By Family Features | Contributor
Engaging in gardening not only enhances the aesthetics of your outdoor space, but it can also serve as a therapeutic outlet while helping you cut down on grocery costs. However, it’s easy to get swept away in the excitement of purchasing various gardening tools and supplies.
Here are some innovative, budget-friendly, and eco-conscious strategies to cultivate your garden without overspending:
- Mark your rake, shovel, or hoe handle with a yardstick and a permanent marker to indicate inches and feet. This will assist you in planting by simply laying the marked tool along your garden rows for evenly spaced seed holes.
- To prevent soil from escaping the bottom of clay pots, line them with a coffee filter.
- Utilize empty plastic water or milk jugs to occupy space at the bottom of larger pots. This not only lightens the pots but also minimizes the amount of soil needed.
- Check the viability of your seeds for the season by placing 3-4 seeds in a wet paper towel inside a zip-top bag. Wait a week to see if germination occurs.
- A simple way to combat weeds is to create a barrier with layers of newspaper around your garden, topped with pine needles, grass clippings, or dried leaves for a low-cost, eco-friendly solution.
- Keep your gardening twine organized by attaching a funnel to your potting bench with the spout facing downwards. Feed the twine through the funnel, or alternatively, store a ball of twine in a canning jar with a hole in the lid for a portable, tangle-free option.
- Skip pricey seed-starting kits by repurposing cardboard toilet paper rolls housed inside a clean plastic clamshell container (such as those used for ready-made salads). Fill the tubes with potting soil and plant your seeds; once they grow too tall, simply remove the clamshell top.
For additional tips on gardening affordably, visit LivingToday.com.
