10 Ways to Stretch Your Gardening Budget This Season

Few of us have the means to throw money into gardening without sticking to some sort of budget. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. With a little creativity, you can find ways to stretch your budget while still investing in the garden of your dreams. Here are 10 clever ideas to kick-off your garden budget brainstorming session.

1. Grow Plants from Seed

This one seems like a no-brainer, but have you ever looked at the numbers on growing plants from seed rather than purchasing starts at a nursery? You can buy a pack of seeds for around $3, which is around the average price for a single start at local garden centers. If you practice seed saving (and store the seeds properly), those packets will last you multiple garden seasons, too.

See more: How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Seeds

2. Divide Perennials

You purchase perennials once and get to enjoy their return year after year, which is already a wise and wonderful investment in your garden. But did you know you can often divide perennials every two years or so to fill in empty spots, expand into new areas or share with friends? Some perennials, such as asters and hostas, can be divided without much fuss. Others need a little more TLC. Either way, you’ll end up with more plants without spending a dime, which is a huge win in any gardener’s book.

3. Mulch the Garden

Mulching is a smart garden move no matter what your motivation. It will keep your plant healthier, boost the nutrients in your soil and reduce your water use (which means a lower water bill). If you have a decent-sized garden, you can also save money buying mulch in bulk rather than purchasing individual bags. Call your local tree service about shredded chips, collect autumn leaves and store them in bags to use in the spring, or call your local municipality to see if they have any yard and tree debris programs you can take advantage of for free mulch.

4. Install an Irrigation System

Installing an irrigation system may cost you on the front end, but it pays dividends in the end. If you purchase a system with a timer, you can water accurately without wasting precious resources. You can even customize the amount of water each plant receives, which will help you grow healthier, more bountiful plants, resulting in a greater harvest and lower grocery bills throughout fall and winter.

5. Save Seeds

Are you growing open-pollinated plant varieties? If so, you can save the seeds at the end of the season and store them to use again next year. Saving seed is an age-old money-saving technique that our great-grandparents would have practiced on the regular. It’s easy enough to do and requires very few, if any, supplies you don’t already have on hand.

See more: 10 Ways to Make Your Garden More Eco-Friendly

6. Join a Garden Group

Check to see if you have a local garden group in your area and it might just help you save money in the garden. Gardeners tend to be a social bunch and eager to share information, seeds, extra plants and supplies with their fellow green thumbs. You may be able to swap seeds, pass along your extra seedlings or borrow equipment without having to spend a dime.

7. Buy Local Starts

If you decide to purchase starts, which is admittedly easier in some circumstances, shop around at your local nurseries before driving straight to the big box stores. You could end up spending less on higher-quality plants while also investing back into your local economy. You could also call the agricultural department at local colleges to see if they will be hosting plant sales, or contact your local extension office to see if they know of any upcoming Master Gardener sales.

8. Avoid Overplanting

When you start a plant from seeds, you have to consider the germination rate. Many seed companies only sell seeds with high rates. But you still want to cover your bases by starting more seeds than you need in case some don’t make it or aren’t healthy enough to transplant outside. But be wise about overplanting. If you start too many seedlings and have to thin most of them out as they grow, you’re wasting seeds you could have saved for the next season and money that could be put to better use.

9. Plan to Preserve

It’s never too early to start planning for preservation. While you may not save money in the traditional sense, keeping as much of your produce as possible will reduce your grocery budget in the winter months. The last thing you want to do, from a budget and gardening perspective, is throw away your hard-earned produce. Think now about ways you can preserve your bounty so you are prepared and ready when the harvest begins.

See more: 15 Ways to Preserve Your Tomato Harvest

10. Buy Supplies in the Off Season

This is one of the easiest ways to save money gardening and goes hand-in-hand with preparing for your harvest well ahead of time. Are you wanting to can your tomatoes? Freeze your basil leaves? Dehydrate your hot peppers? If you need any specific supplies, you will probably get a better price purchasing them now than you will if you wait until harvest season. Or, even better, check in with your local garden community and see if anyone has supplies you can borrow when the time comes. Borrowing items like canning or dehydrating equipment can save serious cash.