Few of us are unaffected by the ongoing cost of living crisis, and even simple pleasures like gardening have been hit by rising prices.
But there are a few ways you can spend less at the garden center and do some good for your green spaces at the same time.
When the water pipes of homes are now measured, there is even more reason to get yourself a water tap. You can pick up a cheap plastic water pipe for around £40 from a DIY store like B&Q, rather than spending up to £130 using a mains hose.
Rainwater is also better for your plants than tap water, according to gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh. On the Gardeners’ World podcast, he explained: “The funny thing is there’s something in the rain.
“It has some kind of magical ingredient, and plants always seem to grow faster from rainwater, water that comes out of a hosepipe.”
You can collect something else for free to ensure a great flower show next year.
The Sun’s Consumer Reporter Laura McGuire points out that while a packet of seeds can set you back £5, “you can collect them from your summer plants and also take cuttings to propagate new plants”.
Just make sure you store the seeds in a cool, dry place until the time is right to plant them.
You can also collect bulbs from your garden. Before the first frosts of winter arrive, carefully dig up the bulbs with a small garden fork and store your seeds in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to replant them.
While most garden pests also go on hiatus during the winter, some, such as slugs and snails, thrive in damp fall conditions.
Snail pellets are effective enough, but can be dangerous to pets and wildlife, and of course cost money.
Gardening expert Robert Pavlis has shared an ingenious dough-baited snail trap that he claims is even more effective than beer.
Alternatively, you can try making a garlic spray – simply peel and mix a whole clove of garlic with about a pint and a half of water, then cover your precious plants with a spray bottle.
You can also try using Neem Oil, a natural, chemical-free pesticide that you can pick up for less than a tenner at health food stores such as Holland and Barrett.
Finally, when you clean up your garden at the end of summer, don’t forget to compost everything, as well as any vegetable peels and other organic waste.
Ideally, your compost should be about two parts brown woody material or cardboard to one part green leaves.
You can buy a compost bin for as little as £20 or build your own with a few old pallets or spare boards. Advanced woodworking skills are not required – compost needs plenty of air gaps to work properly.
