Gardening on a budget

Plan your garden to maximise return and minimise spend

Whether you're just starting out, or want to refresh your garden, it pays to plan. Otherwise you risk shelling out on fancy plants that aren't right for your space. Important factors include the amount of light, type of soil, and how much time you have to dedicate to gardening.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has tips on garden design and gathering inspiration for your garden. Here are a few of ours to keep the costs down:

• Draw out a 'map' of your garden space. Look at where you might want things to grow, where you'll place pots and furniture and so on.

• Make a wish list and prioritise. Ask yourself what you want to grow, what you want to achieve – and how much it might cost.

• Keep a diary and note down details of the weather and plant growth. A simple notepad would do the trick.

• Take photos on your phone to record your journey. Save them in a named folder so you can chart progress.

• Consider an almanac. Serious gardeners have a book they call an almanac – it helps guide you with tips for what to focus on each month. You can also write notes about what you've planted and when, so you can look back and see what has gone well.
  
  You can get themed ones such as a wildlife gardener's almanac, or a veg grower's one. The one pictured on the right is £3 at The Works and £4.99 at Amazon. You might also find second hand ones on eBay or Vinted.

Garden (and eat) for free via community garden schemes

If you don't have a garden (or an allotment - see more below), you could join a local community garden scheme. Many involve growing fruit and vegetables, which are then shared out.

The RHS has a comprehensive list of community gardening groups. Here are a couple of organisations with groups across the UK:

• Incredible Edibles has a focus on community and growing food together.

• Green Gym is part of a wider organisation called The Conservation Volunteers. Work can vary and leans towards the exercise and mental health element of gardening and conservation work.

Consider sharing an allotment to cut costs

Allotments are plots of land which are rented out to individuals. You can apply via your local council, or there are private companies that rent out allotment spaces. Council allotments can cost up to around £100 a year, while private ones can be closer to £200 (but often have shorter waiting lists).

It could be well worth the cost financially too. According to the Association for Public Excellence (APSE), the average cost of running a 250 square metre plot in 2023 was £247 per year, while the value of produce you could grow was as much as £1,910.

However, if you want to get it cheaper, consider sharing. You'll need the council or allotment landowner's permission. But then you could ask friends or family if they want to buddy up, and either allocate specific parts of the plot to each of you, or garden together.

Allotments are also a hugely sociable way to garden. You can share information with other allotment holders, and there are often seed and plant swaps and other social events. You can find out more at the National Allotment Society and on the MSE forum.

Allotments can even have handy freebies, such as manure – as forumite Floss shared:

Nab free expert advice via apps, podcasts, TikTok and more

There's free gardening content across social media, podcasts and apps, so make the most of it to hone your skills and solve problems in your garden.

• Join gardening Facebook groups and swap ideas with other green-fingered enthusiasts. Gardening hints and tips (UK only) allows members to ask for advice. RHS Community Gardening celebrates community gardening and encourages 'more people to grow'. It's worth searching Facebook to see whether your local area has its own gardening group.

• Download free plant ID apps. These use the camera on your phone to identify plants – useful if there's something suddenly growing in your garden or you want to ID a plant you've seen while out and about. The RHS Grow app has a mixture of free or paid options. The free option gets you help with tracking your plants as well as advice on up to 35,000 plants.

• Listen to free gardening podcasts. Gardener's Question Time from Radio 4 has archives of previous shows which are filled with questions from listeners. Talking Gardens from Gardens Illustrated has guests such as Nigel Slater.

• Follow experts on Instagram, TikTok and more. Many gardeners share their work on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. For example, Monty Don (@themontydon), Carol Klein (@the_carol_klein), Jo Thompson (@jothompsongarden), and Gardening With Ish (@gardeningwithish).

Bag £5 off at B&Q (and more)

Sign up to free loyalty schemes at the garden centres you visit regularly, and you can get discounts, free drinks and access to workshops. Here are some we spotted:

• B&Q* - 300+ stores across the UK. Get £5 off a £30 spend when you sign up to B&Q Club, plus regular offers and discounts.

• British Garden Centres - 70+ centres around the UK. Its free Family Card gives access to seasonal offers, members-only shopping events and restaurant offers.

• Hillier - 22 centres across the South of England. Its Gardening Club offers 5 loyalty points for every £1 you spend (each point is worth 1p). For café regulars, it also has a scheme where you can buy nine hot drinks, and get your 10th free.

