Gardening Money Saving Tips Anyone?

savingpennies

Yes I was wondering how they were made. A couple of years ago I remember Alan Titchmarsh doing a trial of hanging basket liners and someone sent him some crocheted ones. Can't remember if they were the best or not.

pol

I make the pattern like a big woolly hat. I use chunky wool 2-3 strands at a time, or dk 6-7 strands, and 9mm needles cast on however many stitches I need to go round the basket. Knit a few rows up to where the basket starts to curve, then decrease 5-6 stitches across the row. Knit 1-2 rows then decrease again. When you get to the bottom of the basket, pull the wool through the remaining stitches and sew up the seam. Not all baskets are the same depth/width, so you need to measure it, but if it's too big it doesn't matter. But it will sink down a little with compost in, so slightly bigger than the basket is best. It knits up in an hour or so because it's thick. Then I just put a bit of plastic or a saucer in the bottom to hold water and plant up. If you can use wool rich wool, it really holds the water better than the nylon stuff.
If you like you can make large 'buttonholes' round the side for planting too.

HTH

pol

sproggi

Not really money saving but, mix some plain, cheap cat litter (not the scented stuff) in with the compost for hanging baskets and planters. It absorbs the water and helps to prevent the pots from drying out.
You can buy commercial granuals that do the same thing, but cat litter is a fraction of the price!!

Mrs_Miggins_2

Last year I grew a decent crop of potatoes from peelings of shop bought spuds. You just need to make sure there's an eye in the peeling (no need to chit it - but even better if you find a spud in the bottom of the veg rack that's started sprouting). Just bung into a big pot/ old dustbin of soil and carry on as if you'd planted seed potatoes.
They come out a bit smaller than buying seed potatoes, but then, they're free.
Instead of ping pong balls on top of canes, I use empty snail shells - they blend in well.
Finally, when I go slug-picking at night, I put them all into a pot with a lid, and feed them to my hens in the morning - they love them.