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Gardening is an awesome hobby that is not only fun and relaxing, but can potentially save you hundreds of dollars a year from vegetable and fruit yields. Here are some tips on how to cultivate a garden on a cheap budget.
Save seeds from fruits and vegetables from the grocery store
You can easily dry them out and store them to plant, or plant immediately if the time is right. Not only is this free, but you’ll get more of what you already enjoy and cut down on your grocery bill.
Make your own soil/mulch
By fencing in a compost heap in a shaded corner of your yard, you can make soil for free that’s very high in nutrients and plants will love.
Effectively control weeds for free
Laying down a 10-sheet thick layer of newspaper with a hole cut to fit your plant through is an effective way to terminate weeds around your plants. Simply cover the newspaper in mulch and they’ll remain underneath for up to a year until they biodegrade
Attract birds to your garden
Not only are they a pleasant presence, but they will kill unwanted pests and insects that harm plants. Simply place a bird feeder and/or bird bath in your yard nearby.
Trade plants with neighbors
You can easily swap bulbs, cuttings, trimmings, and seeds with neighbors to diversify and grow your garden for free.
Compost fall leaves
It’s easy to come up with several, sometimes dozens of bags full of fall leaves that are otherwise a nuisance. They will compost through the fall and by mid spring you’ll have a good volume of amazing soil.
Use seed packets
Buying seedlings, bulbs, and young plants is a dozen times more expensive and totally unecessary. To germinate seeds simply place in a damp, folded paper towel in a ziplock bag over a mild heat source, such as the top of a refridgerator. After the seeds have germinated, place into peat moss or other gentle soil
Most hardy vegetables and fruits for a beginning gardener:
Herbs:
Mint, Lemon Balm
Vegetables:
Potatoes, Kale, Radishes, Tomatoes
Fruits:
Strawberries, Currant, Gooseberries
A good way to finance the cost of your garden
A good way that I either offset or make the expenses of my garden totally free with a few minutes of effort daily is to fill out surveys online. Big corporations need input from consumers and they’re willing to pay for it - each quick survey pays between 5-75 dollars.
My two favorites:
Vindale Research - Share your unique opinion and get paid for it! Product Developers are willing to pay reviewers between $5 and $75 per completed survey.
Your Free Surveys - Join YourFreeSurveys and get $4 just for registering. Get paid up to $50 for taking online Surveys.
Plant Perennials
This one is obvious, but flowers that come back year after year require less maintenance and cost