It's worth checking if your local garden centre has its own scheme. Many centres are local smaller chains, with one or two branches in a county. You can find lists of centres near you as well as gardening advice at the Garden Centre Association.

Paying for a loyalty scheme is only worth it if you're doing a big spend

Some of the bigger chains and websites offer paid-for loyalty schemes where you get a discount for a year. They're worth considering if you're planning a big spend where you'll definitely save more than the cost of membership, but always compare prices with other retailers before you commit.

• Thompson & Morgan - online only. Its Gardening Club costs £10 a year. You'll get 10% off online orders, so it's worth considering if you're spending over £100. It also says you'll get £30 in money-off vouchers and exclusive member-only deals.

• Dobbies - 50+ stores across the UK. Its 'Club Plus' membership scheme costs £15 a year. You'll get 10% off off all plants, bulbs and seeds, so it's worth considering if you're spending over £150. You'll also get two free hot drinks in the restaurant every month, money off vouchers and priority booking for events.

Be calendar clever to save more cash

There are different jobs to do as the months go by, from planting bulbs and seedlings to weeding your garden. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has a detailed calendar of things to do each month and you can also find helpful tips by watching Gardeners' World on BBC 2.

Making sure you do the right jobs each season will give your garden the best chance to thrive, and will save you time and money over the years.

Get FREE plants by propagating

Propagating is, essentially, making new plants from the ones you already have. You can either keep the new plants, or offer to swap them with friends and neighbours to add more variety to your garden.

There are a number of different methods. You can take cuttings from a plant, which you then put into water or soil to grow roots. Another technique is to divide the root balls of plants in half.

How and when you propagate depends on the type of plant – some will be more successful at different times of the year. For example, you would divide dahlia tubers in spring and take rose cuttings in late summer. The RHS has lots of information on different propagation techniques.

Scour the streets for gardening freebies

In many neighbourhoods, it's an unwritten rule that something left on the pavement or wall outside a house means 'please take me'. Some people leave a 'free' sign on the item.

Occasionally, people will leave out plants and cuttings they no longer need, or even garden furniture.

Garden freebies spotted by MSE Jenny H near her home include a branded hose cart, plant pots, cushions and covers for garden furniture.

The Wombling thread on our forum has some more stories to inspire you, from a wheelbarrow to 1930s stained-glass windows.

Three things to consider when picking up a street freebie for the garden:

1. Consider Martin's Money Mantras. It might be free, but do you need it and will you use it? Otherwise you'll just end up with someone else's unwanted items.

2. Check it before taking it. Have a look at it and make sure it's in good working order.

3. Ask if you're not sure. There's nothing worse than taking something someone has put by their front door, which they were about to load into the car.

Give away your own unwanted plants, furniture and more

As well as keeping an eye out for freebies, you can stop plants, old garden tools and furniture from going to waste by giving away your own when they're no longer wanted.

MSE Sarah did just that – offering up a hydrangea plant on her neighbourhood Whatsapp group, which was snapped up by a green-fingered neighbour.

Buy bare root - it's cheaper

Bare root plants are sold with their roots exposed, rather than planted in a pot of soil. This makes them lighter, cheaper to transport and therefore cheaper to buy.

For example, a bare root Lady of Shalott rose at David Austin Roses is £23, but £33 if bought in a pot with soil.

It's worth noting, you can't plant bare root plants all year round, so they're usually only sold at certain times of year. For example, Thompson and Morgan says it sells them between November and March.

Bag free seeds by swapping with friends and neighbours

If you buy a pack of seeds, you'll often find you have more than you need. So ask neighbours or explore online to see if anyone in your area wants to swap seeds and seedlings (or any other plants).

You may find events going on at your local library or community centre:

You can also get seeds free with some gardening magazines, such as the BBC Gardeners' World magazine.

Reuse household waste instead of buying pricey products

Household waste can be reused in the garden in many ways. Here are some of the tips MoneySavers have shared with us:

• Loo rolls tubes can be used to plant seeds. You could also use the cardboard tubes from wrapping paper or kitchen roll, cut down to smaller sizes. The best part is, they're compostable, so can be planted directly outside once your seeds have sprouted.

