Gardening on a Budget: How to Get Started Without Spending a Fortune
A lot of people skip starting a garden because they assume it’s too expensive. They picture buying seeds, plants, soil amendments, tomato cages, and all sorts of tools. Sure, gardening can be pricey—but it doesn’t have to be.
If you want to grow your own food without breaking the bank, there are plenty of ways to get gardening supplies cheaply or even for free.
Tracking down some of these free alternatives might take a little extra time and planning, but if you want your garden to save you money, give my tips a try—you’ll be surprised how much you can get for free!
Here are 9 gardening supplies you can get absolutely free!
1. Mulch
Mulching is a game-changer for any garden. It keeps weeds at bay, locks in moisture, and protects soil from erosion. Plus, if you mulch in the fall, you might not even need to till later. Best of all? You can find mulch for free in lots of places:
- Grass clippings – Save what you mow, or ask neighbors if they bag theirs.
- Newspaper – Great for blocking weeds! Check with local stores for leftover papers or collect old ones from your office.
- Wood chips – Many tree services are happy to drop off extra chips for free—just call around.
- Fall leaves – Stockpile them for summer mulch or use them right away. Neighbors who bag their leaves might gladly hand them over.
- Freecycle or Craigslist – Always worth a look!
2. Compost
Healthy soil needs nutrients, and compost is the perfect fix. Here’s how to get it for free:
- DIY compost – Start a pile in your yard, bury scraps directly in the garden, or try a worm bin under the sink. Don’t toss those food scraps—they’re garden gold!
- Chopped leaves – Another great nutrient source (see mulch ideas above).
- Manure & used hay – Check Freecycle, Craigslist, or local farms—many give it away if you haul it yourself.
3. Seeds
No seeds, no garden. But you don’t have to pay top dollar for them:
Seed exchanges – Join one! Even if you don’t have seeds to swap now, save some from this year’s harvest to share later.
Store-bought produce – Save seeds from organic fruits/veggies (melons, tomatoes, peppers, etc.). Skip conventional ones—they often don’t grow well.
Last year’s seeds – Some stores toss out old seed packets. Ask nicely, and you might score them for free.
4. Plant Starts
Starting from seed can be tricky, but free plants are out there:
- Store leftovers – Nurseries often toss wilted seedlings. We once scored 50 free sweet potato and zucchini plants—they perked up fine once planted!
- Barter with friends – Trade skills or favors for their extra seedlings.
- Regrow kitchen scraps – Plant onion roots, celery ends, or sprouted potatoes/sweet potatoes.
5. Plant Cuttings
Some plants multiply easily from cuttings:
- Berries & herbs – Blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries send out shoots or runners. Rosemary roots in water.
- Ask neighbors – Overgrown berry patches often have free suckers to dig up.
- Wild plants – If you have wild blackberries, transplant some (with permission if not on your property).
- Tomato suckers – Snip them off, root in soil, and grow new plants!
6. Seed Starting Containers
Skip pricey pots—repurpose instead:
- Yogurt cups, milk cartons, egg cartons – Just poke drainage holes and fill with soil.
- Newspaper pots – Fold old papers into plantable pots.
- Freecycle/Craigslist – People often give away unused pots.
7. Bamboo
Perfect for stakes, trellises, or bean tunnels. Look for:
- Overgrown patches – Bamboo spreads fast; many people want it gone (check Freecycle/Craigslist).
- Cut your own – If you spot some growing wild (with permission).
8. Pallets
Turn them into trellises, compost bins, or even vertical gardens:
- Feed stores/breweries – They often have extras.
- Roadside finds – Businesses sometimes leave pallets by dumpsters.
- Facebook Marketplace/Freecycle – Goldmines for free pallets!
9. Tools
You don’t need fancy gear to garden:
- Skip the tiller – Heavy mulching means no tilling needed.
- Weed by hand – Your fingers are free (and effective!).
- Repurpose household items – A spoon works as a trowel!
- Borrow or barter – Need a tool? Ask a neighbor.
- Freecycle/Craigslist – Post what you need—someone might have it.
Final Tip
Follow these ideas, and you could get almost everything for free—meaning your homegrown food costs nothing too! How do you save money on gardening?