Want to save money in the garden? These articles provide tips on thrifty ways to recycle everyday materials, get free plants, make your own fertilisers and organic pest remedies and loads more. I share ways to tread lighter on the planet and your wallet!

Clever Plant Container Ideas

DIY – Make Your Own Garden Planters

Why buy new when you can DIY and save money? Need a little inspiration to get your garden started in a container? Check out what some amazingly creative people around the globe have used to grow a garden in – just about everything!

School desk edible planter - just one of many Clever Plant Container Ideas @ www.themicrogardener.com

This old desk school desk has a new life in the garden as an edible planter filled with luscious lettuces, shallots and colourful flowers.

Ideas for Repurposed Planters … INCLUDING the Kitchen Sink!

Stuck for where to start? Looking for inspiration for what to grow your next garden in? Look no further! I hope you like these creative planters as much as I do.

Porcelain planters seem to be quite popular in some gardens.

A new meaning for ‘potted’ plants! These old toilet cisterns have also been given a new life as planters. Porcelain is long lasting and with built in drainage, their prior lives could be concealed behind other plants or a bamboo screen around the base.

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Anne Gibson2022-10-17T08:21:21+10:00Categories: Clever Design Ideas, Container Gardening, Container Ideas, Frugal Gardening, Repurposed Planters|Tags: Container gardening, Frugal gardening, repurposed planters, small garden design|33 Comments

Repurposed Container Gardens – Turn Trash into Treasure

Ever wonder why some people’s gardens look so beautiful, full of character and have that special charm? If you look closely at pictures in garden magazines or visit open gardens and nurseries, you’ll notice one of the clever design tricks they use is adding interesting features, repurposed containers and collections.

Small courtyard garden with good design creates an appealing space to enjoy.

This small courtyard garden is a good example of clever design and use of a collection of new and old pots. A seating area, water fountain, screening plants and coordinated colours also help unify this tiny space.

These little touches help to:

unify a garden
give it focus
create a theme
reflect your personality
add character

and enhance the visual appeal so you want to spend time in that special space.

“Designing your garden space is even more important if you have a micro garden.”

With a limited space and budget, it’s not always possible to buy new plant containers or garden art but you can still achieve a dream look and great functional growing spaces by ‘turning old into new.’ You don’t need special skills – just a little inspiration … and perhaps a little time to hunt around for the right object.

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Anne Gibson2018-04-19T18:04:55+10:00Categories: Clever Design Ideas, Container Gardening, Container Ideas, Frugal Gardening, Repurposed Planters|Tags: Container gardening, Frugal gardening, repurposed planters, small garden design|4 Comments

Ten Benefits of Using Repurposed Planters

Don’t have the time or money to buy a new pot or build a garden bed? It’s much easier than you may think to find the perfect container without costing an arm and a leg! If you’re not in the habit of finding ‘new ways with old things,’ read on to find out why you should consider reusing what you’ve already got. Repurposed planters may be just the solution.

Twinings Tea Tin Windowsill Planters - Items you might otherwise throw away can be useful plant containers instead. | The Micro Gardener

These quaint little metal Twinings vintage tea tins have been reused as small herb pots. They make a cute set of windowsill planters. To avoid rust damage, sit metal tins on a tray to catch water from the drainage holes.

1. Save money/make money

Turning ‘trash into treasure’ is one sure way to be thrifty in the garden. If you don’t have to buy a container, you can keep your money in your purse for plants or other garden supplies you really need to buy. Being creative with your hands and making attractive, affordable planters, potting benches and unique pots for other gardeners may also be a niche market to make money or raise funds for a worthy project. (more…)

Anne Gibson2022-10-17T08:18:07+10:00Categories: Clever Design Ideas, Container Gardening, Container Ideas, Frugal Gardening, Repurposed Planters|Tags: Benefits of container gardens, Frugal gardening, repurposed planters, Save money|5 Comments

Revitalising & Re-using Old Potting Mix

Do you garden in containers? If so, revitalising old potting mix and checking your pots on a regular basis are essential routine maintenance activities for ongoing plant health. If you are starting to see problems in your plants, it’s probably time to check what they’re growing in!

