Ever been to a greenhouse all excited to get started on your new garden only to experience sticker shock and then leave feeling somewhat discouraged? Been there...I have a hard time spending my hard earned cash on plants that - if I'm being honest....might not make it. I'm not the best gardener, I try, but I've a lost a plant or two. Okay, I've lost count of the lost.
Great news, there are ways to create a beautiful garden that will not cost you a small fortune.
- Buy perennials. These are more expensive to start, but have some huge benefits. They come back every year! This makes your life easier and long term expense smaller. Most perennials can be divided, it's actually often recommended after a couple years for the health of the plant. This means you can expand your garden for free. This is better than a BOGO sale. If you know another gardener with perennials they may be willing to share pieces of their plants with you. I've added a lot of pretty flowers this way. (Thanks Mom!)
- Research first. Some plants like sun, some like shade, some like it hot, some like it cold. Plan ahead before you buy for greater success. Work with the area that you have and the characteristics of the plants. There is no sense being frustrated when things aren't working out later because your lettuce is too hot and your peppers are too cold.
- Start Early. You can start your own plants from seed earlier indoors. It's less expensive to buy seeds than it is to buy small plants. You do need to put the effort in, take care of them longer, and remember to do it in time. Not everything needs to be started early. Some seeds can be planted directly into the ground come spring. You need to research this as well.
- Buy heirloom & save your seeds. I have had success saving seeds, this works. This means you don't even need to buy the seeds each year. Yay! Just make sure you start with heirloom seeds or it may not work.
- Plant the produce that's expensive at the store. For example: Here we can find carrots and potatoes in large bags really cheap so we don't want to dedicate a lot of valuable growing space to those. Brussel Sprouts on the other hand are a more expensive vegetable, we grow those in our garden. It's more valuable to grow the foods that would otherwise be more expensive.
- Be creative. Use what you have. We had day-lilies on our property when we moved here. They have been split, multiplied and moved. I have also created some cool unique planters with old lamp shades, old tool boxes, and scrap wood. You can add some interesting garden elements with a little creativity. Long branches tied together for a pyramid trellis. Rock borders. Bird Baths. Fun Signs. Just please....don't overdo it.
Do you have any gardening tips to share? I'd love to learn more.
You can also follow my gardening board on Pinterest where I dream of creating beautiful gardens.
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