Gardening, as with any hobby, does require a little bit of money to start. Depending on how big or small, and how grand or how simple you intend your garden to be, you could be spending a little or a lot of money. Newbie gardeners can get overexcited and hoard on supplies and plants as soon as the planting season starts. We cannot blame you: we get overeager too, especially when you have spent the entire summer thinking about the start of spring so you can already bust out the gardening supplies.
Whether you be a new hand or an old hand, you still will have a lot to buy in terms of equipment, and it’s always best to scout around for your discounts. There are numerous online discount coupon providers where you can be sure to bag yourself a bargain on your gear.
But this giddiness can lead to unnecessary expenses! Before you break out your budget over three different sizes of rakes, check out this list to help you keep the gardening costs at a minimum:
• Buy only the basics tools.
Unless you’re going for an industrial-level farm that harvests for exporting, you don’t have to buy three rakes and precision-technology sprinkler. Buy only what you need and the kind that you would be using frequently.
• Check out thrift stores and yard sales.
You don’t have to get the most expensive shovel for your small vegetable garden. Take a drive to your local thrift stores and neighborhood yard sales to score some huge bargains on used garden tools.
• Consider swapping.
If you belong to a gardening club, or have close friends who love gardening as well, consider sharing your equipment with them. Just make sure that they are people whom you know are responsible and can be trusted not to break or lose your items.
• Make your own compost.
Forget about paying for your compost – make it yourself! Check out the countless composting instructions available online. More often than not, you have practically everything you need to make your own. The thing is, it takes time before the compost you make becomes ideal for garden use. The best thing to do is to make the compost months before the planting season begins so it has time to ‘ferment’ not to mention the amount of time you need before you can actually use the soil after you’ve put the compost in it.
• Plant from seed whenever you can.
Seeds are cheaper than actual seedlings; in fact, vegetable seeds can be had for free from your food. Learn about how to prepare seeds for planting and how to get the maximum yieldfrom your seeds as well.
• Reuse, recycle, repurpose.
You don’t have to spend so much money on garden stakes, trellises, pots, and hanging planters. Even someone else’s leftover mulch can save you some money. Be creative and make use of what you already have.
• Divide your perennials.
Check out the ‘generous’ types of perennials and explore the world of trading and sharing with your gardening buddies. If you plan out your perennials a season ahead, you can each assign a type of plant to grow and then divide them amongst yourselves so you don’t have to buy too many types of plants at once but still get the diverse garden you desire.
Don’t go bankrupt over your hubby! Make the most of what you have and add a dash of ingenuity at every garden outing. Your little effort will go – or grow! – a long, long way. Have fun gardening!
Author Bio:
John Jeffreys is an independent blogger who has been blogging for the past 5 years. When not blogging, John enjoys travelling and tending to his allotment.
