Frugal Gardening
It's easy to get carried away planting a garden. Even after you've bought all the
necessary tools and supplies, there are always more plants to covet and new gadgets
to try. But that doesn't mean your garden has to turn into a sink hole for your money.
Some of the best gardening tips don't cost a cent and some will help you save money
for years. Here are three no-pain ways to save money and resources while gardening
and still have the garden of your dreams.
Start Your Plants from Seed
The price of a packet of seed keeps going up, but so does the
price of plants. Seeds are still a great deal. Since you usually get
more than you can use, why not set up a seed exchange with your
gardening friends. Growing perennial flowers from seed takes
some patience, because it will be a few years before the plants are
sizable and flowering. But you can grow dozens of annual flowers
for a fraction of what you’d pay for cell packs. And the savings from
growing vegetables from seed will literally pay for the rest of your garden.
Start with Smaller Plants
Plants are priced by size. It’s nice to have an instant garden, but
if you’re trying to save money, buying smaller size plants can cut
your bill by 2/3s. And small plants can often make the transplant
adjustment easier than larger plants, so they will quickly fill in. Another
option is to buy 1 large plant and divide it immediately into 2 or 3
smaller plants.
Host a Plant Swap
Host a plant swap with your gardening frie