Get Out In The Garden

Budgeting

• Ask friends for help doing up the garden - extra manpower makes it all a lot faster
• Buy seeds instead of full grown plants
• Upcycle stones, sticks, rubble and concrete to create stylish eye-catching designs
• DIY is the way to go, get online for hints, tips and tutorials
• Keep a saving jar especially for doing up the garden
• See if anyone you know has unwanted items you can use such as garden chairs, watering cans, fencing and flower pots. Even bricks can be used to create a border or raised bed

Making the Most of Your Space

• If you don't have a garden, use hanging baskets on balconies and keep small herbs on windowsills
• Look out for handy corners - transform a graveled corner into a flower patch
• Build or buy a trellis to encourage plants to grow up instead of out, leaving you with more overall space
• Stick to borders - fence them off or line with stones and trim plants to within this border so lawn is kept neat and open

Upcycling

• Use concrete slabs to create a makeshift rockery
• If relocating slabs or stepping stones, save the grass dug up from the new location to cover the old space
• Old plant pots can be painted for a new look
• Try different coloured plant pots for added colour
• Use large stones found in the garden to create borders
• Sticks can make a great home made fence, which looks natural (garden wire or string holds them together)

Plants - Sourcing

• Try to find out if plants are native - aliens will not support local wildlife and may prevent native species from flourishing. An example of this is the yellow flowers in Hawaii, they were introduced and now take over one of the parks near the Volcano.
• Affordable plants can be found at yard sales, but make sure they are healthy and ask for growing advice. Make a note of the species and how large it will grow.
• Look out for offers and plant sales - buying late in the season is usually cheaper
• Ask for cuttings from friends and family - with care, can work well and is free!
• Allow wild plants to thrive - blackberry plants are an easy source of fresh fruit but have to be well-maintained as they easily overgrow
• Buying seeds or seedlings is almost always cheaper than pre-potted or more mature plants

What to Keep in Pots and The Overgrowing Beasts of the Garden

Always check the label for planting instructions; some plants are not suitable for use in containers and others require fertilizers and plant food.

In Pots: Herbs such as mint and sage - can grow massive if not cut back
Beasts of the Garden: Buddlea (butterfly bush) Blackberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Heather, Evergreen trees, Bamboo, Lavender

Recycling And Saving Water

• If you have a paddling pool and want to empty it, gather the water in watering cans and use it on plants.
• Use the dirty washing up water on the garden (use eco-friendly washing liquid though) This also helps keep the sink clear from blockages.
• Hanging baskets - water until dripping from the bottom and place plant pots underneath
• Get a water butt
• Use dishes under plant pots to save water 
• To keep the ground moist, plant heather or allow plants to grow in close proximity, creating shade and not allowing ground to dry out
• Pour last night's glass of water on the garden instead of down the sink
• Don't use small plant pots - they dry out quickly
• Place stones on the topsoil of plant pots, this helps keep moisture in