Plant Weeds And Other Ways To Save Money In The Garden

Michigan Lilys grow wild, mostly in fields and ditches here in Ohio. Sometimes, these beauties are even considered weeds!  Native plants, for some silly reason, are often not appreciated or wanted in the garden.  I say enough, let’s Plant Weeds And Other Ways To Save Money In The Garden!

Gardening can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be that way with a little creativity and ingenuity.  As a stay-at-home mom of six children, things have always been tight for our family financially.  It has taken a fair amount of “making due” and “creative thinking” in all areas of homemaking to make ends meet.  I love to garden and finding ways to do it frugally has been a lot of fun!

Here are my tips…

Plant Weeds And Other Ways To Save Money In The Garden

1. Plant weeds.  Yep, you heard me right!  Take a look around your yard and get planting.  My favorite weed to plant is the Virginia Creeper that grows throughout my grass and garden beds and drives me crazy!  However, it transplants well and looks amazing in containers and hanging baskets as filler.  It has a charming trailing feature that I love.  Virginia Creeper has small blue flowers in the Spring and lasts the whole season.   You can see how it looks in the picture above.  I also like wild-growing succulents like purslane as well as violets.   What weeds are growing in your yard that you can dig up and put in planters?

2. Use a rain barrel.  Water costs a ton of money and can suck any savings you might have in the garden right away.  Using a rain barrel to water your garden can save you money.  Having more than one rain barrel can save you even more.  Now here is the problem…it costs money to purchase a rain barrel and even though it will pay for itself in the long run, it is hard for many (including me) to come up with the money to initially purchase.  Here are some ideas to acquire a rain barrel for a whole lot less money!   Click here for some GREAT “How To” IDEAS!

3. Trash pick garden planters and other garden items on the side of the road.  You don’t have to make a special trip but keep a lookout when you’re are out and about.  Someone else’s trash can be your treasure!   One way that I entice myself toward exercise is to think about all the treasure I could possibly find on a walk.

4. Trade plants with friends.  Put out the word about what plants you are in need of and make sure to offer a list of what plants you have to trade.  If you are just starting off, be brave and share your gardening needs anyway.  I can remember the generosity of a woman who gave me Iris’s when my husband and I purchased our first home.  I still have those Iris’s and they have traveled with me every place I have lived.

5. Plant from seed.  To lower the cost further purchase your seeds at the end of the season.  Store them in an airtight container.  I use canning jars that are sealed.

6. Pick a garden style and stick with it throughout the garden.  Consistency looks better than disjointed design!   I live in a farmhouse so my style of garden is a cottage style with a potager.  A great way to figure out what garden style you like best is to start a garden board on Pinterest.  You will have fun and you will be able to see what garden style is for you.

7. Grow your own herbs and vegetables.  Growing your own flowers and vegetables from seed will save you hundreds of dollars and luckily for you it is VERY EASY!  All you need is a sunny window sill, soilless mix, and seeds.  Think fresh vegetables and how much money you will save on your grocery budget!

8. Use natural resources in your area for mulch.   I live near a university that dumps old mulch and wood chips on their wooded cross country course.   They let us use their waste for FREE!   We also use grass clippings on the vegetable garden as well as our own compost.  Check out The Beginners Guide to Composting!   Get creative and see what you can come up with-in your area.

9. Shop the end of the season clearance rack.  Autumn is a wonderful time to plant perennials, trees, and shrubs.  Take advantage of the end of season sales.  If you find some great deals on annuals purchase them and plant them in containers…bring them inside for the winter. I adore geraniums.  They are lovely outside in the Spring and Summer and even lovelier inside on the windowsills blooming all winter long!

10. Plant perennials and divide them once they are mature for more FREE plants.  The general rule is a perennial plant should be three years old and in good health before dividing.  Divide in early Spring or Fall.

YOUR TURN…

How do you save money in the garden?

Blessings,

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