With the economy the way it is, home gardening is on the rise. Personally, we started gardening this year and are prepared to reap the benefits soon! While preparing and maintaining a garden is hard work, it is also rewarding… emotionally, physically, and can be easy on the wallet! Here are some quick key lessons I’ve learned to help me garden on a budget…

1. Select an area for your garden/Size of your garden– Always consider the amount of space you will have to garden (including a “working” area for you to move around in). Whether it’s a small section or a large space, make sure iron out exactly how much space you’ll have for your garden.

2. Research your options– With the internet at your fingertips, you can google anything! It takes no time to figure out what you’ll need to prepare for your garden!

3. Consider the climate– Before you select which vegetables you would like to plant, consider the weather! The last thing you want to do is to invest in planting a vegetable in the wrong season/weather (only to find nothing growing and wasting your time/money)!

4. Select your vegetables– When selecting your vegetable that you would like to plant, consider the amount of space you’ll need and what work will be involved.

5. Determine a budget– Figure out as much of the costs up front as you can. Depending on your space, consider things like Will you select raised beds? Do you have all of the gardening tools you’ll need? How will you protect your garden? Here are a few budget-friendly alternatives to consider when preparing your garden…

• Landscape Cloth (for weed prevention) = Newspaper
• Landscape Stakes/Spikes = Wire Hangers
• Buying Gardening Tools = Borrow Tools (if possible)
• Buying a Trellis = Use Old Broomsticks or Wood

6. Keep a journal– Keep track of everything you’re doing, particularly if this is your first time! This helps you keep track of potentially costly mistakes and help you make better decisions or alternatives for the next season! See an example journal on Amazon.

7. Involve the Family– First… cheap labor! Second, it helps create family memories together and bonding. Third, if you consider the family’s opinions/input, the more interested in it they will become. If you allow the kids make suggestions about planting certain vegetables and allow them to help out in the garden, the more likely they are to eat them!

With our fingers crossed we will have a successful garden this season! Hopefully these frugal gardening tips will help inspire and motivate some to consider gardening. It has truly been a blessing for my family and hope that it is for yours as well!

Cristi, author of The King’s Court IV is a full-time working, wife and mother of 2 who’s been blogging since December 2009. The goal of The King’s Court IV is to provide lots of money-saving tips, great store deals, fabulous recipes, and share the stories of family life for all to enjoy!

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