Thrifty Mommy » gardening-tips

Bulb Swaps

Deborah Ng — Thu, 24 May 2007 00:11:13 +0000

My neighbors are having a bulb swap! Many of them have beautiful gardens, but some of their plants are getting a bit out of control. Every couple of years they all get together to have a bulb swap. They did up the plants they don’t want and trade them for some of the neighbors cast offs.I got some plants this way last year. My sister in law gave me some Irises and a ground covering plant she no longer wants, all are doing well. I know of another person who dug up all her out of control plants and sold them as part of her garage sale, four bulbs for a dollar!

There are plenty of ways to aquire beautiful plants without spending a fortune. Get together with the neighbors for a plant swap. What a great way to add new color to your garden.

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Don’t Throw Out that Vegetable Water!

Deborah Ng — Sun, 20 May 2007 12:11:03 +0000

I just learned this great tip from a television gardening program. After steaming or boiling vegetables, save the (unsalted) water and pour on outdoor plants. The nutrients and organic matter in the water make for a wonderful frugal fertilizer. This works best for potted plants, but feel free to use it on all your outdoor plants. Simple, cheap, and organic…can it get any better than this? Post from: Thrifty Mommy

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Frugal Flowers

Deborah Ng — Sat, 05 May 2007 20:39:38 +0000

Today I made my annual pilgrimage to the local garden center for cheap annuals. I love gardening but buying enough flowers to add color to my property can cause bankruptcy. I find that by buying flowers from the clearance racks, I can still beautify my property, but spend very little money. Case in point: this afternoon I bought six flats of petunias. Normally they’re $4.99. I bought them for .50 cents each because they were wilted and some of the leaves were a little brown. That’s easy enough to fix, after I plant them in some nice, healthy soil and give them plenty of sun and water, they always come back. The garden center has to sell plants that look their best. Just because a flat of petunias is a little wilted, doesn’t mean they’re a lost cause. In most cases some TLC will bring them back.

Here’s another way I save money. You know those colorful hanging pots of flowers people like to hang from their porches? I save my pots every year and use them to plant some of my discounted annuals. Hanging flower displays costs $10 – $20. I make mine for much less.

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Cheap Gardening Tips: Use Newspaper for Mulch

Deborah Ng — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:48:05 +0000

Mulch is great for the garden. It helps to keep the soil moist and acts as an insulator, keeping your plants warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If purchased by the bag, it can get expensive. Purchasing by the truckload can cost a fortune. Thankfully, you can make your own. My older sisters shared this great tip with me: Most newspapers are printed with a vegetable based dye and can be used as not only mulch, but also a barrier to keep the weeds from ruining your flower garden. It may sound unconventional but it’s inexpensive and it works. After pulling weeds, lay a thick layer of newspaper over the area that’s to become your garden. Poke holes and plant your seeds or plants and cover with soil or mulch.

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Thrifty Gardening

Deborah Ng — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:02:46 +0000

In another month or so it’ll be planting season. For many gardeners this can be an expensive time. Plants and supplies really do add up. Many plants are worth the investment, for instance, vegetables. It’s much cheaper to grow your own fresh, delicious veggies than to buy produce at the supermarket. Bulbs are another good investment, because they come back every year. Because annuals die out after the first or second frost, they’re seen as a bigger risk. Still there are ways to save.

My marigolds are the gift that keeps on giving. About five or six years ago, my sister in law gave everyone in our family marigold seeds she harvested from her own. I planted them in the spring and they grew into big, beautiful plants, bushes really. I harvested the seeds in the fall and began the cycle again. We’re on the fifth generation for marigold seeds and every year our flowers come out bigger and better than before. In fact, we have so many seeds I give cups full to my son and let him plant them wherever he wants. As a result we have marigolds springing up in the most unlikeliest of places. I also tried harvesting impatiens, portulaca, petunias and a few other annuals. The portulaca and petunias came back best. The others didn’t fare well at all, but I’ll keep trying.

Your local nursery may have good deals on annuals and other plants if it’s towards the end of planting season. You might also find discounts on damaged plants. In most cases the damage is to a leaf or stem, and though it looks unsightly, your plant can still flourish. Don’t let money concerns keep you from having a lovely garden. There are always ways to save, sometimes you just have to be a little creative.

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