Ways to stretch your gardening budget

If you’re anything like me, Autumn brings with it the urge to prepare and refresh the garden for the months ahead —but a trip to the nursery often ends with a long till slip. Luckily, growing your garden doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a few clever tricks and a bit of patience, you can fill your space with lush plants and beautiful blooms, all while sticking to a budget.

Here’s how to garden smart, not expensive:

Start with cuttings

One of my favourite ways to save is by taking softwood cuttings. It’s surprisingly easy—and free! Around springtime, daisy, rosemary, lavender, chrysanthemum, fuchsias, pelargoniums, delphiniums, and impatiens all offer great material. Cut 10 cm-long healthy shoots, remove the lower leaves and buds, and trim the base just below a leaf joint.

Dip them in water, then rooting hormone powder (if you have some), and pop them into a pot with good potting soil. Keep them in a warm, bright spot (out of direct sun), and water gently. Before you know it, you’ll have a batch of new plants to spread around the garden—or share with friends.

Grow your groceries

If you cook at home, you’ve already got a veggie garden in your kitchen. Onion bottoms, garlic cloves, carrot tops, and even coriander stems can be regrown with just water, sunlight, and a bit of patience. Once they root or sprout, transplant them into containers with decent soil and let them flourish. It’s a great way to reduce waste while boosting your garden’s edible section.

Paint what you already own

You don’t need new pots to give your garden a facelift. I’ve used leftover paint to spruce up tired old containers and even repurposed chipped mugs and rusty tins. Give them a scrub, a fresh coat, and drill a few drainage holes—suddenly, they’re full of personality. Grouped together, these budget-friendly containers make a big visual impact.

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Make your own supports

Tall or top-heavy plants often need a bit of backup. Skip the fancy metal stakes and make your own using bamboo from the garden, or straight branches trimmed from trees. They work just as well and give your garden a more natural look.

Swap, don’t shop

One of the best gardening tips I ever got? Start a seed swap. Whether it’s with neighbours, family, or your local community group, trading seeds helps everyone save and discover new plants. I once came home from a swap with rainbow Swiss chard and purple basil—two plants I now grow every year.

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Give containers a second life

Egg cartons, toilet roll tubes, and even old plastic cool drink bottles make great seedling starters. Add a bit of soil and plant your seeds—when the time comes, most of them can be transplanted directly into the ground. I even use cupcake holders to line hanging baskets—cheap, clever, and it keeps the soil in place.

Water wisely

Water is a precious resource, and it can be expensive if you’re using a lot of it. Try mulching garden beds with bark, compost, or even shredded newspaper to help keep moisture in. Collect rainwater in buckets or old drums, and choose drought-hardy plants like succulents, lavender, and ericas. They’re low-maintenance and perfect for our dry spells.

Gardening on a budget is not only possible—it’s deeply satisfying. There’s something special about looking around your green space and knowing you made it bloom with a bit of creativity, a few hand-me-downs, and a lot of love.

ALSO SEE: Clever ways to stretch your water supply during water outages