Simple ways to save money while you garden
Gardening requires quite a bit of water. For many gardeners that means an increase their water bill during the hot summer months. Statistics show that lawn and garden watering make up at least 40% of our total household water use. Frugal gardeners, however, can take advantage of rainwater by bringing back an age old,…
Regardless of what you’re growing, your plants need nutrients. Without fertilizer, your plants will fail to thrive and grow big and strong. In the case of edibles, a lack of nutrients can limit your crop and lead to poor production. Unfortunately, many fertilizers on the market are expensive. Thankfully there are cost-effective organic fertilizers you…
I’ve always loved garden gnomes — even after watching the horrifying Goosebumps episode titled ‘Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes” as a kid. The Travelocity gnome is the cutest company mascot ever. And if you’ve never watched Gnomeo and Juliet, I highly recommend you do so immediately. Garden gnomes are the ideal garden decoration, in my…
Gardeners—especially those new to the hobby—may find it tough to distinguish between bad bugs and beneficial insects. It can take some time to get a hang of which bugs to leave alone and which to squish dead. Unfortunately, some good garden bugs have evil lookalikes. Case in point: ladybugs versus Asian lady beetles. How can…
Wondering which types of winter squash are best for small gardens? Read on to find out about compact winter squash varieties that provide the most bang for your buck. They’re perfect for the frugal gardener! Summer squash gets all the glory. It grows quickly and provides a high yield. My all-time favorite variety patty-pan matures…
Before you discount the idea of free funeral plants, bear with me on this one. Getting free plants from a funeral home is possible. However, you may have to step out of your comfort zone for this trick. Even those of you who consider yourselves outgoing might feel a bit odd about using a funeral…
Compost is an essential medium for any gardener. It enriches the soil, provides nutrients to plants, and helps improve soil composition. It’s also easy to make compost using simple items you probably have lying around your home. Here’s how to make a 5-gallon bucket compost bin to get yourself some free compost. Tools I covered…
In this review, I’ll explain how the seeding square makes organized planting a cinch! The Square Foot Gardening method has been my go-to since I began gardening. I love it for many reasons. It allows me to maximize my planting space and close spacing keeps weed growth to a minimum. My favorite aspect, though, is…
Potting up plants is messy business. Even when I’m being careful, I manage to get soil everywhere. One of my favorite plants in my home, though, requires no soil at all. I bought the plant at the grocery store several years ago for about $3 and today, it’s almost as tall as me! All it…