Budget gardening hacks: Grow more for less with these simple tips

Given increasing food costs, cultivating a garden, especially a vegetable garden, is an excellent way to guarantee that your family has fresh and nutritious food while helping to reduce grocery expenses.

However, starting a vegetable garden can be costly, especially if it's your first one. These days, even experienced gardeners feel sticker shock when shopping at garden centers or nurseries.  

The cost of raised beds, soils, plants, seeds, equipment and supplies has significantly increased in the last few years.  

Fortunately, there are many ways to integrate frugality into your gardening plans without breaking the bank. 

Save on plant stock 

Without plants in the garden, we’d only have a plot of dirt! But filling a garden full of plants can quickly become expensive. 

The most economical way to overcome this cost is by starting your plants from seed. Although seed costs have increased (and the number of seeds in each packet has decreased), it remains cheaper than buying transplants.  

A packet of seeds, stored in a cool, dry place, provides enough plants for several years.  

To reduce costs further, consider participating in seed swaps, visiting a seed library or exchanging seeds with friends. If you're cultivating heirloom or open-pollinated varieties, save seeds from those plants for next year's sowing.  

You also get more value for your money when you grow perennial flowers, vegetables and herbs (plants that come back each year). Consider growing asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, strawberries and berry bushes for the edible garden.  

Once established, these plants produce for years. Herbs like mint, sage, chives and thyme can also flourish in the garden for decades. 

When purchasing transplants, opt for plants in smaller containers. Plants in 4-inch pots are significantly less expensive than those in larger containers. And that small plant will catch up to the 1-gallon-sized plant within the season.  

Savvy gardeners also look for mid-season sales. Plants may be a bit ragged but bounce back with a little trimming and TLC. Expensive perennials frequently go on sale in the fall — the perfect time to plant them! Plant swaps or asking for cuttings from garden friends are other great ways to save money on plants. 

This is a no-brainer, but ensure you are growing what your family enjoys eating. Focusing on high-value crops like leafy greens, tomatoes and herbs offers an excellent return on investment compared to store prices. 

Saving on soils and fertilizers 

The cost of soil these days is anything but dirt cheap. One raised bed (4 feet x 8 feet x 18 inches) requires about 48 cubic feet of soil. A 3-cubic foot bag of raised bed soil costs about $14 — and you’ll need 16, making it approximately $225 to fill one bed. Ouch.  

Many gardeners fill new raised beds with a layer of organic matter to help reduce bagged-soil costs. This method, similar to hügelkultur, which involves creating garden beds by mounding rotted logs and plant debris with compost, can reduce soil use by up to two-thirds.   

The technique utilizes organic materials such as small tree branches, wood chips, leaves, straw and grass clippings to fill the bottom portion of the bed. It’s then capped off with 8 to 12 inches of a soil/compost mix.  

Once filled, the beds can be planted immediately, and as the bottom layers decompose over time, more soil can be added. 

Purchasing soil or compost in bulk from a nursery is less expensive than bagged soils, and it can be even cheaper if you split a load with a gardening friend.   

Instead of purchasing pricey fertilizers, make nutrient-rich compost from kitchen scraps, grass clippings and leaves. It requires time, but in the long run, it saves money and enhances your soil health at no cost. Bins can be constructed affordably from upcycled pallets or wire mesh fencing.      

Saving on supplies 

When it comes to basic gardening supplies, you don’t need to spend a fortune. You can find great deals on many items at a dollar store or thrift shop.  

A dollar store offers excellent bargains on gardening supplies such as gloves, plant tags, clips and cloches. You’ll also discover buckets, tubs and totes for storing soil and plastic food containers for starting seeds. Browse the store; you’ll be surprised how many items can be repurposed for gardening.  

However, I suggest avoiding dollar-store seeds, soil and tools. Quality is essential for these items.  

Search thrift stores for items that can be reused, repurposed or recycled, such as buckets, plastic totes, old work boots, food containers made of plastic and aluminum, or baskets. Almost anything can function as a planter if it drains well. 

Use what nature gives you 

Nature can also help you save in the garden. To reduce or eliminate the need for harmful pesticides, grow diverse plant species that attract beneficial insects that prey on harmful pests.  

These insects help maintain balance in your garden’s ecosystem and do a much better job of controlling pests than we do!  

To reduce watering costs, install a barrel to collect rainwater.   

Make the investment 

Gardening on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty or productivity; it’s about being resourceful and creative and maximizing what’s available. You can cultivate a garden without overspending by starting plants from seed, composting and utilizing natural resources.  

Remember that the greatest investment in your garden is your time and care — everything else can be found, shared or created for less!

 • • •

Candace Godwin is a certified Idaho Master Gardener, Garden Consultant, and owner of The Coeur d’Alene Coop (thecoeurdalenecoop.com) that offers seasonal plant sales and articles on gardening and raising backyard chickens.

    Here are three great ways to save money on plants: 1) Grow from seeds. A seed packet provides many years' worth of plants; 2) save seeds from open-pollinated and heirloom varieties; and 3) take root cuttings from existing plants or a friend’s garden.
  

    Get more for your plant dollar by growing perennial fruits and herbs like these strawberry and chive plants. They come back year after year!
  

    It takes a lot of soil to fill a new raised garden bed!
  

    Utilize organic materials, such as these decomposing leaves, to help fill raised beds and reduce soil costs. As the material gradually decomposes, additional soil can be incorporated later.
  

    Many household and dollar store items can be utilized in the garden, such as these recycled lettuce bins for seed starting – the perfect mini greenhouse!
  

    Planting a diverse garden attracts beneficial insects like this lady beetle pupae feasting on aphids.