Gardening On A Budget (9 Clever Tips To Save Money)

Growing your own food should be a fun hobby that doesn’t break the bank. The cost of seeds, fertilizers, soil, and supplies can really add up. Over the years, we’ve learned some tips for saving money in the garden.

Whether it’s making your own plant markers or buying used tools off Facebook marketplace, there are many different ways to save some cash. These tips will apply whether you’re a small scale gardener growing veggies in your raised bed, or tending to an indoor garden with houseplants at home.

1. Start small

We know the excitement of flipping through the seed catalogs in late winter. There are hundreds of options and it can be difficult to narrow it down to a reasonable number of choices. Start with 4-5 veggies you actually enjoy eating, rather than trying to grow everything you want.

This focused approach will result in lest wasted money and produce. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself and purchase seeds and never end up planting them. Plus, you’ll actually have the time to properly care for the plants you do grow!

Remember, even experienced gardeners can’t grow everything at once, so give yourself permission to start modestly.

2. Build your soil with yard and food waste

Leaves and grass clippings may be considered yard waste to our neighbors, but they’re gardening gold to us. These natural materials break down to create rich and fertile soil. You may also want to consider building your own compost to avoid purchasing store-bought.

We have an article on how to make leaf mulch here.

Coffee grounds are also great for the garden. But, many people use them incorrectly. If you want to recycle your spent coffee grounds and use them as mulch or to feed your plants, read our article on the proper way to use coffee grounds in the garden.

3. Skip the raised beds

Raised-beds are a beautiful and convenient way to garden and grow your own food. But if you’re new to gardening, you may want to skip them for the first year or two. The price of wood is expensive, and building raised beds can become a pricey project.

Consider starting your first garden directly in the ground. After your first season, you can expand and start with one raised bed or even a raised garden planter. You can also grow many different things (like peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes) in large containers on your patio.

It’s tempting and exciting to go all-out and place raised beds in your garden. But, it’s important to assess whether you have a need for them and will actually use them for many years to make it worthwhile.

4. Get your seeds for free

Exchanging seeds is one of the easiest ways to save money in the garden. We’ve paid anywhere from .99 to $10 for a single pack of vegetable seeds! The price can definitely add up, especially for fancy hybrid varieties.

Consider joining a seed exchange group on Facebook or trading with neighbors. You can also check for local seed exchange events in your area. This is great for beginners to build their collection. Many libraries also offer free seeds for the local community.

After your plants grow in, be sure to save some seeds for the next growing season, too!

5. Invest in quality materials

When you’re starting out, it’s a great idea to check Facebook marketplace, tag sales or estate sales for affordable gardening supplies. You can often find some great deals. However, if you’re looking to purchase your own supplies new, always invest in quality over quantity.

We have been through all sorts of cheap gardening supplies that break or just don’t last. They end up in the trash and you need to buy new ones, which isn’t good for the environment or your wallet. While the upfront cost is a bit more, you will save money over time by investing in quality tools.

Look for solid wood handles and strong metal components. Another perk? These tools are often more ergonomic and comfortable to use. We like Bootstrap Farmer products and use them regularly in the garden. Our seed starting cells have lasted us many years and they’re much better than the cheap plastic ones that break the first season.

6. Avoid purchasing what you don’t need

Fancy kneeling pads and self-watering pots? You don’t need them. There are countless gardening gadgets on the market today advertised to anyone interested in growing plants. The truth is, you don’t need most of these things to start growing your own food and flowers at home.

Plus, a lot of these unnecessary tools and gadgets end up taking up a lot of space in the shed or garage. You can build up your tool collection over time. I suggest investing in a few basic, high-quality tools that you’ll use every year (hand trowel, weeding tool, garden rake, etc.). Then, keep an eye out at tag sales for people selling gently used supplies that may make gardening easier for you.

Another great way to avoid spending is to reuse potting soil from previous years. It’s easy to re-vitalize old potting mix to grow healthy, strong plants for many years. Learn how to reuse potting soil here.

Tip: One of the most popular items we see on the market is water meters. Unfortunately, these don’t work very well and we don’t consider them necessary. You can use your finger in the soil to assess whether your plants need watering or not.

7. Choose the right veggies

If you’re just starting out with gardening, there are a few things to consider when choosing your vegetables. Crops like tomatoes and zucchini produce abundantly, even in small spaces. Productive plants that continue producing throughout the season are a great bang for your buck.

We also like to focus on produce that is expensive at the grocery store. Microgreens are very expensive, but they’re super easy to grow at home. Heirloom tomatoes and berries are also high value crops that you can easily grow in your own garden, saving you money over time.

Plus, homegrown always tastes so much better!

Tip: Consider planting perennial herbs (like chives, rosemary, and thyme) which will continue to come back year after year.

8. Focus on upcycling and DIY projects

From pots to plant markers, you can do a lot with what you already have. Try using 5-gallon buckets to grow your tomatoes, or painted beach rocks for garden markers. Wooden crates, storage bins, and even worn-out wheelbarrows can all make for charming growing containers.

See our DIY self-watering pot tutorial here

All you need is potting mix and drainage holes to make use of repurposed containers. We also like using takeout food containers to start seeds in (the covers act like a humidity dome). You’re keeping items out of landfills while also creating value for your garden.

9. Collect rainwater

Setting up a simple rain barrel system is easy and can reduce water costs during the growing season. We use a 60-gallon drum with a mesh sieve to collect rainwater throughout the season. Plants love rainwater over chlorinated tap, resulting in a healthier garden.

A basic DIY setup costs very little. We sourced our food-grade barrel from a local seller online and added a $3 spout.

Hopefully these clever gardening tips will help you save money during your growing season. Theres nothing better than growing and eating your own food, and it should be a relatively inexpensive hobby, especially when you’re starting out!