It seems that too many of us may be personally familiar with experiences found in The $64 Tomato, the book by William Alexander. Sometime, somewhere in the garden we've been tempted to just throw money at a problem. But a garden doesn't have to be a money pit. There are many successful strategies for creating a lush garden while gardening on the cheap.
The first step is to analyze where the money goes. Every garden presents many temptations. When the gardening frenzy hits, various tools, plants, soil amendments and decorative details can all seem absolutely necessary.
Your ultimate strategy should be to make economical gardening choices while avoiding those items that lead down the path to the $64 tomato. Consider what is really necessary in the garden and what is already available to you.
The bare essentials of a garden are soil, plants, water and some basic tools. How we work with these elements will determine the cost and condition of our garden. Water, even well water, takes a toll and needs to be used intelligently. Too much water can kill the budget as well as the plants.
Water early in the morning when you will lose less to evaporation. Plan your garden so that it is water wise, and choose drought-tolerant plants that are well suited to the dry climate of
Soil should cost nothing. It is, after all, right out in the back yard. But expenditures on soil can mount with purchases of amendments, fertilizers and mulches. You can make your own compost from your garden cuttings. Kitchen scraps and fallen leaves can feed your worm farm. The compost and worm castings will provide organic fertilizer for your soil.
For plants on the cheap, check out your friends' and neighbors' gardens to see what works for them. Often they will be glad to share a division from that iris clump that has overgrown its bed.
Aquilegia (columbine) starts easily from seeds that your friends didn't get around to dead heading. Other plants like yarrow and nepeta also reseed freely, and your friends may be willing to let you dig up these volunteers and transfer them to your garden. Nepeta is a wonderful, drought-tolerant perennial with soft lavender flowers that bees love. I once visited a friend and, with only a steak knife, dug up more than 25 nepeta seedlings from her garden walk. She thanked me for weeding and I blessed her for the plants.
Hydrangeas and roses can be propagated by dipping the cut stem into rooting hormone (less than five dollars for a lifetime supply). Place the cutting in a small container of potting soil and cover with a large glass jar or a plastic bag held away from the cutting by a couple of sticks. This miniature greenhouse will provide a sheltered environment until the cutting develops its own roots. A library book on plant propagation or a free workshop from the Napa County Master Gardeners can give you all the information you need to start many plants and shrubs from seeds and cuttings.
Tools can be devastating to some gardeners' budgets. Although every garden task may have its perfect tool, you must resist the temptation if your goal is gardening on the cheap. A few basic, well-made tools—one for digging, one for raking, and a trowel for planting—are all you need to get started. For weeds and prying out little seedlings, that dull old butcher knife will work just fine.
With all the free plants you have accumulated, you'll want some architectural interest.
Vertical structures add another dimension to your garden. Teepees made of old plant and tree stakes are perfect for morning glories, purple hyacinth beans, sugar snap peas or green beans. Place tomato cages upside down over a large pot to create a pyramidal structure for training sweet peas. All of these vines can be grown from seed and put on a great show for little cost.
If gardening on the cheap appeals to you and you would like more ideas, don't miss the free "Gardening on the Cheap" workshops given by the Napa County Master Gardeners. The first workshop will be held from 9: 30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, at the