Tips for Gardening on the Cheap by B Hawkins

* When you divide your plants, share extras with others. And maybe they will share their extras with you.

* Share or exchange seeds with friends or neighbors.

* Grow plants from seeds.

* Reuse the pots that you get when you purchase plants from a nursery.

* Compost.

* Start plants from cuttings.

* Go to garage sales or auctions. Sometimes you can pick up nice gardening equipment for next to nothing.

* Start a neighborhood tool exchange.

* Purchase trees or shrubs in the fall when they are on sale.

* When planting in large containers, put packing peanuts or aluminum cans in the bottom to lessen the weight and the amount of soil you use.

* Harvest your own seeds.

* Save water....catch the rain.

* Use plastic knives and a permanent marker to make plant markers.

* Old pantyhose make good plant ties.

* Use empty plastic pop bottles to make a drip system. Cut the bottom off the bottom, leave the cap on, and poke a couple small holes in the "shoulder" of the bottle. Place the bottle by the plant, and fill. The water will drip out slow.

* Use plastic water jugs or empty juice jugs to mix up liquid fertilizer. Drill holes in the top of the lid for watering.

* Use paper egg cartons in the bottom of pots. Not only will this take less dirt to fill the pot, it also will retain extra moisture.

* Freecycle.org

* Check with local nursery's or landscaping business to see if they have leftovers. You might be able to get them at a discount.

* Use paper egg cartons to start seedlings. You can just cut them apart when ready to plant. The carton will disintegrate and will also help retain moisture.

* Use a toilet paper tube, cut it in half. Make 4-6 1" vertical cuts in one side of the tube. Fold these tabs in to create a bottom. Use these to start seeds, and they can be planted like the egg cartons above.

* Use a milk jug to start seeds. Cut a gallon jug in half horizontally, but only cut 3 sides. Punch drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom half with 2-3" of soil. Fold the top of the jug over for a lid.

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