• Butter containers can be used for micro herbs – punch holes in the bottom with a skewer and use the lid as a drip tray.

• Cardboard delivery boxes can be flattened and place over your compost heap to keep the sun off. This will stop weeds growing.

• Wool packaging that comes with meal delivery services can be used to pad out pots, as suggested in the MSE forum.

The RHS has more tips for reusing household waste in the garden, such as:

• Plastic food containers (such as the ones grapes come in) can be used as seed trays.

• Old net curtains can be used instead of horticultural fleece (to protect against weather and pests).

• Milk or squash bottles with the bottom cut off, can be inserted into the soil at the base of plants. If you water through them, you'll make sure the water gets to the roots.

  Like a lot of gardeners, I plant large seeds into loo roll tubes filled with compost. Seven fit into a large spready butter pack. I punch holes in the bottom for drainage and stand them on their lids.

  I reuse them each year. The toilet rolls are planted and compost down. It increases germination rates by stopping mice and birds eating them before germination.

  Lynne, via Facebook

You could also combine different containers to maximise your seed growing:

Make your own plant feeds for free - from nettles, banana skins and more

As well as making your own compost, you can save money by making your own plant feed or fertiliser, from nettles, comfrey plants, lawn clippings, bracken and more.

You'll need to harvest the plants, cut up the leaves and stems, then weigh them down in a bucket (preferably with a lid, as it may begin to smell). The resulting liquid can be used as plant feed. The RHS has lots of information on different types of fertiliser.

You can even use banana skins, as the potassium they contain is thought to help plants thrive.

Some people also put coffee grounds or cooled ash from an open fire (wood ash) on the compost heap. Coffee grounds are thought to contain nutrients like nitrogen and potassium while wood ash has potassium and lime.

Make your own trellis for climbing plants

Climbing plants can be a great way of adding height to your garden and using all the available space. But before you shell out on pre-made climbing frames or trellises, look around your house and have a go at cobbling something together yourself, as Essie told us on Facebook:

Swerve posh garden centres - independent nurseries or DIY stores can be cheaper

Garden centres full of posh handwash and scented candles are often the most expensive. Independent nurseries may be less glamorous, with just rows of plants, tools and seeds, but they're usually where you'll find cheaper prices.

Larger DIY stores, such as B&Q* also have garden sections. B&M has garden centres attached to its larger out-of-town stores. And there are often garden decoration sections in smaller stores, such as Home Bargains and The Range*.

Local hardware stores often sell gardening tools and some even stock seeds and soil. They're also useful if you need construction items such as nails or screws for garden building projects.

Check supermarkets for cheap plants

Don't overlook supermarkets as many will have plants for sale, particularly during the spring and summer months.

We spotted these tomato, chilli and cucumber plants for £1.25 a pot at Co-op in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire in April 2025.

Grow posh veg and be your own free Waitrose

You can save money by growing your own fruit and veg, but the biggest savings come from the more expensive produce, such as unusual lettuce and herbs.

Think about what you like to eat, and how much it costs at the supermarket. For example, potatoes and carrots are relatively cheap, but asparagus, raspberries and blueberries are more expensive.

Check stores for 'past their best' plants

Some garden centres have a past their best area, with plants that are less leafy or perhaps a bit less green. This can be a bargain goldmine, but you'll need to give them a bit of extra care.

Save seeds from your vegetables and 'regrow'

Once you've gone through your first season of plants, you can save the seeds, dry them out and try to regrow them. This is a trial and error process, but can be very rewarding.

For example, you can save pumpkin seeds if you're scooping out a Halloween pumpkin. You can do this with loads of fruit and vegetables, from squashes to tomatoes and peppers.

Make your own compost (or buy in bulk and share)

There's no getting around the fact you'll need compost to keep your garden thriving. But you have options to save money:

Make your own compost

This is a great way to get 'free' compost, but it's not an overnight process and also requires space – a compost heap can be up to a square metre. The RHS has useful information to help you get started, such as how to get the right mix of 'green' and 'brown' material.

If you want to do this, you could consider building your own compost heap (to save money, you could use old pallet wood) or buying a special composter where you'll put food and garden waste. You may be able to get a discounted composter via your local council.

Buy compost in bulk

If you think you'll want a lot of it, you could look into ordering your compost in bulk. This requires space (for example, having it delivered on to your driveway or garden) and planning ahead. If you don't have enough space, you could see if a green-fingered neighbour wants to split the cost.

