How To Transform Your Garden On A Budget

Keen to get cracking on a garden transformation but worried about the cost? Never fear. You can do more on a very tight budget than you would ever have imagined. Here are some tips for those on a budget on how to transform your their gardens without breaking the bank:

Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim

Whether you need to pretty much start from scratch, or would just like to refresh things a little, the answer to most of your needs and budgetary concerns is the same – rubbish. One man's trash really can be someone else's treasure. If you use your head, you will see that there are plenty of ways to reduce your waste burden on the planet and to use household waste to great effect in your garden. Glass bottles and jars, for example, can be perfect as neat, attractive edging for beds or borders, plastic food trays and containers can be used for seed starting and patio gardens and with a lick of chalk paint or some clever decoration, can look just as good as bought containers. Tin cans also make good planters - for succulents, for example, and can give a contemporary, slightly industrial vibe. Reclaimed bricks, wood and other materials can also save a lot of money and give your space a face lift.

Compost

Of course, number one money saving tip for new gardeners is – make as much of your own compost from household waste and garden biomass as possible. You can even compost in place as you make new raised beds using the 'lasagne' method. If you have the space, you could even do a public service as well as getting more valuable material for your garden by volunteering to take your neighbours' waste of their hands and composting that too.

Beg Some Cuttings

You should always start by making an inventory of what you already have and what you would like. Often, when showing your wish list of shrubs etc. to friends, relatives and other local gardeners, they will offer to allow you to take cuttings from their plants. If there is a plant you like that you can take a cutting from – ask – the worst you'll hear is a 'no' and most people are happy to oblige. Yes, it will take a while to establish your cuttings, but slow and steady wins the race.

Sow From Seed

Another obvious thing to do is to grow plants from seed, which is far more affordable than buying the plants already grown. This is easier than you might imagine and for only a few pounds you will often have more plants than you know what to do with.

Buy Bare Root

Where you do buy trees, canes and shrubs, buy them bare root during the dormant season for the best deals and to save money on creating the bigger, more structural elements of the planting in your garden.