Top 10 Tips for your Dirt Cheap Garden

1.  Decent Soil

If you are going to put money anywhere, this is the place to do it.  Quality soil  will make
a big difference in the health of your plants.

2.  Garden Tools.

You really don't need to spend much money here.  We have accumulated a shed full of
tools over the years, but for my vegetable garden we use only 5 tools on a routine basis:

Large shovel
Small shovel
Rake
Pruning shears
Watering can

You can buy used garden tools at garage sales and flea markets.  Or try using the
Freecycle  network.

3.  Fertilizer

Your plants need food and access to vitamins and minerals just as you do. You don't
need to buy expensive fertilizer, you can easily make your own from a variety of sources
using composting and manure.

4.  Natural Pest Control

Make your own homemade pesticide using garlic.
This natural insecticide is effective on many garden pests.
Mix 4 or 5 cloves crushed garlic, 1/4 cup canola oil, 4 tablespoons hot pepper sauce and
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap in one gallon of water.  Mix well and apply with spray bottle.

Vinegar - use vinegar to deter ants and keep cats away.  Just remember that vinegar can
kill your plants, so be careful where you use it. 


5.  Weed Control

Vinegar
Spray on full strength to kill weeds. 
You can use it between bricks or paver stones to kill weeds and grass.

Salt
Salt will also kill grass and weeds between bricks and will deter re-growth.


6.  Natural Pest Control

Use your kitchen scraps and coffee grinds. 


7.  Seeds

Save the seeds from your plants or from store-bought produce. Use old or expired seeds,
just plant a few more in case they don't all sprout.
 
8.  Seedlings

Save your seedling containers from year to year for the following year.  Or use cardboard
egg crates to germinate your seeds. 

9.  Gardening Gloves

To extend the life of gardening gloves that wear out at the tips of the fingers, turn them
inside out and line the tips with duct tape.  You can get another season out of the same
gloves. 

10.  Water

Collect rainwater to water your garden.  Use a direct watering method such as drip
irrigation.

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