frugal gardening

**mek42** · 05-29-2010, 07:16 PM

I just had an idea. I was planning to make a trip to Harbor Freight for tarps to cover our garden plot for a couple weeks to kill what is there currently. Now I've decided to look up the price online, calculate gas cost and then look at tarps at the local Walmart to compare pricing.

We're also experimenting with replanting pepper seeds from store bought bell peppers.

My wife also helped me figure out that it might be cheaper to buy some bagged topsoil at Walmart than to have a couple yards delivered due to the delivery fee.

What little things have you all done to make gardening more frugal?

**Missy** · 05-29-2010, 07:28 PM

in our experience the topsoil from wallyworld needed so much amending that it was cheaper in the end to get some compost delivered. The wally stuff had all kinds of wierd weeds in it we can't identify.The topsil was also so nutrient poor that we were supplimenting so much...we spent more that route. BUT that being said I am sure they use regional sources, so we might have to different situations. Gardening is so much trial and error, what works for me might not work for another person. I say give it a shot. If the results aren't what you hoped for no one says you can't amend or go a different way next time. And if the results are what you wanted, awesome and frugal to boot!!

to try to be as cost effective as possible, we started our stuff from seed as much as we could. We saved seed from our most vigorous plants in the fall and planted them. This sounds really stupid, but I had veggies in the ground because I saw family plant them in their gardens when I was a kid. But...um we don't like them. It took me awhile to realise i was planting them out of emotion rather than rationally thinking through my garden. I plant what we like and will EAT now. Sounds like a "duh" kind of thing but it took me a little bit to get that it is my garden and I can plant as I wish...

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-29-2010, 08:03 PM

Why can't you just use black garbage bags w/ bricks or rocks on them. spray w/ the garden hose to rot the grass faster?? Our kids inflatable pool sure killed the grass fast.

I always curb shop for used pots for seedlings. I also snatch old chicken wire and wood scraps o make a cucumber fence.

Sprinkle used coffee grounds in there to attract the worms. They will work very hard for you. I got an old blender for .50 to grind up soft compost to bury deep.

Planted sweet millions tomatoes and scored a trellis for them. Have gotten countless tomato cages this way. Ask at estate sales and offer low. Less junk for them to haul.

**craftypam** · 05-29-2010, 09:06 PM

Just for your information about getting rid of the weeds. My dh brought home some old thick paneling and left it in the garden all winter. It was great in the spring when we lifted it up NO WEEDS; but here's the bad part. As soon as you lift up the tarps the light will hit and then so will the weeds.

It would definately be cheaper to buy dirt at the store if you have to pay delivery charge. I always have bought it at the store because we have nothing to haul dirt in.

This year I planted cold weather crops from seeds; the weather got me in the mood early enough. They are doing fantastic. I need to ignore the planting dates on the seed packages. Tomatoes and peppers never grow fast enough. I always plant green beans and cucumbers from seed right into the garden. This year I am trying more container gardening.

**ladytoysdream** · 05-29-2010, 09:51 PM

Not sure how much this will cost. Right now locally I can buy a 40 pound bag of dirt for $ 2.99. If you take those bags and lay them flat in your garden area, you can plant in the bag. Just make holes if you want for example, tomato or pepper plants. That way the bag is acting as a weed stopper / killer.

Plastic draws snakes. Ask me how I know......

I did get some old burlap bags at a Country Max store and was going to use them, by cutting them open . I ended up giving them away. I was afraid of hubby getting them tangled up in the roto tiller. I would not get brownie points for that.

We are using old hay bales that the chickens had this winter. They are heaped all around the pototo rows. We also put a lot of sawdust / chicken poop in the garden this winter. That really helped the soil a lot.

Use a scrawcrow to chase off the wild birds. And cut up old plastic garden hose in shorter lengths and lay those in the garden. Rotate them around. Birds in the air think they are snakes. Chickens just laugh at humans....again.....don't ask me how I know this. And when and if I catch the rabbit that stole my started pickling cucumber plants, he'll be rabbit dinner.

**sunshine** · 05-29-2010, 10:25 PM

For weed control - we start in the early spring and turn the soil... wait 2 weeks and turn the soil again. . . wait 2 more weeks and turn once again. By then the young weeds have been destroyed and haven't had a chance to reseed.

It's not 100% obviously, but it sure cuts down on the weeding.

**jodilhernandez** · 05-29-2010, 10:33 PM

Were we live people compost so much you get it for free. We are amending our soil because we have clay and it is murder to grow in otherwise. I would ask around on free cycle for top soil and compost you would be surprised what people will have and have laying around. Craigslist too.

