Aug. 11 Column: Saving Money in the Garden

Perhaps I caught your attention with today’s topic, eh? After all, we gardeners love saving money in the garden, right? You can learn more about this in my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Saving money in the garden.

On July 12, I posted a question on my Facebook page, asking folks to weigh in on what they do to maximize their gardening dollar. I was delighted with all of the responses I got and I’m certain folks will enjoy reading this column to see if they can get some new ideas!

Unfortunately, I didn’t have room to put every single response in my column but I do want everyone to know how much I appreciated their taking the time to respond.

I have a few things I like to do in order to save money, which I thought I’d share here:

Just like some of the respondents, I do love starting most of my plants from seeds. It is so economical and it gives me the opportunity to grow plants that are unusual enough that you can’t find them in the local nurseries. One example is the ‘Cupcakes’ cosmos I’m growing this year. I’ve never seen it at a garden center here, yet I know folks will go nuts over them.

I also like saving seeds from non-hybrids. One of my favorite seeds to save is from my ‘Musica’ pole beans. They are so easy to save, and I enjoy giving some of them away to folks at my springtime raised bed gardening classes.

Another money-saver is to make trellises and other types of plant supports from pruned branches (see photo at right). They add so much character to the garden and they don’t cost a cent. If you don’t have any trees that need pruning, talk to a neighbor or friend who does. I’m sure they’d be happy to share the branches with you… that is, until they learn the cool things you can make with them!

I also overwinter my pelargoniums (annual geraniums) and Canna lilies (photo at very top of post). This is so easy to do and really saves me some bucks.

Anyway, you get the idea. And if you have more money-saving ideas, please drop me an email at Susan@susansinthegarden.com. I love hearing from you and learning new things.

OK, now for this week’s “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video. It’s all about growing a fall and winter garden. I’ve been experimenting with this for 6 years now and have shared what I do to make this a possibility in our zone 5b garden. It includes growing cold-tolerant veggies in either a hoop house or underneath hoops in your garden. It IS doable!