Gardening is one of those hobbies that is both fun and good for you. Imagine going outside to pick fresh vegetables for your lunch or enjoy the sight of flowers that you personally grew. It might seem expensive to start your own garden, especially if you see sets that look good on Instagram or plants that cost a lot at the nursery. But guess what? You don’t have to have a lot of money to plant a lovely yard.
With some imagination, skill, and love for plants, you can make your garden grow well without spending a lot of money. Here is the best way to start a garden without spending a lot of money.
1. Start Small and Keep It Simple
When you first start planting, it’s easy to feel like you don’t know what to do. After seeing so many Pinterest boards with big, lush gardens, you might think you need a lot of room or expensive tools to start your own. But I have a secret for you: the best way to start is small.
Start with a few pots on your porch, a small plot of land in your yard, or even a garden on your window sill. When you cook, herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro are very helpful. They also grow well in small areas. Once you know how to do it, you can slowly make your garden bigger as your confidence grows.
You can keep costs low and focus on learning how to take care of plants before committing to a bigger place if you start out small. Friends, take little steps!
2. Repurpose Everyday Items as Planters
Fancy pots don’t have to cost a lot of money. Look around your house, and you’ll find many things that would look great as pots. Tin cans, mason jars, old mugs, and even old colanders can be very useful.
Put ventilation holes in the bottom (or sides if it’s a mug or jar) to make them plant-friendly. For a personal touch, paint or design them if you feel like it. Not only is upcycling a cheap way to grow, it’s also good for the environment. Also, your garden will have that one-of-a-kind feel.
3. Hunt for Free or Cheap Seeds and Plants
You might not want to spend a lot of money on seeds, but if you look around, you can find seeds and plants for free or very cheap:
- Seed Swaps and Community Groups: Many gardening communities, both online and local, host seed swaps where people trade seeds they don’t need. Check Facebook groups, gardening forums, or Reddit.
- Grocery Store Finds: Those sprouting potatoes or garlic cloves in your kitchen? They’re ready to plant! You can also save seeds from peppers, tomatoes, and even melons.
- Nursery Clearance Sections: Many garden centers have a discount section for plants that look a little sad. With some TLC, these “misfit” plants can bounce back and thrive.
4. DIY Your Soil Mix
Good plant soil can be pricey, but you can make your own at home that is full of nutrients. The best thing to do is compost. Gather food waste from the kitchen, like eggshells, coffee grounds, and fruit peels, and let it break down over time.
5. Tools: Borrow, Thrift, or DIY
Some gardening tools are pretty pricey, but you don’t have to spend a lot to begin. Here’s how to get more gardening tools without spending a lot of money:
- Borrow Tools: If you only need tools occasionally, ask your friends, family, or neighbors if you can borrow what they have.
- Thrift Shops and Garage Sales: These are goldmines for affordable gardening tools. Sure, they might not be shiny and new, but they’ll get the job done.
- DIY Tools: No trowel? Use an old spoon. Need plant labels? Cut up yogurt containers or popsicle sticks. A little creativity can go a long way!
6. Water Wisely to Save Money
Your energy bill doesn’t have to go through the roof when you water your garden. Not spending a lot of money is possible to keep your plants moist:
- Collect Rainwater: Place buckets, bowls, or a DIY rain barrel outside to collect free water whenever it rains. It’s sustainable and saves money!
- Reuse Household Water: Leftover water from rinsing veggies, boiling pasta, or even washing rice can be cooled and poured into your garden. Just avoid water that’s salty or soapy.
- Use Mulch: Cover your soil with mulch (dried leaves, grass clippings, or wood chips) to retain moisture and reduce how often you need to water.
7. Choose the Right Plants
If you buy too many exotic plants or types that don’t do well in your area, gardening can quickly become expensive. Stick to plants that are cheap, easy to grow, and do well where you live.
If you like to cook, pay attention to herbs like thyme, parsley, and chives. If you want vegetables, start with tough plants that grow quickly, like spinach, lettuce, or radishes. Succulents and marigolds are low-maintenance plants that look great.
8. Propagation: Multiply Your Plants for Free
- Cuttings: Snip a healthy stem from a plant, place it in water or soil, and watch it grow roots. Popular choices for this include pothos, rosemary, and succulents.
- Division: For plants like aloe vera or snake plants, gently separate the roots and plant them in different pots.
- Regrowing Scraps: Green onions, lettuce, and celery can regrow from kitchen scraps. Just place the root ends in water, and they’ll sprout in no time!
9. Natural Pest Control
Don’t buy bug sprays because you’re afraid of pests. Natural cures work just as well and cost a lot less. Here are some do-it-yourself ways to get rid of pests:
- Garlic-Chili Spray: Blend garlic and chili peppers with water, strain, and spray on your plants to keep bugs away.
- Soap Spray: Mix a few drops of dish soap with water to combat aphids and mites.
- Attract Helpful Bugs: Plant flowers like marigolds or daisies to invite ladybugs and bees, which are great for controlling pests naturally.
10. Embrace Vertical Gardening
- Hang pots on walls or fences using nails or hooks.
- Use an old wooden pallet to create a vertical garden by filling the gaps with soil and plants.
- Repurpose a ladder as a multi-tiered plant stand.
Vertical gardening works wonders for herbs, strawberries, and small flowers while adding a unique touch to your garden space.
11. Get Involved in Gardening Communities
Gardening doesn’t have to be something you do by yourself. You can join gardening groups in your area or meet other plant fans online. People in these groups can share resources, give and receive advice, and even get plants or seeds for free.
There are even free gardening classes and community gardens in some places where you can learn and grow with other people. You never know, you might even meet some new people and make some new friends!
12. Patience and Consistency
Gardening doesn’t work out all of a sudden. It takes time for seeds to grow, and plants need regular care to do well. But that’s part of the magic, you see. One of the best feelings in the world is seeing your hard work growing.
Take your time with yourself and your plants. You will make mistakes, but each one will teach you something new. To feel better about your skills, start with plants that are easy to grow and don’t worry about being perfect.
13. Upcycling for Garden Décor
Who says plants are the only thing that gardening is? You don’t have to spend any money to make your garden look nicer. Look around your house for things you can reuse:
- Old Furniture: Turn a broken chair or dresser into a unique plant stand.
- Wine Bottles: Use them as garden borders or create DIY watering spikes.
- Egg Cartons: Perfect for starting seeds before transplanting them.
Get creative, and your garden will have that Pinterest-worthy vibe in no time!
14. The Beauty of Budget Gardening
Being able to garden on a tight budget is a great thing because it makes you more creative. It will make you happy to find new uses for old things and to grow plants from seeds or scraps. The love, care, and work you put into your little green spot is more important than how much you spend.
You can start a garden on a tight budget, even if this is your first time. A garden that grows well will be yours soon if you’re creative, ready to learn, and love plants. Time to plant! Get those old cans and cooking scraps ready. It will be good for your plants and your cash. 🌱
Happy gardening!