**KentuckySaver** · 05-30-2010, 12:00 AM

I use cardboard in the garden to keep down weeds. It rots too which is even better for your soil. Alway save seed to replant next year. Oh yeah, be sure to buy heirloom seeds too.

**craftypam** · 05-30-2010, 01:18 AM

Thanks sunshine; will give that a try; WE NEED SOMETHING.

Kentuckysaver; could you explain what's good about heirloom seeds.

Thanks

**mauimagic** · 05-30-2010, 02:47 AM

Great ideas - mahalo!! I really like the one about gardening out of the bag - that seems to fit my style now!! Now where did I put all those seeds?

**frugalfranny** · 05-30-2010, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by mek42

We're also experimenting with replanting pepper seeds from store bought bell peppers.

Will be interested to hear what sort of luck you have...been there done that.....didn't have great luck. Figured they were using hybrids for the peppers. They don't want us using their peppers to grow them.

And they probably have some 'super producer'........

I warm my soil in early spring with black plastic.......any kind works...even opened up garbage bags. I have it down by March and no weeds when I pick it up, ground is much warmer and ready for seedlings.

I have SUPER ROCKY ground. You can pick rocks forever and more will just work up, so I quit. Most plants need 'good drainage'....I have that!! ... but when I have one that needs higher than avg. water for our hot summers I use my 'shredding' in the planting hole. (use it with ALL trees) I mix it with the amended soil that I add......it breaks down but helps hold the water for the roots.

I use mulch...mainly....for weed control after an area is planted. Prior to that I use about 5 to 6 layers of newspaper.....black and white only........no colored ads.

I don't use much topsoil.......I buy either steer manure or compost.....more nutrients.

I also don't turn my ground that much (in certain areas) as I am fighting bindweed....with each dig of the shovel my bind weed starts growing. In other areas I can turn it fine.

Anyone else fight bindweed? (called morning glory in some places) What have you found that works?

**KentuckySaver** · 05-30-2010, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Thanks sunshine; will give that a try; WE NEED SOMETHING.

Kentuckysaver; could you explain what's good about heirloom seeds.

Thanks

The seeds saved from your veggies that were grown from heirloom seeds will be the as the once you take them from. Most store bought produce is grown from hybrid seed and may not produce the same result when their seeds are replanted. You can purchase heirloom seeds once and they will last a lifetime...several really. I am still using cucumber seed that my grandmother gave me 30 years ago. I just save the seeds from some of the best fruit and keep on replanting each year. They are worth the few extra pennies I promise. It is an investment in your future survival as well. If you need to know more just let me know.

Here is a link for some seeds.

Survival Seed Store

I like the Survival Seed Vault myself.

**MakeADollarHollar** · 05-30-2010, 09:13 PM

We had 7 yards of Top Soil delivered a couple weeks ago for our Raised Beds. DH went to Lowe's and got a couple of $4.00 Soil Test Kits. Turns out, the soil we had delivered was more healthy than the soil he "built" himself last fall for our two small beds that never got crops planted...my fault...I was too busy.

Determine your soil needs. I did this by using a local gardening book and my local extension office website. Our dump sells soil and compost, both of which looked super healthy, but we opted to go with another supplier as we were leary of the dump and what kind of run-off might be lurking in the soils since we planned on growing our food source. But, if you have the opportunity to touch and feel the soil from a delivery source, put a handfull in your pocket and test it using a tester before you purchase it.

If you're trying to enrich your soil consider Cover Crops, aka, Green Manure. Kill your weeds first then determine what Cover Crops grow in your area. Usually it's just a simple grass but could be something as cool as Sunflowers. DH just finished our Raised Beds, including the irrigation. We are going to plant a recommended grass for a cover crop through the summer then till it and plant in the fall. Next year I want to do Sunflowers in the summer just for the fun of it and to get some seeds as an extra bonus.

Compost kitchen scraps and save all your egg shells for added calcium. I rinse them in hot soapy water to remove the gunk and get off any membrane. Let them dry on the counter for a day or two then run them through our coffee/spice grinder as it turns the shells in to a great powder that is easily dispursed. If you don't have one, crush them as best you can with your hands or a rolling pin once they are dry.

**adalynn** · 06-01-2010, 12:54 PM

I am finished buying dirt!!!! I have wasted so much money, yard waste & food scraps that I have had it. Compost is my way now, BOY the money I will save!

**Jenny WC** · 06-09-2010, 07:21 AM

Something we do for saving money in our garden is saving rain water to water the garden. Our neighbor purchased rain barrels from the local garden center, once the had them up his wife didn't like the way they looked. So he was going to put them out to the trash. I ask him he was so going to get rid of them and he said we could have them. We have not had to use the garden hose once this year to water.

Jenny