How To Get Into The Low-Cost Gardening? Do It yourself!
There is nothing like the afternoon chill in the garden surrounded by the fruits of your labor. This pleasure does require not only time, but also money. Yet, if you have a champagne taste, but beer pockets, there is no need to worry.
You don’t need to invest the fortune to turn your garden into a thriving green sanctuary. The startup costs can be unpleasant, but once you are over that, gardening is an inexpensive hobby. If you know how to avoid unnecessary costs that is.
A proper education
Why buy expensive tools when you can make them with no effort. Some you already have old dish pans, jelly jars, coffee and tuna cans, egg cartons… Good chances are that you also possess a lot of items in your garage or basement that you can recycle or repurpose for the garden. Scrap pieces of metal, wooden barrels, wicker baskets, you name it.
A proper education is the best tool you can employ, but you don’t have to buy how-to guides and magazines when you have the internet at your side. Also, be creative and inventive, and do it yourself. An old door can be transformed into a garden wall for your roses to climb. When you do need to supply yourself, you can connect with other fellow gardeners or a co-op in your area to buy in bulk.
The gifts of nature
Having your own seeds can cut the gardening costs. If you have vegetables in your garden, you should end up with a lot of extra seeds when the harvest season ends. No need to purchase seed packs, your garden in generous and offers them for free. This is a must if you have tasty vegetables that you would like to see on your table again.
You can put the seeds in shallow trays, and transplant them in pots should the need arise. A plastic milk jug, for example, can be an excellent garden helper here. Just cut off the bottom and make a few holes with a nail. Don’t have pots? No problem. You can use yogurt containers which come for free. They can also serve as a collar protection against night-crawling maggots and other uninvited guests.
Do it yourself
If you considered throwing away worn vinyl blankets and tablecloths, well, don’t. You can use them to transport those bags of mulch, or for frost protection. An old towel can also come in handy as you can cut it in strips and use them to tie and support your plants.
A week old newspapers might not be a good reading material, but it can be utilized as an ingredient for a garden bed. You don’t have to get your hands dirty digging, just mow the area and spread layers of newspaper. They will smooth the weeds and grass and decay into the soil. Mission accomplished.
Cultivation is another field where you can save some money if you are ready to get busy. It means taking a good old hoe in your hands. However, some things you just can’t make yourself, or it would be impractical to do so. If you have a larger section of land and intend to cultivate it for years to come, a small tiller is also a sound option. Rapid spray sprayer pumps are also a nice handy asset that will help you with the watering, or applying various chemicals. You don’t want the pests to ruin your day.
When it comes to mulch and compost you don’t have to visit a garden center and spend a ton of money. Shred the leaves in fall and combine them with organic matter like eggshells, fruits and vegetable scraps to create compost. Keep it veggie to avoid turning the land into a breeding ground for maggots and other critters. Even if the soil wasn’t fertile to begin with, Mother Nature will wake up and bless you with its children.
The greenery
Having a garden is a great privilege but also an obligation. It doesn’t come for free, but there are many money-saving solutions that will do the trick. Use the tools and items you have at your disposal. Your garden can grow better, and all it takes is some effort and ingenuity. You will see some green in your garden, but also keep it in your wallet. It’s a win-win scenario.