We spotted 50 bags of 50L multi-purpose compost* for £319 at B&Q. That works out around 13p per litre. A single 50L bag was £12.99 (26p per litre). Always compare prices and make sure you're getting the best deal.

Plant flowers in advance for blooms in season

Flowers obviously need time to grow. So think about your planting in advance so you'll get the flowers you want at the time they bloom. For example, if you want Tulips in spring, you need to plant the bulbs between September and November.

Dahlias (pictured below), are grown from a bulb-like growth called a tuber, which you'll need to plant in May or June in order to get flowers from August to October. There is lots of advice on growing specific plants on the Gardeners' World website.

Grow flowers you can display at home or gift

There is huge joy (and MoneySaving smugness) – in being able to go into the garden with a pair of scissors or secateurs to cut some flowers to pop in a vase.

You can also gift flowers from your garden, instead of buying a bouquet at a supermarket or florist. For example, gift a bunch of home-grown tulips and you'll save £3.50 compared with buying them in Tesco.

There are lots of cheap and easier-to-grow flowers that you can grow from seed or buy and plant to then become a budding florist. Some flowers can also be cut and dried for year-round display, such as alliums.

Go for repeat flowering blooms – you’ll get more bang for your buck

'Repeat flowering' is the ideal for regular flowers. Sweet peas are an example. Simple, classic flowers that grow more when you pick them – in fact, you need to pick the flowers to keep the blooms returning on the plant. Cosmos, cornflower and zinnia are others that will grow easily and could be dried too.

One-off blooms are flowers you can grow and pick but 'once they're gone, they're gone'. When you've picked the flower, that's it, no new flower will grow. Peonies are an example of this.

Look after your tools to make 'em last

If you've invested in gardening tools, the best MoneySaving way to avoid buying more is to look after them. The RHS has detailed advice on cleaning and sharpening.

Key things to do regularly include using a stiff scrubbing brush to clean soil from blades, cleaning off dried-on sap from secateurs with a nylon pan scourer or wire wool, and storing tools in a clean, dry place.

Forumite in_my_wellies also has this tip for plastic equipment:

No butts... save on water, too

You can save money (and help the environment) by using rainwater to water your plants, instead of tap water. You may be able to get a free or discounted water butt from your local council or water supplier.

The RHS has tips on collecting, storing and reusing water for your garden.

Do a budget garden makeover with pre-loved finds

Buying pots, furniture and decorations for your garden can start to add up. Here are places to find free or cheap decorations and furniture:

• Charity shops. Check out the bric-a-brac section for different pots and decorations. See more in MSE Jenny H's Charity shops blog.

• Vinted. Use keywords such as 'garden', 'lantern' and 'lights' to find decorations. Be mindful to check whether the item is still available online for new, and compare prices before you commit. Find out more in Vinted buying and selling.

• Facebook Marketplace. Lots of people use Facebook Marketplace to give away gardening gear for free (or very cheap). It's worth checking outside of the garden search term too, as some people list furniture for the home, which needs some upcycling but might work in your garden.
  
  Try searching Marketplace when you're visiting family or friends, as there may be items in their area you've not seen in your own. See Facebook buying tips.

• Reclamation or salvage yards. It can be great fun going round a reclamation yard and they often have more niche items like statues. If you are researching something in particular then you may find it at a yard. Be prepared to haggle as the items are all second hand and often from house clearances.

• Car boot sales. As well as furniture and garden decorations, many people also sell seedlings at car boot sales. See Car boot sale tips and tricks.

• Reuse your own 'junk'. When it comes to the garden, always ask 'How else might I use this?' before you chuck something away. Can a broken pot be used in a bug hotel, for example?

Follow MSE for garden discounts

Want to be first to know about garden discounts? Sign up to the MSE weekly email for the latest discounts and keep an eye on our Home, Garden and Pets deals page as well as our gardening discounts page.

Visit established gardens for 'free' inspiration

Large, historic gardens are examples of plants, layout and using colour schemes. Look out for ways to get free or reduced entry. For example, May's issue of Gardener's World magazine offered a 2for1 gardens pass to hundreds of gardens across the UK each year.

When deals are available, we'll include them on our Cheap Days Out page.