How green fingers can keep a tight hold of the purse strings

With holidays on hold, 2020 is turning out to be the year of the great garden getaway, with people’s appreciation of their own patch of outdoor space blossoming as they’ve not been able to venture far from home.

More than half of people in the UK have been taking up gardening since coronavirus restrictions were imposed. Picture: iStock/PA

Some 85 per cent of people across the UK have been carrying out some form of home improvements during lockdown, according to a survey by Aviva – and while decluttering is the most popular activity, gardening came a close second, with more than half (52 per cent) of people testing out their green fingers.

Like all things though, gardening costs can easily add up – so whether you’re an experienced gardener, or getting your hands dirty for the first time, here are some tips for saving money.

Grow your own vegetables

Growing your own veg can be a great way to save some cash and help you trim your regular supermarket bill. Even if you haven’t got a patch of soil to dig into, you could grow herbs in pots on windowsills or grow vegetables in larger pots or troughs.

You could also experiment using seeds from vegetables that are already in your kitchen. It may be a bit hit and miss, but it won’t be an expensive mistake if it doesn’t work out.

Grow your savings by starting small with your plants

Large, mature plants may look great in the shop, but you could save a fortune by sowing from seed or buying smaller plants that will grow bigger in time.

Multiply your existing plants to make savings

If you’ve got empty spaces in your garden to fill, try creating more plants from those you’ve already got. Try taking cuttings to create new plants. You may want to use a rooting hormone to help them along. Or divide up clumps of leafy plants such as irises to create more.

Re-use old containers

Use what you’ve already got to hand – whether you’re growing seedlings in empty yoghurt pots or cans, or making a mini watering can out of an old plastic milk bottle.

Make your own compost

Turn your waste from your garden and kitchen into something useful. There are plenty of tips available online for making your own compost.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) website (rhs.org.uk), for example, suggests that to get the balance just right, you could aim for between a quarter and a half soft green materials, such 
as grass clippings and vegetable kitchen waste, and the remainder as woody material such as wood chippings, cardboard or old leaves.

Swap ideas

Learning from other keen gardeners is a great way to make some savings. Join online discussion forums to find out how others keep their costs down.

Research the prices of garden accessories

Product comparison website Pricerunner.com says it’s recently seen a surge in people looking for garden-related products such as robotic lawnmowers, pressure washers and outdoor accessories. As well as comparing prices, cashback and voucher code websites could also help you save.

Finally, don’t underestimate the
value of the possessions
in your garden

The average UK garden contains nearly £1,500-worth of valuables, according to research from MoneySuperMarket.com. The typical value of items stored outdoors comes to £1,408 in Scotland. And despite many people having got on their bike to keep fit during the lockdown, MoneySuperMarket found only a fifth (20 per cent) of people insured their bike under their home insurance.

Kate Devine, head of home insurance at MoneySuperMarket, says: “Most contents insurance policies include a small amount of cover for garden items, but specifics can vary – so it’s worth checking to ensure that valuable outdoor items are fully covered.”