07 May

Five Top Tips to Save Money in the Garden

Note: This is a Guest Post by Serena Cowdy

I get excited about gardening. In fact call me strange, but I get quite a thrill from watching teeny-tiny seeds turn into characters from ‘The Day of the Triffids’.

The Met Office is predicting a really nice warm summer this year (I know! I couldn’t believe it either!) so now’s the perfect time to turn your own little patch of land into something lovely.

And if you don’t have much dosh, don’t worry. Here’s my guide to creating a garden for next to nothing…

1. What can you get for free?

Before you spend anything at all on plants and equipment, see what you can get for nothing.

Check out community sites like Freecycle and SnaffleUp to see what people are giving away. My local Freecycle network often advertises free compost, pots, seedlings and even the occasional lawnmower!

And ask around friends and family to see what they can spare. Many people have seeds and bulbs left over after planting which never get used – so they might be very happy to see them go to a good home.

2. Think outside the pots

Think creatively when it comes to plant containers – you might already have something you can use. I know people who grow flowers in buckets, dustbins, washing up bowls, sinks and even old Wellington boots.

Just make sure the container isn’t see-through (roots don’t like light) and that it’s got plenty of drainage holes.

3. Choose your plants wisely

If you’re a gardening beginner, don’t get carried away and buy loads of expensive rare plants (some of which will probably die). Start out with some cheap plants that are easy to grow and hard to kill!

Herbs, fuchsia and clematis are all good hardy options and are cheap to buy as seedlings from retailers like Homebase.co.uk.

4. Grow your own

If you manage to grow your own fruit and veg, you might actually be able to cut your grocery bill! Try and start with plants that will be worth their weight in gold.

For example, in financial terms, carrots aren’t usually worth the bother – because they’re very cheap to buy. However, pay £5 for a gooseberry seedling and you could be rewarded with the fruit – which is expensive to buy fresh – for years to come.

5. Make your own compost

Bags of compost may only be a couple of quid each – but if you’ve got a large garden, the costs can really mount up.

Instead, why not create your own? You should be able to buy a composter for about £5 from your local council. Then chuck all your organic matter into it (tea bags, egg shells, weeds, potato peelings and the like) and watch the compost emerge!

Are you looking for codes to help you save money on home and garden stuff? Check out the following discounts and offers:

1) Wickes Promotional Codes
2) Gardening Direct Offer Codes
3) Debenhams promotional codes
4) Argos Discount Codes

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