8 Home Gardening Tips amp Ideas to Grow More amp Reduce Waste
8 Home Gardening Tips & Ideas to Grow More & Reduce Waste Skip to content
Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an average return of 397%. For $79 (or just $1.52 per week), join more than 1 million members and don't miss their upcoming stock picks. 30 day money-back guarantee. Sign Up Now
Loose seeds provide the widest variety and are the cheapest option. At least 20 or more seeds generally come in a pack, and some packs contain hundreds. For many crops, you won’t need to use all your seeds in one season – but don’t throw them away. According to Oregon State University Extension Service, many seeds can last from one to five years or longer if stored in a cool, dry place. Buying long-life seeds and using them over multiple growing seasons translates into a good long-term garden investment, reducing your costs to pennies or less per plant. However, raising an entire garden from seeds is not for everyone, especially people with limited experience or issues with time and space. Planting seeds is a longer garden-to-plate process than using starter plants, and requires more skill, knowledge, and work. It often means getting started earlier in the season, depending on crops’ planting times. For example, eggplant and peppers need to be started about eight weeks before your last frost. Like many other seeds, they need to be started indoors where you can control growing conditions. Starting indoors requires sufficient amounts of adequately lit space. According to Burpee, if you can’t expose your seeds to 6 to 10 hours of sunlight, you need to use fluorescent or full-spectrum lights, which generally have to be on for 12 to 16 hours per day. Heavy reliance on seeds is best for experienced gardeners or those with a lot of time. If you’re busy or have limited space, use seeds primarily for crops you can’t get as starter plants. Focusing strictly on costs could still result in wasted money because your garden could get out of hand before it’s off to a good start. Seed Pods
These growing kits allow you to start at the seed stage but are easier and more convenient to work with than loose seeds. The fertilizer and all growing materials are included in the pod, and the seeds are already positioned so you don’t have to worry about digging and placing them at the proper depth. Simply push the seed pod into dirt, and water it until your plants grow. Seed pods are more expensive than loose seeds, yet cheaper than many starter plants. In 2015, I bought Miracle-Gro Gro-ables pods for about $1 each. One pod usually produces two or more plants, so it averages out to paying cents per plant. However, some negatives with seed pods are limited selection of crops and a shelf life of less than year. Seed pods also have many of the same challenges as loose seeds, including the need to weed around tiny seedlings when started in the ground. Seed pods are a good option when you only need a few plants, especially if you don’t have anyone to split a pack of loose seeds with – but the seeds have a single season lifespan, like spinach seeds. Starter Plants
Buying starter plants is the quickest, easiest way to start a garden. Since you don’t have to wait and see if a plant emerges, it also provides the most certainty. Crops in cell packs often average out to less than $1 per plant and may even be cheaper than seed pods. Otherwise, starter plants are the most expensive planting option. Plants sold individually generally cost several dollars each, which can add up fast if that’s the only way you stock a large garden. With that said, starter plants save a lot of time. You can begin gardening weeks or months after seed-sowers and still harvest about the same time. It’s an ideal choice for most of a busy gardener’s needs. Whatever your choices, start small and expand your garden size as you gain experience. Also, grow things you like to eat – too often, people get excited by the options and waste money on crops they don’t use.
What do you want to do br with money
Popular Searches
Learn more about your money
Make Money
You need it. Learn how to make it. ExploreManage Money
You've got it. Learn what to do with it. ExploreSave Money
You have it. Make sure you have some later too. ExploreSpend Money
You're spending it. Get the most for it. ExploreBorrow Money
You're borrowing it. Do it wisely. ExploreProtect Money
You don't want to lose it. Learn how to keep it safe. ExploreInvest Money
You're saving it. Now put it to work for your future. ExploreCategories
About us
Find us
Close menuWhat do you want to do br with money
Popular Searches
Learn more about your money
Make Money
You need it. Learn how to make it. ExploreManage Money
You've got it. Learn what to do with it. ExploreSave Money
You have it. Make sure you have some later too. ExploreSpend Money
You're spending it. Get the most for it. ExploreBorrow Money
You're borrowing it. Do it wisely. ExploreProtect Money
You don't want to lose it. Learn how to keep it safe. ExploreInvest Money
You're saving it. Now put it to work for your future. ExploreCategories
About us
Find us
Close menu Advertiser Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card and banking offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies and banks from which MoneyCrashers.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they appear on category pages. MoneyCrashers.com does not include all banks, credit card companies or all available credit card offers, although best efforts are made to include a comprehensive list of offers regardless of compensation. Advertiser partners include American Express, Chase, U.S. Bank, and Barclaycard, among others. Home Improvement8 Home Gardening Tips & Ideas to Grow More & Reduce Waste
By Michelle Smith Date November 01, 2022FEATURED PROMOTION
