Gardening season is upon us, but for many people, that means spending a small fortune on items needed to make their garden look phenomenal. There are a few things you can do to get your garden in order and looking amazing without forcing you to dive into the deep end and send your finances down the tube. These ten ideas are certain to help you get the most out of your garden without forcing you to get in too deep. This should help you feel more confident about working in your space, so you can enjoy your gardening time as opposed to making it a chore.
1. Share the Coffee
If you’re a coffee drinker, then there is a pretty good chance that you have coffee grounds hanging out in your trashcan. Rather than tossing out the grounds, you might consider moving them to your garden. Simply mix them with soil and add them to your plants. A lot of plants actually do like the acidity of the coffee grounds, so you may find that they grow more and more. However, before you start adding coffee grounds to everything, you may want to look into your plants as some things will take to the coffee grounds while other things will end up dying because they can’t handle the acidity.
2. Create Noise
Believe it or not, but our plants do enjoy a little noise from time to time. So, if you want to watch your plants thrive then consider chatting with them before you head indoors. You can have a conversation about your day, offer positive messages, or talk about the beautiful flowers or produce it will offer in just a few weeks. If you’re not feeling up to chatting to your plants, then play some music while you work. The sounds will perk the plants up and improve growth. You can even set up an outdoor speaker if you’re really hoping to get the plants moving.
3. Plant Up
One major problem that many people face when planning out their garden is space. Some people have some fantastic ideas about their garden, but they simply don’t have space. A lot of gardeners try to combat this problem with planters and so on to help provide extra areas for planting. However, one way you can easily cut back on spending a lot of money on planters is to grow plants upward. You can create planters that move up and attach them to your wall with ease. However, there are also very cheap options to help your purchase these items as well. This will allow you to save on water as well as space, which will definitely do your budget a favor. Plus, growing up creates a beautiful style that will add plenty of color to your home.
4. Drip System
Watering your plants can take ages if you have a lot of them, which might cause you to feel frustrated with your garden. It may also cost you a whole lot of money in the long run, which could detour you from adding any other plants to your collection. Instead of going the old-fashioned route, you may want to consider setting up a drip system. This system allows you to slowly water plants, which can help to improve the health of the plants in the long run. It will also prevent you from spending a small fortune on your water bill. This system is very easy to set up on your own at home and is fairly inexpensive. There are lots of tutorials to choose from when you work with the system, so make sure you find an option that is great for you. You can also purchase professional systems, which are pricier, but it will still help you save quite a bit of money.
5. Know Your Plants
One of the best things you can do for your garden is to know your plants. As opposed to purchasing anything that strikes your fancy, you may want to do a little research before you buy anything. You’ll want to make sure the plants you’re interested in will suit your climate, as this is one of the biggest factors for their survival. You will also want to look into the amount of shade your plant is going to need and how much water you should add to the soil each day. This will allow you to plan your garden efficiently, which will definitely allow you to get more out of the experience.
6. Skip the Lawn
Did you know that having a lawn can be one of the most expensive things you can do in your garden? Although grass seeds are expensive, getting grass to take can be a laborious experience that requires a whole lot of water. Apart from that, you will find that a lawn takes up a whole lot of water to maintain, especially if you want to keep it looking vibrant green. Then, there is the whole mowing and weeding chore. Instead of having a lawn, why not fill the space with wildflowers. Not only will it look beautiful, but it will offer a more sustainable area that will even help out the bees. You could also use your lawn as a place to grown even more food, flowers, and other plant life, as well.
7. Utilize Seeds
Rather than going out and spending a small fortune on plants that have already started to flower, you may take your time to work on growing some seeds. Seeds are pretty cheap, which makes them incredibly easy to purchase without breaking your budget. Of course, you will have to be more patient when working with seeds, as it will take a bit longer to get the flowering plant that you desire. However, if you plant seeds in early spring and keep them in special pods until they sprout, then there is a good chance they will survive the cold nights so you can enjoy a few blossoms even sooner.
8. Consider a Pond
If you have a lot of space, but you’re not sure what to do with it, then a pond might be a good way to go. A pond can be pretty inexpensive to make, especially if you’re willing to do a lot of the labor on your own. You also have a lot of options when it comes to ponds, as you can keep them shallow or add depth so you can keep fish. A pond is easy to maintain as well and can actually help you create a more sustainable garden since you will have a water source readily available. You might do some research before putting in a pond and always make sure you look at plans for pipes and wiring before you dig. With a little caution and know-how, you may find the perfect focal point in your home.
9. Use Recyclables
You know, some of the best gardening tools can actually be found in your recycling bin. For starters, you will find that a milk jug can actually be turned into a wide variety of things. One of the more common options is a birdhouse, but you can also use it as a feeder. If you have K-Cups lying around then these are the perfect items to use when you start your seeds prior to planting them outside. Another great use of bottles is to place them around young trees and plants to protect them from the cold. This is only scratching the surface though, as there are so many things you can make when you go through your recycling bin.
10. Skip the Poisons
Poisons can be one of the worst things that you can do for your plants and your household. Poisons can cause damage to plants that you may not be aware of and if you plan on eating your produce it can also cause harm to your family. Plus, the smell of some poisons can also cause issues with people, plants, and animals. Luckily, there are many natural solutions that have been proven to work. So, if you’re having a problem, you might want to look around online to see what will get rid of the issue. You might be surprised as to how easily some issues can be fixed with items from around the home.
Enjoying time in the garden can be one of the best aspects of the spring months. These ten ideas will allow you to embrace your garden while keeping your budget in check. They should help to provide you with plenty of ideas to keep your garden looking great without forcing you to go out of your way.
