Saving Garden Dollars

Host: Gary Bachman, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist

Transcription:

Let’s face it: gardening can be really expensive. Here are some tips to save gardening dollars in the new year today on Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Ways to save money while gardening are really all around us. Many gardeners start vegetables from seed. Why not try flowering plants also? As long as you are patient, a packed of seeds will reward you. And you don’t need a large propagation area. As long as you have area for a couple of flats, you can be in business.

There are some plants that we tend to buy new each spring, but tender perennials like Coleus can be brought in for the winter. Start cutting these plants for a jump start for the winter. And don’t ignore plants grown from bulbs. Sure, they’re the spring flowering varieties, but the spring bloomers can be just as reliable. They will multiply each year, and even if you have to dig up each fall, you will quickly have some to give away. Or use them to barter with the neighbor for some of their plants.

And always, always, always buy plants on sale. I bought five sickly almost petunia plants last year, pruned them, fed them, and put them in a container. Before I knew it, all the neighbors wanted to know where I bought such a gorgeous plant. All it required was a little patience. And patience can be a virtue when planting in the spring. Don’t do the entire yard at once. Start with a plant and plant in stages and make adjustments along the way.

Landscaping on a budget can force you to be creative from restoring garage sale bargains to reusing egg cartons to start seedlings. We all have ideas.

Until next time, I am horticulturist Gary Bachman enjoying our Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.