The Great 'spruce up your garden' Hunt

dander · 19 May 2010 at 7:08PM

I got a load of old bricks from freecycle and used them to create a mowing strip all round the edge of my lawn. I can just run the mower right round the edge, so mowing is much easier with less edging to do. Cut and run and it was free!

amcluesent · 19 May 2010 at 7:11PM

A cheap option is having the man of the house take a whiz on the compost heap to accelerate the production of usable compost.

sodamnfunky · 19 May 2010 at 9:00PM

We always buy reduced plants in the garden centre, plant them in a nice big tub with new compost and some chicken manure, and they flourish. I don;t think we have ever bought a plant at full price.

Upright_Tone · 20 May 2010 at 2:04PM

amcluesent wrote: »

A cheap option is having the man of the house take a whiz on the compost heap to accelerate the production of usable compost.

I would advocate that the womenfolk in our lives do likewise - fair's fair.

humblebumble_2 · 20 May 2010 at 4:07PM

Try Poundland. They sell the boxes of shake and rake seeds for £1 (obviously!!) and they also have a great range of other gardening stuff including seeds, plants and bulbs. Also tools and feedstuff and pest control!!

rosie101 · 20 May 2010 at 5:02PM

I went to the British legion Plant sale in B/stoke last week, as all the plants are donated you can pick them up really cheaply - 10p to £2, and the great thing was the people manning the stalls new all about them so could offer suggestions on how they should be cared for!

laurel7172 · 20 May 2010 at 10:09PM

Be greedy. Want it all, and want it now. Then wait.

What I mean is that if your wishlist is long enough, you'll regularly find things on it...cheap. An asparagus bed might not have been top of my list this year, but I found some reduced crowns, knocked up a raised bed from a plank and got one going for less than £5.

And don't be afraid to buy small plants now, rather than large plants later. If you can't afford a nice big garden centre apple tree, for instance, you might as well plant an Aldi one this year as pay six times the price next year. After a year's head start, the difference won't be as big as you think.

And the cheapest way to get anything-split perennials/take cuttings and swap with family and friends.

alfie_1 · 20 May 2010 at 10:38PM

1. If you have a large mirror [off wardrobe, carboot sale or local tip] place it against a wall in your garden and it looks like your garden is bigger . if you have [again the tip has lots] an old metal gate, put it ajar in front as if a gate to a secret part of the garden. grow roses or clematis etc either side and it looks great !
2. use cheap bamboo canes for trellis work, put 4/5 upright in the ground, 18 ins apart, then weave across with canes ,behind and infont alternatly [thread from the top and push downwards] again 18 ins apart, so you have a cheap natural frame for any climbing plants.put two across if canes not long enough.
3. get 3 flower pots of different sizes [larger the better], largest at the bottom, fill with soil and place 2nd pot in centre,fill and 3rd pot on top [you can use a cane through the centre to stabilise] then plant with trailing species etc, looks great and cheap !
4. look out for old poultry feeders [usually metal], they make good planters as they have a circular tray at base thats ideal for watering plants.
5. get any hanging light/candle holders [chandalier type] hang it from a tree with fat balls [haha] for the birds to feed from, also any nut holders etc but make sure its balanced !
6. i have an old iron fireplace placed by my seating area with a bush backdrop ,that has a big pot of daisies in front of it, it looks great !!

boothie_2 · 21 May 2010 at 12:17AM

remember keep some nettles in your garden keeps pests off your prized blooms and you can rot them down over the winter for plant food next year and believe me its the best you can get stinks a little but good stuff:j

Kay_Peel · 21 May 2010 at 12:55AM

I sat on my garden seat today. The wood cracked and I went through it. I've been meaning to replace it for a couple of years.

Has anyone got any ideas on a suitable alternative?

Much obliged! :beer:

The Great 'spruce up your garden' Hunt

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