Money does grow on trees - Budget Gardening

Money does grow on trees - Budget Gardening

We all love a beautiful garden, but we know it takes oodles of money to create the perfect garden, right? Wrong, a lovely garden can be created on a budget. Here are just a few tips to help you on your way to an enticing garden(s) that your neighbors will ooh and aahhh over.

Drive around the neighborhood to determine what you like; this will avoid buying impulse; you will know what grows well in the local environment; note what grows well in shade or in direct sunlight

Network – first and foremost ask your friends and neighbors for clippings, bulbs, etc. Gardeners love to share

Buy top soil from individuals instead of nurseries; find sources on sites such as Craigslist, freecycle.org; put a sign on your front yard – top soil wanted

Grow from seed instead of purchasing plants from the nursery already started

Network – first and foremost ask your friends and neighbors for clippings, bulbs, etc. Gardeners love to share

Buy the smaller plants. They will grow rapidly and they will save you money in the long run – the planting will be easier also

Buy large, but plan on splitting the plants; this is also a healthy thing to do for the plants

Purchase in bulk; most nurseries sell flats of plants for less than individual plants

Join local garden chapters or clubs; check online for local newspapers advertising the dates scheduled for these events – seek categories of: local gardening groups, arboretums, and botanic gardens

A local woman shared that when she sees a house for sale sign she offers to clean up the gardens which will enhance the sale in exchange for some clippings, bulbs, etc.

Shop catalogs and online resources – you won’t believe the savings; http://www.johnnyseeds.com/home.aspx?ct=HG

http://www.territorialseed.com/

free fertilizer; make your own fertilizer: http://frugalliving.about.com/od/doityourself/tp/Homemade_Fertilizer.htm

Check Craig’s list, ebay, other online auctions/swaps for clippings and bulbs; http://birdsnsuch.blogspot.com/

http://www.digginfood.com/2009/04/recipe-and-seed-swap/

http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/35078

Buy seed in bulk. Create a co-op or have a “garden party”; you won’t need all of your seeds – share; we all need an excuse to have a party

 

Ornamental

Use nature to compliment nature – go to the beach and find driftwood or sea glass to enhance your gardens; take a road trip to find rocks fallen from cliffs

Go Green – we are not talking plants here - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – you may be surprised what you have in your home that is presently not in use that would look great in your garden beds – be creative – look at things in a new way; Need ideas: http://www.urbangardenhoe.com/2009/04/gardening-on-budget-containers.html

Go to your local scrap yard for wood or other creative materials to use in your garden; this can be done with taste

Pests and Weeds

 

Fungicide – use cornmeal Dry: mix 2 pounds of cornmeal into the soil for every 100 square feet; Water well this activates the fungus killing agent properties in the cornmeal; repeat if necessary; a spray can be made by soaking a cup of cornmeal in water (use one cup to one gallon ratio); soak overnight; strain and spray

Companion planting is a great way to control pesky problems; think of it as attracting the right insects to your garden such as Ground beetles, Hover flies, and Robber flies, wasps, Lacewing larvae, ladybug larvae

Use inexpensive and green products to kill weeds: white vinegar – it is fast acting, inexpensive, nontoxic and will not cause a problem with the soil

Kill aphids with a mixture of tomato leaves chopped up in a couple cups of water, allow to sit overnight, strain, add a few more cups of water, spray the plants – ensure you get the undersides of plants

Kill pesky insects with a homemade garlic oil spray; chop a few cloves of garlic (3 to 4 should suffice) add them to 2 to 3 teaspoons of mineral oil; allow to sit for 24 hours; strain; add another pint of liquid; add a teaspoon of liquid dish soap; store; when ready to spray, mix two tablespoons of the mixture to one pint of water and have at it on your plants; always test first on a leaf – if no yellowing occurs, your plants will hold up nicely to this safe and economical solution to take care of pesky insects; also wait until evening – never do this in direct sunlight

Kill pesky insects with a mixture of hot peppers and garlic. Blend in your blender: water, hot peppers and garlic, blend until smooth and add dishsoap; as always test your plants first, wait 24 hours; no yellowing, have at it with another safe and economical solution to take care of pesky insects; also wait until evening – never do this in direct sunlight; wear gloves – this solution is potent; if using on herbs, rinse before ingesting

Ants a problem: http://frugalliving.about.com/od/doityourself/tp/Get_Rid_of_Ants_Cheaply.htm

Now create and enjoy!