Food gardening was once viewed as an activity generally restricted to the elderly and country bumpkins. However, growing fruits, vegetables, berries, and herbs has become increasingly popular for many people. According to the National Gardening Association, 35% of U.S. households grew food at home or in community gardens in 2013, a 17% increase compared to 2008. During that period, the number of millennial gardeners grew more than other age groups, and urban gardens outnumbered those in rural areas. The savings that can be enjoyed by growing your own food have certainly contributed to this increased interest, but they’re not the only reason. More people have come to realize that homegrown foods taste better and allow for a certain degree of control over food quality concerns, including the use of pesticides and artificial additives. Gardening can make a real difference for your fridge and your finances. According to the National Gardening Association, you can grow a half-pound of produce per square foot of garden space. And in 2008, on average, gardeners earned a $530 return on a $70 investment in a garden. However, the key to those results is a well-maintained plot. Growing food is commonly oversimplified, and many people start without a strategy or a realistic idea of the time and money that’s required. Some suffer through season after season of disappointing results, while others get disillusioned and quit gardening altogether. Thankfully, whether you retired your gardening gloves after one season or you’re seeking a better outcome, there are many ways to improve.Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an average return of 397%. For $79 (or just $1.52 per week), join more than 1 million members and don't miss their upcoming stock picks. 30 day money-back guarantee. Sign Up Now
1 Learn Your Environment
Many people randomly pick a spot, start planting, and wait for food to grow. Plants have preferences though, and gardeners shouldn’t ignore them. Before you start a home garden, you should analyze your location and consider what kind of plants you’re trying to grow. Check plant packages and catalog descriptions for details on ideal conditions for sunlight, water, planting zones, and more.Assess Sunlight and Shade
Determine how much sun exposure your garden gets before you decide where or what to plant. Most food-bearing plants prefer between 6 and 10 hours of sun exposure per day. And some crops, such as citrus trees, need special care in prolonged or intense sunlight. For example, if a citrus tree’s trunk and freshly pruned limbs aren’t protected, they become susceptible to “sunscald” and the incurable “sooty mold disease.” Some edibles tolerate partial shade, which ranges from four to six hours, but the plants often grow smaller, render smaller produce, and are less productive. When planting in shady areas, you may need to increase the number of plants you grow to get the desired yield. However, that may be a worthwhile tradeoff because fewer weeds grow in shade. Crops that grow well in shade include the following: Arctic Beauty kiwi Mushrooms Mints Kale and watercress Potatoes Celery BasilKnow Your Zone
The U.S. is divided into planting zones that show which plants are likely to thrive in each area. Use the USDA ZIP Code search tool to identify your zone, or look for a zone chart in a plant catalog. Trying to raise crops outside the recommended zone is a gamble. And in many cases, unless you’re willing to invest in simulating the appropriate conditions, it’s almost a sure waste of money. Yes, citrus trees may survive outside of their zone, but getting them to bear fruit is a different story.Know Your Soil Type
Soil can be sandy, clay, or loamy, which determines how well your plants grow and how prone you may be to experiencing plant diseases and root rot. To determine what you’re working with, grab some soil, wet it, and try to form a ball. Armstrong Garden Center says soil that crumbles or doesn’t hold shape is sandy. Soil that’s slick and stays tight is clay, and soil that forms a loose ball is loamy. Many gardening stores can also help you identify your soil type. Plants do best in loamy soil, which has a proper balance of clay, silt, and sand and provides good drainage. If your soil is clay or sandy, add soil amendments, such as compost or peat moss, to add nutrients and correct its structure. Or, consider container or raised-bed gardening with purchased soil.Get a Soil Test
Before starting an in-ground garden, conduct a soil test – and re-test it at least every three years. The results tell you about characteristics that affect fertility, such as organic matter content and pH, nutrient, and salt levels. A soil test can shed light on past growing difficulties so you know how to correct issues instead of taking wild guesses. Soil problems include elevated levels of heavy metals, such as aluminum, which can be toxic to plants. Or, soil may have inadequate nutrients, such as phosphorus. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, phosphorus deficiency can result in stunted plant growth. A soil test also helps determine which crops are appropriate for which soil. For example, according to Purdue University Extension, many plants thrive in soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5, but that isn’t ideal for blueberries, which like soil acidity levels as low as 4.5. A plant’s package should tell you what type of soil it prefers. If not, check an almanac or conduct a quick Internet search. Additional garden plots or containers may be necessary to accommodate crops’ differing soil preferences. Soil tests are available at gardening centers, through local cooperative extensions, and soil testing labs at universities.Assess Other Factors
You should also consider additional factors that may affect your gardening decisions. For example, the threat of chemical runoff from a field or neighboring yard, or soil contamination caused by past industrial activities like mining, may mean it’s most appropriate for you to opt for container gardening or a raised-bed garden. Other factors to consider include elevation, the location of your septic system, your garden’s distance from a water supply, and proximity to large, established trees that compete for water and nutrients.2 Use Better Planting Strategies
Once you assess environmental factors, such as growing zone and soil, it’s time to focus on your planting strategy.Container Gardening
