Gardens can take as much of your time and money as you let them, but Burke’s Backyard recently featured an award winning garden developed on a tight budget. Budget gardeners Molly and Neil McCloskey of Corrimal, NSW, have some useful tips on how to garden without breaking the bank.
When Molly and Neil moved into their new home, inkweed and thistles covered the garden and Neil says “the only lawn mower that had ever seen the place was the sheep”. In just seven years and for around $200 Neil has made a lush and well designed garden.
Neil’s budget tips
1. Propagate your own plants from cuttings or from seed.
2. Turn discarded items into garden elements – eg. Neil transformed the frames of some screen doors into a garden arch.
3. Take advantage of free plant offers from local councils or gifts of plants for Christmas.
4. Browse plant stalls, local plant societies, or watch out for sales at nurseries or supermarkets.
5. Collect your rainwater. Tanks may be expensive but rainwater can also be piped into fishponds.
6. Visit yards where recycled building materials are cheaper to buy.
Check with your local council for details of the free plant scheme and locations of your nearest garden clubs. Local newspapers and nurseries may also be able to put you in contact with specialty garden clubs.