Gardening can be a costly hobby

Gardening can be a costly hobby (Image: GETTY)

Gardeners looking to save money on their outdoor spaces can take inspiration from TV gardener and designer Mark Lane, who has given valuable tips on how to make your cash go further without compromising on the beauty of your garden.

Mark designed the RHS-BBC Morning Live Budget-Friendly Garden at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival (July 4 to 9), has given his best tips on how to be frugal – but still enjoy the best your garden has to offer.

Find budget friendly stores

One of Mark’s top suggestions is to source plants from budget-friendly outlets. While DIY stores and supermarkets may offer some savings, he advises gardeners to explore local nurseries, where they may find better prices and a wider selection of plants compared to larger garden centres.

Another savvy tip is to speak to exhibitors at flower shows and inquire about their plans for the display plants after the event. Often, these plants can be purchased at a significant discount, providing an excellent opportunity to add some unique specimens to your garden.

READ MORE: Alan Titchmarsh warns rewilding could be ‘disastrous’ – what should you do [LATEST]

Source plants from budget-friendly outlets

Source plants from budget-friendly outlets (Image: GETTY)

Make a list

Mark said: “Make a list of what you want to achieve in the garden. Think about your borders and how far the plants you want will spread, how many you are going to need. Stick to your list at the garden centre – don’t be seduced by all the lovely colours and scents which you’ll find.”

Sow from seed

Sowing from seed is not only cost-effective but also rewarding. Mark recommends purchasing packets of seeds, which can contain a substantial number of seeds, potentially resulting in an abundance of plants. While perennials may take longer to establish, sowing annuals in the meantime can provide immediate savings.

Save money on plant food

Mark suggests using tomato feed, which is affordable and rich in potassium and potash. For those looking for a more natural alternative, homemade plant feeds can be created using nettles or comfrey.

Steeping either of these in water for a week will produce highly nutritious plant feed. Strain the liquid and use a 1:4 ratio of feed to water for optimal results.

Consider buying smaller plants

Consider buying smaller plants (Image: GETTY)

Only buy essential tools

Mark said: “Don’t go mad with tools. You really only need a good spade, a good fork, a hand trowel, a pair of secateurs and a gardening knife. You can do most gardening jobs with those.”

And once you’ve bought them, look after them.

He continued: “If you’re an absent-minded gardener, wooden tools might not be the best for you. Go for things that are made of carbon, metal, steel – things that aren’t going to rust but are still going to be comfortable in the hand.

“All you’ll need to do is clean them off. With secateurs, clean the blades with a cloth after pruning so you get rid of the sap or pathogens on them.”

Upcycle

When it comes to garden decor, Mark suggested upcycling old furniture, such as pieces with drawers or ladders, to create platforms for displaying plants. Boxes and trays can be repurposed for seed sowing or as decorative elements in the garden.

Only buy essential tools

Only buy essential tools (Image: GETTY)

Buy smaller plants

When purchasing plants, consider buying smaller specimens. Although they may take time to fill the space, smaller plants have the potential to grow into healthier and more robust specimens compared to larger plants in the long run.

Mark said: “When I’m designing gardens I always suggest to my clients that it’s better to buy plants in nine-centimetre pots than to buy a plant in a three litre one. Within three years, that little plant in the nine-centimetre pot will be healthier and more robust than the three litre pot within that period.”

Look for longevity

Opting for longevity is another money-saving strategy. Instead of buying annuals or biennials that require frequent replacement, choose herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses, and flowering shrubs that provide interest for multiple seasons.

Mark advised: “Echinacea and helenium will flower for ages, salvias will flower until the first frost, while cotoneaster and pyracantha have tiny pale flowers and berries. Amelanchiers give you fruits, flowers and gorgeous shades of red in autumn.”

Don’t ignore sale plants

Don’t overlook sale plants, even if they appear less vibrant. With proper care, watering, and feeding, these discounted plants can quickly bounce back and thrive in your garden.

Mark said: “Give them a good water and start feeding them and you should see almost instant results. Keep the compost moist and they should be fine.”

Make your own compost

Making your own compost is not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective.

Collect leaves, garden clippings, and vegetable food waste in a compost bin, and over time, you’ll have nutrient-rich compost without the need to purchase bags of compost.

Increase your plants naturally

Mark said: “Taking cuttings and collecting seed is free. Collect seed any time from mid summer to autumn as the flowers go over. Put them in a paper envelope.

“Hardwood cuttings can be taken in spring or autumn. Roses are great for this. Take a woody stem about 10-12 centimetres long, remove the lower leaves, keeping one or two leaves on the top, make a little trench in the soil and stick the whole thing into the trench about half way up and leave it over the whole of winter. Come spring you will probably see new growth appearing at the top.”

Plants which work well to propagate through cuttings include lavender, sage and salivas.

Lastly, divide and conquer! Lift and divide plants in autumn, replanting the divisions in areas where they have space to establish. Thick-fibred plants like hostas can be divided by cutting through the roots and replanting the divisions in fresh compost.

This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up Express.co.uk’s editorial research. A news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected].

[ad_2]
Post source: Express