Low-Cost Hacks for Lazy Gardeners

Here are 7 low-cost gardening hacks you can use to visually spruce up your garden to look even better – focusing on budget. recycling and plant health.

1. Planting on a budget

Perennials are an excellent choice for those looking to add a splash of colour to their garden while keeping costs low since they regrow every spring.

Lavender

You can find lavender plants online for less than £4 or a pack of seeds for less than £2. Considering that a lavender plant can last 10 to 15 years, the cost per year is around 27p if you buy a plant or 13p if you grow it from seeds.

Geraniums

 

You can introduce these vibrant plants to your garden for around £2. While they provide consistent bursts of colour and charm for up to three years, they can become a bit woody and yield sparse blossoms as they age. Keeping geraniums for at least five years costs around 40p per plant per year.

Echinacea

Known for their daisy-like blooms, young Echinacea plants can be acquired from garden centres for less than £5. Echinacea has a remarkable lifespan of up to 40 years in natural settings, which means these plants can cost as little as 2p per year if well cared for. It’s advisable to divide it every four years in garden settings to ensure they flourish.

2. What Goes Up…

Hanging planters can become mini gardens for herbs such as basil, rosemary, and mint. Pallet gardens are also great for growing fruits and vegetables with a backyard or balcony. For vibrant décor in smaller spaces, consider climbing vines such as wisteria.

3. Potted Plants

Potted plants are the answer for those looking to introduce versatility and ease into their garden. They not only allow gardeners to play around with arrangements but having the ability to move these pots means plants can always get optimal sunlight.

4. Thank you very mulch

Mulch, a gardener’s secret weapon, is a material spread atop the soil. It is used to conserve moisture, improve soil health, and combat weed growth. Mulches are made from many things, such as straw, wood chips, plastic and even rubber, but an ecofriendly, cost-effective tip is to use banana peels.

5. Hardy holly

Shrubs like boxwood or holly are resilient, can withstand the UK’s unpredictable weather, and demand very little care, and their evergreen presence ensures the garden looks lush year-round.

6. Lead the way

Beyond visual allure, gravel stands out for its affordability and functionality. The advantage of gravel is that it also promotes excellent drainage and is easier to lay than concrete or stone.

7. Reuse

These bottles can shield young seedlings from chilly spring breezes when placed upside-down. Alternatively, fill them with warm water and use them as mini hot water bottles for your plants.

ColneLife Winter 23