Gardening doesn’t have to be costly, no matter how big or small. But, do you have any idea how to garden on a budget?
Gardening is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can do. It is a form of exercise that requires strength and stretching to perform. In return, it will give tremendous benefits to your health and well being.
It is also an excellent activity to prevent the risk of heart attack and stroke. Because of its low to medium impact nature, it has been said to prolong life by as much as 30% among people aged 60 or older.
8 Awesome Ways To Help You Garden On A Tight Budget
A Budget-Friendly Garden
An efficient gardener, regardless of budget, will be resourceful. So, it is okay to start your garden with whatever stuff you have and add the items you truly need later.
If you live in an apartment, you can probably do a container garden. Also, you can opt for a small raised garden bed if you live in the suburbs.
Now, let’s say you find a way to garden. But what if your budget is super tight? You aren’t sure if you can afford the things you need to create a garden?
Well, don’t give up on your dream of having a garden just because you think you can’t afford to have one. All you need to do is go on with what works the best way with your limited budget. From there, envision what you would like your garden to look like and start there!
Alright, this article is all about ways to garden on a budget. We’ll share our best list of tips that’ll help you make your garden look its best, even on a budget.
Budget Tip #1: Start Small
Gardening recommendations vary on location. You need to consider the type of soil, as well as the sunlight and water available in your garden.
David Ellis, a communications director for the American Horticultural Society and an enthusiastic gardener, said, “Give yourself room for growth.”
Start small, no matter how tight your budget is. The money you will spend on development can be gradual to match the increasing return.
Budget Tip #2: Plan
Have you considered starting a garden but are not sure of what to do and you find that you are asking yourself, what should I plant? How much should I plant? And where should I plant it?
The good news is you don’t have to be the best gardener to create a garden plan. Coming up with a simple plan that yields a healthy harvest is a great way to start. Not to mention, even by simple gardening, you are intaking the many healthy benefits for your physical well-being.
Here are some tips to help you plan your home garden:
1. What should I plant?
Research the plants you’d like to grow before you get started. Know the conditions the plant needs. This way, the plants won’t suffer and you won’t waste your money.
2. Where should I plant it?
Planning a perfect garden landscape for your backyard using your imagination isn’t easy for beginners. It is difficult to visualize what will be the exact look of your garden when the project is complete.
But, don’t be afraid. With the help of many apps available on the internet, you can plan a garden design into your liking.
3. How much should I plant?
Take time to explore ideas and try several planting concepts before you settle on your final design. They could be the answer you need to get your yard makeover done right.
In this way, you’ll enjoy a design that meets all your outdoor garden needs, even on a tight budget.
Budget Tip #3: Choose the Right Tools
To find out what the essential tools are that you need to start a garden, all you have to do is keep it simple and do a little reading. You don’t need to invest a lot in tools for weeding and breaking up soil.
Staying focused on the basics can keep your garden going even on a budget. It will also keep your storage area from becoming congested.
Try to get the best quality tools that your budget will allow, and maintaining them can go a long way in getting the most out of your investment.
Here are some tools that will help you with the budget garden project you have in mind.
- Gloves
A good pair of gloves can protect your hands from thorns and splinters while gardening. It will allow you to enjoy the happiness gardening can bring.
- Spade
This tool is also called the garden workhorses. They make digging works easy. Aside from planting, edging, and lifting grass, this tool is best for moving small piles of dirt from one area to another. Though a little bit pricey, a good spade will last you the rest of your gardening life.
- Pruning shears
Hand pruners will help you control dominating plants over others, as well as those crawling plants out of order.
- Loppers
This is best to trim hard to reach and thick branches. Its long handles will allow you to cut the branches easily.
- Garden fork
This is an efficient tool for turning the soil – it can dig into compact soil and loosen the dirt better than a shovel.
- Wheelbarrow
Best to use if you need to haul hundreds of pounds extra soil, mulch, or compost for your garden beds.
- Rake
Best to use when leaves and debris fall in your garden. A firm rake can easily discard them away. Rakes come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, but a standard leaf rake is excellent for starters.
- Hoe
A hoe is also one of the most useful tools in preparing garden and flower beds, as well as cutting down weeds.
- Garden hose with adjustable nozzle
Your garden hose must reach and spray every area. An adjustable nozzle can help you control the water pressure and its range.
- Watering wand
A watering wand has an extended reach that will give your plant a gentle rain shower. They are also excellent for watering hanging plants, or the back of the corners.
Budget Tip #4: Look for Discounted Plants
Not everyone has the budget to buy new plants at all times. But it doesn’t mean your garden has to look flat and bare, or you need to discontinue your gardening hobby.
Try to consider any discount offers at garden centers where neglected plants are sold off cheaply. Yet, with your care, they’ll bloom beautifully.
Nursery stores have frequent sales. Check their websites to see if the plants you like are on sale. If you are a member of a local botanical garden, many nursery stores will give you a discount when using your membership card.
The sign of a beautiful garden is not because it is costly, but how the gardener maintains its design along with the right choice of plants.
Budget Tip #5: Take Cuttings from Grown Plants
Cutting is one of the most popular ways to develop your garden without spending a cent. If you have a friend or a community garden to work with, head on over and grab those cuttings. From there, you can place them in the pot and continue your progress.
Most perennials, like succulents and other houseplants, can propagate from cuttings. You can reproduce them through layering, rooting, dividing, or simply transplanting directly into the soil.
Many plants will also propagate in water as they grow.
Budget Tip # 6: Rescue Plants
Be creative with your search for plants. Sometimes when people are moving or downsizing, they’re considering to get rid of a few items, including their plants.
Think about sources of unwanted plants that you could nurse back to health, and transplant to pots on your patio or in planting beds.
You can also rescue them from:
- Trash of homes and garden centers, nurseries, and florists – retailers mostly throw out plants that were returned or don’t look their best. You can ask to receive them for free and nurse them back to good health.
- Companies offering services to maintain yards hired by your neighbors often discard plants from last season as they swap out new ones. Approach the crew and ask for those plants – you can offer some bottles of water in exchange for them.
Budget Tip #7: Enrich Your Soil or Buy in Bulk
There’s no other way to emphasize the importance of good soil. Your garden will grow best in nutrient-rich, well-drained, weeded, and loose soil.
But one of the most costly parts of gardening is the loam when you start. Stores sell this at a premium price. Starting a container garden or a raised garden bed needs a lot of dirt. It will cause you to spend a lot.
So, before you plant, take time to enrich your garden soil with quality compost or other organic stuff. If you want to boost your garden’s production, you can use things like mulch to do so.
Mulch like leaves, straw, and hay also add essential nutrients to the soil. It will also cut down your need to weed significantly.
When you’re able to set your plants up for success early on, they will flourish and grow well.
Budget Tip #8: Take Action
Starters should plant in good soil, compost, and commit to a well-watered garden, may it be a costly or a budget-friendly garden. These elements are the most important.
If you are considered to be on a low-income, there are non-profits or other local assistance that can help you access the tools and plants your budget garden needs.
So, Get Out and Garden!
Even if you don’t have a lot of space to get a small garden in your yard, you can still enjoy the benefits of it. A few houseplants in your living spaces or some flower pots and herbs on a balcony can help you gain the benefits of gardening.
It’s hard to delay gratification when you’re so excited to start a garden. But you will be rewarded for budgeting, planning, and starting small.
As you can see, gardeners can be resourceful if they set their minds to it!
