Dirt-Cheap Gardening

Gardening doesn’t have to break the bank. Discover effective and budget-friendly gardening secrets to grow more plants on less green. From savvy seed starting to top-of-the-line zone-specific plant advice and swaps with other budget-minded gardeners, learn how to cultivate a thriving garden without spending a fortune.

Like everything else these days, the cost of growing vegetables and flowers is on the rise. That doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying them, though. These thoughtful and innovative dirt cheap gardening techniques will see you through it.

Ready to save some money?

Sometimes, the simple act of getting started is the first big hurdle. If you want to save some green, plan now for what you want to harvest later. Use these dirt-cheap tips to get you started.

Grow native plants: When you choose plants native to your area, you choose plants that can survive your region’s weather. These plants need less water, which saves time and money.

Visit the Co-operative Extension Service for free advice: Did you know you can get free help? Contact your local cooperative extension service and learn about free or low-cost gardening clinics or classes. Beyond their advice and classes on food preservation, you can tap into them for extra information about growing the right kinds of plants for your area.

Don’t forget about your extension agent: They’re a wealth of knowledge; their job is to share that information with you. There may also be master gardeners available to come and take a look at what you’re working with. As someone who has taken the master gardener class in here in Alaska I can attest that this is a wonderful program.

Save on tools: Buying starter plants can be costly. Consider starting your garden from seeds — the price alone in savings might convince you that all you need are containers, pots, soil, and seeds.
Many recycling centers and gardening clubs will recycle plant supplies and offer them to the public for free. Also, check your local buy-nothing and yard sale groups on Facebook for free or cheap supplies. Thrift stores can be fantastic places to find growing supplies.

Find them at home: Get creative with what you have on hand — yogurt containers, old cups and mismatched food storage containers can be used to grow plants. Be sure to clean anything you plan to grow plants in before using it to keep diseases from spreading.

Swapping Is In

If you haven’t heard, swapping is a great way to get more bang for your buck. Here are some great swap ideas.

Swap your extra seeds and plants with friends: If you want to grow lots of plants, flowers and vegetables, consider having a seed swap with friends. Seed packets come with a lot more seeds than you need, so swapping extras is a great way to get more variety for less money. I love this method, it’s fun to swap with friends.

Is it too late to swap seeds? Swap plants instead: Grow extra vegetables and flowers, get together with friends and swap them. Again, the benefits are more variety for less money. Plus, time spent with new and old friends is well spent.

And if seed or plant swaps are too late, try a crop swap: Find a specialty crop that you grow really well. Trade your extras with friends and neighbors. Dan Morris of Fire and Saw explains how he makes this tip work for him “Grow what works and swap for what doesn’t. I’m known as the potato, tomato and chili man in our community because I never fail to produce a massive harvest of these crops. However, I can’t grow a strawberry, a cucumber or an onion.”

Be sure to check out seed libraries. Often housed at reading libraries, seed libraries offer free seeds and help reduce monoculture and increase biodiversity. Seed libraries are often housed in public libraries so be sure to ask there if they know where the nearest seed library is located.

Level Up

Dirt-cheap gardening doesn’t just end once seeds are planted and growing. Take it to the next level if you dare.

Learn to compost at home for better soil health: Chat with your extension agent at the Cooperative Extension Service. They will probably organize a composting clinic in your area. Be sure to keep your feelers out for this class.

Instead of buying pesticides, use natural pest deterrents: Consider companion planting to keep pests in check. You can plant marigolds to repel pests in the garden or onions to drive out root maggots. Soapy water in a spray bottle can kill and remove bugs. Hand-picking is also a great way to remove bigger pests. Make your own traps for pests like slugs and snails using beer or a mixture of water and sugar. Dig a small hole in the dirt, lay in a shallow bowl or saucer, fill it with beer at night and pick out the slugs in the morning.

Mulch: Use grass clippings, leaves or straw as mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. This saves water and the effort of frequent weeding. This can be an invitation to slugs, so use this cautiously.

Get Perennially Happy

If you’re looking for more flowers year in and year out, opt for perennial plants over annuals. Perennial plants live longer than one season of summer flowers, so you don’t need to buy new plants each season.

While perennial plants don’t last forever but they do grow for a long time. They often grow bigger over time becoming more hardy and bigger and bigger. Plus, you can divide them when they get older and get more plants for free.

Get Smart!

If you have to buy plants, buy them later in the season. As greenhouses close for the season, they start to discount plants. This is a great time to get plants, either perennials or annuals, that were too expensive to afford earlier in the year.

The more you learn about your specific garden conditions — soil type, sunlight, local pests — the more you can adapt your strategies without spending money. This is where taking classes locally comes in handy.

Ready To Fire Up Your Garden?

Embracing my tips for dirt-cheap gardening can significantly reduce your gardening costs while allowing you to enjoy a vibrant garden. Which of these tips are you going to institute first?

These tips can save money and foster a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to gardening. Making it more accessible for everyone interested in gardening.