How to Plan and Build a Flower Garden for Less

The Garden Beckons

Though the weather may still be unpredictable, you can still satisfy your urge to garden, and now is a wonderful time to plan for it. Don't let a tight budget stop you. There are still plenty of ways you can produce more for less.

Start Small

It's easy to let your enthusiasm get the better of you. The desire for a bounty of flowers can spur you to plan a larger garden than your time and budget will support. Consider starting small by planning fewer, smaller garden beds. Later, if your circumstances allow, you can always expand.

A good beginning is to decide what you want to plant in your garden and draw up some designs for your planting beds. If you're not sure what to plant, then you could check with your local university extension program, nursery or garden club. You'll probably want to find out which plants grow best in your area so you don't waste time and money on a lost cause. When you find a good candidate for your garden, ask an expert if the plant is likely to take over your planting bed. Checking before you plant will save you a lot of time weeding out a beautiful plant that has become an eyesore or is destroying your color scheme.

Do It Yourself

The more work you're willing to do by hand, the more money you can save. You can remove lawn, turn soil, and add amendments all by hand. If you prefer a mechanized tiller, why not call around to see if you can rent rather than buy? After all, you'll only use it a few days each year.

Compost Happens

As for the soil, investing in a soil-test kit can save you from spending money on soil amendments you don't really need. In fact, one of the best additions to your soil is compost. You can make your own by mixing two parts of "browns" for every one part of "green" materials. Browns include wood ash, fruits and vegetables, leaves, sawdust, twigs, shredded paper and straw. Greens include clover, garden waste, manures from horses or cattle (they only eat vegetation), coffee grounds and hay.

You can use a bin or a wire frame or just pile the materials. The size should be about 3 ft. by 3 ft. by 3 ft. Keep your compost pile in a sunny area where it can heat up. Make sure it gets enough water to keep it the consistency of a damp sponge. You might need to put a black tarp over it to accomplish both tasks. Be sure to turn your compost pile regularly, about once a week.

Avoid adding such items as fats, meat, bones, coal ash, weeds gone to seed, papers with colored inks, glass, aluminum foil, metal or plastic as these will not decompose and could add toxic chemicals. Also avoid adding pet droppings as these often contain parasites and disease organisms.

Need Plants? Make Friends

Your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and local garden club enthusiasts can be a great source of seeds, bulbs and starter plants. Early spring is when most gardeners take stock of their plantings, clean out and divide. They will likely be more than happy to give or trade their excess plants. If your local college or university has a horticulture department, check to see if they have plant sales. In the fall, be sure to check regularly with nurseries and other plant suppliers as they will probably be lowering prices to get rid of inventory.

Consider learning all you can about plant propagation. Some plants grow just fine from a simple cutting. Other plants that are sold in containers, such as hostas, can be divided when planted, allowing you to stretch your dollar. Did you plant any bulbs last spring? If you dig them up and find that they have multiplied, you can split them up and replant them, adding to your bounty. The more you know about growing your own, the less you'll be tempted to invest in containers off the shelf.

Creative Garden Decor For Free

As for garden decor, to save money try being creative. Consider a search of your home for items that could be turned into interesting garden accents, such as old china, sea shells and Christmas decorations. You might also troll garage sales for the unusual item to complete your garden theme. Even the local garbage dump can be a source of such garden finds as tubs, sinks, furniture, mirrors, frames and other items that can be turned into garden art.

With a little planning and a lot of creativity, you can create your own garden oasis on a shoestring. Not only will you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you've done it all yourself, but you'll also know you've created a place of peace and beauty without jeopardizing your budget.