According to the National Gardening Association, container gardening grew 46% between 2008 and 2013. Container gardening is easier than in-ground gardening in many respects. Since you’re using potting mix, you don’t have to prepare your soil before getting started. You are likely to have far fewer issues with weeds, if any at all, and it’s easier to protect container crops from threats, such as animals and wind or frost damage. Container gardening resolves issues with space, allowing people to start gardens on patios, decks, rooftops, and in other alternative settings. Raising a container garden can also help you avoid the following problems: Lack of adequate sunlight in the yard Water availability issues, such as water restrictions Soil problems, such excessive lead and zinc Physical challenges that limit a gardener’s mobility Limited time to devote to the demands of in-ground gardening Of course container gardening still requires planning and work, and involves a unique set of considerations: Drainage. If you select containers that don’t drain properly, you can drown your plants. Always use containers that allow proper water flow, with holes around the bottom outer sides. If most of the holes are beneath the container, you must elevate it, at least on one side.Soil Porosity. Soil structure is especially important with container gardening, as it also affects proper drainage. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension explains that soil in containers has less capillary pull to encourage moisture downward, and the lack of porous soil encourages fungi that can rot your plants’ roots. Soil porosity also affects aeration. Your plants must have the proper amount of air circulating through the soil to grow properly.Container Size. According to the Cornell University Cooperative Extension, many new gardeners underestimate the size container necessary for full-grown plants. Crowded roots can lead to stunted growth and reduce or prevent yield. Water also evaporates more quickly from containers than the ground, so if you slack on watering, you may be harvesting dried plants instead of food. When getting started, use cheap materials such as trash cans, buckets, and plastic pots – just remember to add holes to the bottom. If you find you’re not committed to gardening, you won’t have wasted much money. Many people have learned the hard way just how much container gardening can cost. Consider the amount you spend on containers, trellises, soil, and other materials as investments. If you spend hundreds of dollars, how many years must you garden to see a return? I have a friend who spent about $270 on fancy containers and soil for one season, and then decided gardening wasn’t her thing. That doesn’t even include the cost of the plants. She would have done much better to experiment with in-ground gardening first.Seeds vs Starter Plants
You can stock your garden using seeds, seed pods, or starter plants. Your choices influence your costs, workload, and crop selection. SeedsLoose seeds provide the widest variety and are the cheapest option. At least 20 or more seeds generally come in a pack, and some packs contain hundreds. For many crops, you won’t need to use all your seeds in one season – but don’t throw them away. According to Oregon State University Extension Service, many seeds can last from one to five years or longer if stored in a cool, dry place. Buying long-life seeds and using them over multiple growing seasons translates into a good long-term garden investment, reducing your costs to pennies or less per plant. However, raising an entire garden from seeds is not for everyone, especially people with limited experience or issues with time and space. Planting seeds is a longer garden-to-plate process than using starter plants, and requires more skill, knowledge, and work. It often means getting started earlier in the season, depending on crops’ planting times. For example, eggplant and peppers need to be started about eight weeks before your last frost. Like many other seeds, they need to be started indoors where you can control growing conditions. Starting indoors requires sufficient amounts of adequately lit space. According to Burpee, if you can’t expose your seeds to 6 to 10 hours of sunlight, you need to use fluorescent or full-spectrum lights, which generally have to be on for 12 to 16 hours per day. Heavy reliance on seeds is best for experienced gardeners or those with a lot of time. If you’re busy or have limited space, use seeds primarily for crops you can’t get as starter plants. Focusing strictly on costs could still result in wasted money because your garden could get out of hand before it’s off to a good start. Seed Pods
These growing kits allow you to start at the seed stage but are easier and more convenient to work with than loose seeds. The fertilizer and all growing materials are included in the pod, and the seeds are already positioned so you don’t have to worry about digging and placing them at the proper depth. Simply push the seed pod into dirt, and water it until your plants grow. Seed pods are more expensive than loose seeds, yet cheaper than many starter plants. In 2015, I bought Miracle-Gro Gro-ables pods for about $1 each. One pod usually produces two or more plants, so it averages out to paying cents per plant. However, some negatives with seed pods are limited selection of crops and a shelf life of less than year. Seed pods also have many of the same challenges as loose seeds, including the need to weed around tiny seedlings when started in the ground. Seed pods are a good option when you only need a few plants, especially if you don’t have anyone to split a pack of loose seeds with – but the seeds have a single season lifespan, like spinach seeds. Starter Plants
Buying starter plants is the quickest, easiest way to start a garden. Since you don’t have to wait and see if a plant emerges, it also provides the most certainty. Crops in cell packs often average out to less than $1 per plant and may even be cheaper than seed pods. Otherwise, starter plants are the most expensive planting option. Plants sold individually generally cost several dollars each, which can add up fast if that’s the only way you stock a large garden. With that said, starter plants save a lot of time. You can begin gardening weeks or months after seed-sowers and still harvest about the same time. It’s an ideal choice for most of a busy gardener’s needs. Whatever your choices, start small and expand your garden size as you gain experience. Also, grow things you like to eat – too often, people get excited by the options and waste money on crops they don’t use.