Frugal gardening - how to save money

March 6, 2008 – 1:20 pm

Gardening in the UK is a billion pound industry. Whenever the sun is shining, crowds flock to garden centres and come home with a car boot full of garden-related products. These days you can even order a ready-made vegetable garden – all you have to do is plant it.

But gardening doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. If you’re gardening on a budget then there are some simple ways that you can make your garden add a lot to your life without costing much at all.

The first thing any gardener should do (whether they’re on a tight budget or not) is to find space for a compost bin or heap. If you want a plastic compost bin (very handy for small gardens), then check out the RecycleNow website, which can tell you whether your local council is offering discounted compost bins. If your council isn’t listed then give them a call – some offer discounts but aren’t good at publicising them.

If you don’t fancy a plastic bin, or want to make a really cheap one, then you can make a wooden bin out of old pallets (there are lots of internet sites that offer instructions). Remember to find something to cover the heap with to keep the heat in. Most people use old carpet for this, but anything will do.

Once your compost bin/ heap is ready, keep feeding it your garden waste and kitchen scraps. The RecycleNow website is handy again, if you don’t know what you can and can’t compost. In a few months you’ll have turned your waste into garden treasure – compost that will feed your garden and can even be used for container plants.

Next on the list is a water butt. This is particularly important if you have a water meter, but using rain water on the garden is better for the environment and the plants. Again, check with the local council or your local water company to find out if they offer discounted butts. You can make a water butt out of any container that’s large enough, but make sure you wash it out thoroughly to remove the previous contents. Food-grade containers are best if you can find one.

Now that you’ve got the nuts and bolts of a frugal garden, you’ll want some plants. Whenever you’re visiting friends or family, have a look around their garden. If they’ve got a plant you like, ask them if you can take a cutting or collect some seeds (if it’s the right time of year) or ask them to do it for you. Most gardeners are happy to share. In fact, many have large plants that really need dividing and they’ll be happy for you to take a clump off their hands!

Once you’ve exhausted the possibilities of the gardens you visit, you can turn your attention further afield – there are plenty of internet sites for swapping seeds and plant material. And you may well find spare plants (and gardening magazines, tools, pallets, plant pots and all kinds of useful things) being offered on your local Freecycle group.

In some places you might be able to find a local seed swap taking place in spring. Most seed swaps offer free entry to people who bring a few seeds to swap, and then allow you to take home whatever you want.

Finding space for even a small kitchen garden can bring great savings. Even if you have to buy seeds, a packet of mixed salad seeds costs less than £2 and will keep you in fresh salad leaves all summer for less than the price of a bagged salad from the supermarket.

Herbs are also a good investment. Some grow well from seed, but for others you’ll need to beg a cutting or buy a plant. But you’ll have fresh herbs at your fingertips all year round (pot some up and bring them indoors for the winter!) at a fraction of the cost of those tiny bags and pots of herbs in the shops.

Once you get the bug you’ll be finding space for all kinds of vegetables and fruit. Many are easily grown from seed. If you need plants then check out those on offer at the discount shops and supermarkets (Lidl, Aldi, Wilkinsons and Woolworths are all worth a look) early in the year.

Finally, remember to think about recycling in the garden. Plastic bottles are endlessly useful, as scoops and funnels, plant pots and cloches. Small plastic trays are ideal for sowing small amounts of seed, and if you find two matching clear ones (or get one of those clear ‘clamshells’) then they make an instant propagator, too. Larger items can be recycled into pots for your container garden – anything that holds compost and water but also allows water to drain away can be pressed into service.

Most gardening expenses can be avoided with a little planning and thought. You will need a couple of tools (a trowel, at least), but might be able to pick them up at car boot sales. A watering can is useful, but you can use plastic bottles or a bucket. For safety reasons you should find yourself a pair of boots to protect your feet (from spades, forks and heavy objects!) and a pair of gloves to do the same for your hands.

By Emma

To listen to Emma’s podcasts visit - http://coopette.com/blog

Or if you have some money saving gardening tips you woudl like to share at Peazyshop come and post them in gardening section of the forum