Soon after the holiday season, many of us gardeners tend to have a restricted budget. Those of you who are looking at cheaper options to meet your home gardening requirements can now breathe easy. Given below are a few steps that can help you work within your given budget.
Planning:
Whilst on a budget, it is essential that you plan in advance. It is best if you make a list of the things you really require, and then stick to this list. This list comes in particularly handy when you are looking through things in ‘end of season’ sales; they’d help you find what you need, and avoid what you do not. Besides, planning the placement of plants will help you avoid making mistakes such as placing plants which need shade in bright sunlight.
Compost:
There are a number of us who pay money to have our waste/dead leaves and grass clippings taken away; and buy fertilizer for our gardens. Having you own compost pit can result in the deletion of both these costs. With the amount of waste that is generated in your house (and your neighbors, if you don’t mind asking), you’d be surprised at the amount of fertilizer you would have for your garden.
Recycling:
Recycling things around the home that you would have normally thrown away is a good way to save money. Small frozen food containers and tubs are great for ‘seed starting’. You can also make unconventional containers for your plants out of old wheelbarrows, boots, toolboxes, teapots, etc.
Choice of Plants:
Irrespective of whether you have a vegetable garden or a flower garden, try and look for plants that have a produce for prolonged periods.
In vegetable gardens, plants such as tomatoes, climbing peas, and beans, tend to have a good produce. Zucchini is also quite famous for its produce quantities.
When it comes to flowers, try looking for plants that serve more than one purpose. Plants such as violas, pansies, roses, and calendula, are edible; and plants such as alyssum, yarrow, coriander, and cumin, attract insects which would benefit your garden.
Remember, it is possible to maintain your garden on a budget, if you can approach the task with some creative thinking.