrow, and Black Eyed Susans are some of the plants that seed themselves.
- You can host a plant exchange in spring season. Ask people to share divisions of plants from their yard.
- Choose 2-4 inch pots, which are very cheap and can also be easily planted. Do not opt for gallon-sized plants.
- Anything that holds soil can be converted to a planter. Instead of spending huge amount for the planters from the home improvement store, use unused kitchen containers as your container gardens. Before throwing out plastic milk bottles, toilet rolls or egg boxes think again! They can be wonderful containers for sowing seeds.
- Newspapers help to retain water and keep the soil temperature more constant. Therefore, line your planters with newspapers to keep your plants healthier and to save water as well.
- Make your own organic garden spray by blending hot peppers and garlic until smooth. Strain the content with dish soap to an empty spray bottle. Add water to the mixture and use it to repel the insects that bother your garden.
- Ask your friends for cuttings from their plants and start with cuttings from your own plants as well. It is an excellent way to get free plants for your garden.
- Make your own fertilizer by combining 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt with 1 gallon of water. Use the solution to water your plants once a month to keep your garden green.
- Check for plant sales instead of nurseries, as prices are typically lower than retail nurseries.