This is a trouble shooting article to help you improve your potting mix and solve some common problems.

Revitalising and re-using old potting mix

Can you Reuse Old Potting Mix? If so, HOW?

One of the principles of Frugal Gardening involves RE-USING materials = less waste and reduces our footprint on the planet. It also has the added benefit of saving us money!

Bags of commercial potting mix can be quite expensive particularly if you have lots of pots. It also dries out fast and your plants suffer.

Making your own homemade potting mix make sense (and cents)! Why? Because it lasts longer, provides all your plant needs and contains no nasty chemical additives like water crystals and soil wetters. Re-using your old potting mix definitely is more satisfying, sustainable and cost-effective. (more…)

Anne Gibson2019-02-01T13:30:52+10:00Categories: Container Gardening, Frugal Gardening, Garden Maintenance, Planning & Design, Problem Solving|Tags: Container gardening, Frugal gardening, Potting Mix, Problem Solving, Re-potting plants|22 Comments

Frugal Gardening – How to Get Plants for Free!

It’s a fact of life that these economic times mean we need to find ways to save money everywhere!

You can get seedlings and plants cheap or even free if you know where to look!

Savvy gardeners are always looking for clever ways to be thrifty in the garden as well as learn from others who are willing to share their knowledge.

Experienced gardeners often have the best tips of all and will save you wasting money in the garden making unnecessary mistakes. Learning some simple techniques, sharing and swapping with others and taking advantage of nature’s abundance are just some of the strategies in a frugal gardener’s toolbox!

If you are thinking of adding a fruit tree or two, some edible veggies and herbs or potted colour, buying all these at retail prices will obviously add up very quickly. If you want decorative pots or containers for them all to go in, then you might need deep pockets! Once you have all these wonderful species growing, do you have the knowledge to care for them all so they yield you the maximum harvest?

“There are loads of ways to get the garden of your dreams without breaking the budget.”

Homegrown fresh produce saves $ off the weekly food bill

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Anne Gibson2020-12-22T14:17:20+10:00Categories: Frugal Gardening, Tips & Tricks|Tags: Frugal gardening, Plants for free|15 Comments

Frugal Gardening – 5 Thrifty Recycling Ideas

Frugal gardening is about finding creative ways to save money. Need some ideas for making your own garden supplies rather than buying new? These tips will help inspire you with simple steps you can take.

Frugal Gardening – 5 Thrifty Recycling Tips. Make your own garden supplies to save money.

Pots and containers, seed raisers, plant labels, watering cans and sprayers are some of most commonly used garden supplies. There are many household items you may have been putting in your recycle or rubbish bin, without realizing their real value. You can start saving and repurposing many everyday items and turn them into useful supplies instead. Implementing even one or two of these tips will keep your money in your purse for longer, so dig in!

Creative cost-saving containers are only limited by your imagination! Like this upcycled toolbox with rustic garden tools.

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Anne Gibson2021-07-07T13:45:28+10:00Categories: Container Ideas, Frugal Gardening|Tags: DIY projects, Frugal gardening, Garden supplies, Recycling, Save money|10 Comments

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Clever Plant Container Ideas

DIY – Make Your Own Garden Planters

Ideas for Repurposed Planters … INCLUDING the Kitchen Sink!

Repurposed Container Gardens – Turn Trash into Treasure

Ten Benefits of Using Repurposed Planters

1. Save money/make money

Revitalising & Re-using Old Potting Mix

Can you Reuse Old Potting Mix? If so, HOW?

Frugal Gardening – How to Get Plants for Free!

Frugal Gardening – 5 Thrifty Recycling Ideas

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