The Plant Lady: Looking to save some money? Here are a few money-saving tips that work

There are plenty of money-saving garden hacks floating around, but many are gimmicks and not economically savvy or realistic. For instance, starting veggies from kitchen scraps — sure you may get a few wimpy stalks from your sprouted celery, but to me this is a pie-in-the-sky gimmick.

Others are very functional, such as making your own soap spray to kill off pests, seed collecting and making your own compost. Below are some that I use for both fiduciary responsibility and the simple fact that they actually work.

Mini blinds as labels

I remember when mini-blinds first came about — a revolution in window coverings. These days, you may have them in storage or want to replace them. Don’t throw them out. Cut them into any size strips and use them as plant labels. For some reason, plant labels are quite expensive (for what they are). Trim to size as desired and write with a pencil or any non-smearing pen. One window covering can make hundreds of labels.

Paper cups as starting pots

Paper cups purchased at a discount store work great as seed-starting pots. They last just long enough to grow a seed to transplantable size before they start to disintegrate. Like more expensive peat pots, paper cups can be planted directly into the ground. Egg cartons are often shown as seed-starting pots, however I’m not a fan as they are too small for most seedlings. Finally, turning newspaper into pots is a very frugal alternative method (there are plenty of instructions to be found online).

Homemade ant bait

Ants can be a sign of garden pests such as mealybugs and aphids. Control the ants and this will allow natural predators to attack the pests. Buying ant bait to control a heavy infestation can get expensive — so make your own. The recipe to make a bait similar to Terro is:

▪ 1 cup sugar, 3 cups water, 4 tsp borax powder (Twenty Mule Team)

▪ Bring to a quick boil and then cool

▪ Dip cotton balls or place a bit into bottle caps

▪ Place along the ants’ trail and you are good to go

Nursery flats for seedling protection

It can be very frustrating having new seedlings emerge only to have them pulled out by birds, rabbits or squirrels. Instead of buying and fighting with the installation of bird netting, my go-to is using nursery flats. If you are a gardener, chances are you have a stack hanging out in your garage. Placing these upside-down over a freshly seeded area prevents larger animals from attacking your plants. Flats are easier to work with than bird netting. Simply anchor them with a few hooks to prevent wind from blowing them away. By the time the seedlings are poking through the holes, they are sturdy enough to be on their own.

Fabric shoe organizer as a vertical garden

Try growing herbs or strawberries in a hanging fabric shoe organizer. The fabric will allow for drainage and the pockets are large enough for small plants to establish. However, it should be placed in an area with afternoon shade, as they can dry out fast. This is a fun way to make a vertical garden on the cheap. Avoid a plastic version, as the sun can break the plastic down quickly.

Cuttings/Divisions to make more plants

In my opinion, the No. 1 way to save money is by propagating plants. This can be done by making cuttings or divisions of plants (cutting the rootball into sections). You can take from your own garden or a friend’s garden but I also recommend getting involved in a local garden club. This is a great way to swap plant material.

Sheet containers as a mini-greenhouse

The square, plastic zippered containers that sheets come in make for a perfect mini-greenhouse to start cuttings/seeds. Of course, plastic bags can be used as well, but why not put to use a container most of you have laying around because you just can’t get yourself to throw away.

Feed store alfalfa

Alfalfa as a nitrogen supplement is one of my favorite soil amendments. The alfalfa marketed for garden use can be much more costly than purchasing from a feed store. Make sure however, that feed alfalfa is not mixed with molasses. You can soak the pellets in water to break them up before applying, or simply lay the pellets on the soil and turn under.

Don’t over-fertilize

It seems from the questions and comments I get that most people’s solution to plant problems is fertilizing. I do not add any additional fertilizer to my garden. I prep the beds with compost, chicken manure and/or alfalfa pellets. Of course, potted plants may need additional fertilizer, but diagnose the problem before you spend money on fertilizers.

Garbage can rainwater bin

Rainwater bins can be expensive. Instead, buy a plastic garbage container, a spigot and a bit of wire mesh. Cut a hole about 8 inches by 8 inches on the lid and place a piece of mesh over the hole (secure it with a few screws). The mesh will prevent leaves and debris from falling in. Cut a hole a few inches from the bottom of the can and install a hose spigot. Yes, you may need to get creative depending on what you use — a combination of washers and silicone sealant was my solution to make a waterproof seal.