7 Smart Gardening Tips That Will Save You Money

7 Smart Gardening Tips That Will Save You Money

One of the most costly activities that many people engage in regularly is gardening, whether you’re maintaining your backyard garden or simply keeping your plants alive in an office with a good view out of the window.

Whether you’re just getting started with gardening or have been growing your plants for years, these seven smart gardening tips will help you get the most out of your green thumb without breaking the bank in the process.

1) Make your compost

If you make your compost (instead of just tossing leaves and other organic materials into a black trash bag), you’ll be able to better manage what goes into it, which will help it decompose more quickly.

There are a lot of ways to make your compost; in fact, you could use several methods at once.

By adding finished compost to your garden soil, you can save yourself money on fertilizer by enriching existing nutrients rather than having to buy soil amendments.

Plus, compost is free! And while there are many types of commercial fertilizers available for purchase, they often come with hefty price tags.

It’s best to stick with natural ingredients—like those found in your kitchen or backyard—to avoid paying for chemicals that may harm plants or pollute groundwater.

2) Plant vegetables together in groups

When you plant vegetables in groups, they help each other grow. For example, beans provide nitrogen for squash and cucumbers, helping those plants to grow faster and produce more fruit.

Tomatoes are said to be one of nature’s strongest plant allies: They improve health, enhance flavor and even deter pests from attacking other plants nearby.

When you live in an urban area or have a limited space to garden, planting companion plants together can maximize your yield while minimizing effort on your part.

Certain types of vegetables benefit from being grown together because they enjoy similar growing conditions and can balance out each other’s weaknesses so that all of them produce at peak quality.

3) Use mulch, cover crops, and lawn clippings as free organic fertilizer

Mulch and cover crops both act as free organic fertilizers. Mulch acts as a protective layer, keeping moisture in and pests out.

Cover crops are grown for a season or two in place of your traditional lawn or garden.

They’re then turned into compost. In just one growing season, you can grow thousands of dollars worth of high-quality organic material that you can use to fertilize your home garden and lawn at no cost to you!

Use your lawn clippings to make compost: Lawn clippings are another great source of free organic matter. If you have a yard, chances are good that you have plenty of grass clippings each year after mowing your lawn.

Instead of tossing them away, add them to your compost pile or pile them on top of your mulch bed.

You can also make some extra money by collecting them from neighbors who don’t have their mulching equipment! Use vertical space:

Vertical gardening is an easy way to grow food without taking up any additional horizontal space in your yard.

4) Grow your plants from seeds

While plants like lettuce or radishes can be started from seed, larger plants that take longer to grow typically need to be purchased from a nursery or garden center.

Starting your seeds not only saves you money on gardening expenses but also gives you more control over what kind of plant grows in your garden.

Knowing how to start a garden from seeds will save you money and help you grow unique varieties of flowers and vegetables that are unavailable in nurseries.

These tips will show you how to start a garden from seed and make sure your new plants thrive!

Start by learning about proper germination conditions for your favorite species. Whether you’re starting tomatoes, beans, or eggplants, each has slightly different requirements regarding soil temperature and humidity.

Learn as much as possible about growing conditions so that your new plants have every chance of thriving in their first year.

Follow instructions on seed packets carefully, because they may differ based on regional growing conditions.

It’s also important to plant enough seeds so that some plants survive while others die off – losing a few species is inevitable with all types of gardening methods.

5) Repurpose old watering cans for watering pots and garden beds

If you’re looking to save a buck or two, consider grabbing your old watering cans at home and reusing them in your garden.

Not only do you not have to buy new containers, but these cans have a big capacity and can be emptied of water faster than many watering cans sold at garden centers.

This will help you save time and money by reducing how often you need to refill. Using recycled containers also cuts down on waste that goes into landfills, which is good for both your budget and your garden!

6) Choose drought-tolerant plants

Drought-tolerant plants are one of gardening’s best-kept secrets. Not only do they not require much water, but they also look good in many different settings.

Low-water plants have less watering and fewer weeds to deal with, which ultimately saves time and money.

But don’t just choose any drought-tolerant plant; if you know where you live (or if you pay attention to your weather), be aware of what grows well in your area and what doesn’t.

One thing that won’t grow well is a plant accustomed to tropical climates if it’s planted outside in a more northern area; these aren’t likely to survive long.

7) Let some grass grow over the winter

Most people do nothing to their lawn all winter, which is why spring arrives and they have to start over.

Instead of letting your lawn go dormant, try mowing it with a reel mower (or even just a hand scythe). This will stimulate grass growth, as well as give you an excuse to spend time outside with your family doing something active.

A little extra cash in your wallet is a great reward for taking care of your yard.