14 Totally Free Ways to Start a Garden This Year

14 Totally FREE Totally FREE Ways to Start a Garden This Year Ways to Start a Garden This Year

Save (on) Seeds Save (on) Seeds Save the seeds from the produce you buy in the supermarket, or better still, start a seed swap with your neighbors. Save the seeds from the produce you buy in the supermarket, or better still, start a seed swap with your neighbors.

Divide Spreading Perennials Divide Spreading Perennials Perennials that are particularly easy to divide include gaillardia, bleeding hearts, coral bells, hostas , and forget-me-nots. Perennials that are particularly easy to divide include gaillardia, bleeding hearts, coral bells, hostas , and forget-me-nots.

Garden Giveaways Garden Giveaways Check with your local parks department or other agency to find out whether they offer free mulch from cast-off Christmas trees, downed tree branches, or municipal cuttings. Check with your local parks department or other agency to find out whether they offer free mulch from cast-off Christmas trees, downed tree branches, or municipal cuttings.

Grow New Plants From Cuttings Grow New Plants From Cuttings Many flowering plants, such as roses, hydrangeas, gardenias, azaleas, and some varieties of decorative vines, grow best from cuttings . Many flowering plants, such as roses, hydrangeas, gardenias, azaleas, and some varieties of decorative vines, grow best from cuttings .

Turn Trash to Compost Turn Trash to Compost Save all your kitchen scraps, grass cuttings, and yard waste to start your own compost pile. Save all your kitchen scraps, grass cuttings, and yard waste to start your own compost pile.

Grow New Veggies From Kitchen Scraps Grow New Veggies From Kitchen Scraps Many supermarket vegetables can be grown from leftover bits or root ends; the list includes plenty of kitchen staples like lettuce, potatoes, garlic, ginger, celery, onions, and more. Many supermarket vegetables can be grown from leftover bits or root ends; the list includes plenty of kitchen staples like lettuce, potatoes, garlic, ginger, celery, onions, and more.

Kill Slugs with Old Suds Kill Slugs with Old Suds Have some leftover or flat beer in the house? Use it to make your own slug traps for the garden. Have some leftover or flat beer in the house? Use it to make your own slug traps for the garden.

Mark Plant Rows With Found Items Mark Plant Rows With Found Items Use a paint pen, fingernail polish, or a colored Sharpie to write the names of the plants on the blade, bowl, or handle of the utensil; then stick them into the soil alongside the plants for a kitschy, kitchen-y display. Use a paint pen, fingernail polish, or a colored Sharpie to write the names of the plants on the blade, bowl, or handle of the utensil; then stick them into the soil alongside the plants for a kitschy, kitchen-y display.

Fortify Plants With Cooking Water Fortify Plants With Cooking Water As long as you haven't added salt to the solution, you can reuse the cooking water (once it has cooled down, of course) to give your garden a healthful boost. As long as you haven't added salt to the solution, you can reuse the cooking water (once it has cooled down, of course) to give your garden a healthful boost.

Recycle Bottles to Irrigate Plants Recycle Bottles to Irrigate Plants Make a custom irrigation system from nothing more than H2O and your empty water or wine bottles. Make a custom irrigation system from nothing more than H2O and your empty water or wine bottles.

Ward Off Worms Pests With Toilet Paper Rolls Ward Off Worms Pests With Toilet Paper Rolls Make cutworm “collars” to deter pests—and protect young seedlings. Make cutworm “collars” to deter pests—and protect young seedlings.

Layer New Beds With Newspaper Layer New Beds With Newspaper If you’re looking to start a new garden plot, don’t waste time and effort digging up small patches of grass and weeds. Instead, smother the existing growth with newspapers. Cover six to eight layers of newspaper with compost, soil, or mulch to keep the paper in place. If you’re looking to start a new garden plot, don’t waste time and effort digging up small patches of grass and weeds. Instead, smother the existing growth with newspapers. Cover six to eight layers of newspaper with compost, soil, or mulch to keep the paper in place.

Use Fallen Branches to Support Tomatoes Use Fallen Branches to Support Tomatoes Cut strips of old towels or twine into ties that will hold up the veggies without cutting into tender stems. Cut strips of old towels or twine into ties that will hold up the veggies without cutting into tender stems.

Get Free Advice Get Free Advice Your local cooperative extension office, another under-used resource, provides free advice from a trained master gardener who knows which plants will or will not do well in your area. Your local cooperative extension office, another under-used resource, provides free advice from a trained master gardener who knows which plants will or will not do well in your area.

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