Gardening On A Shoestring

"Gardening on a Shoestring" is for anyone who has more energy than dollars and wants to create a beautiful garden. Best-selling garden author and designer Rob Proctor has tips on how to save money that are innovative and guaranteed to give you the garden you've always wanted.

Want to save money and have a beautiful garden that meets your needs and reflects your taste all without breaking your back or your bank balance? It's just a matter of knowing what to look for and where to look. This book is packed with value for money strategies that show you how to: Find and recognise bargains; Design a money-saving garden; Select cost-effective pesticides; Recycle resources; Buy one plant, get four free; Pay less for annuals, bulbs, trees and roses; Save on water bills; Make your own fertilisers; and much, much more. Designed to suit the needs of both the beginner and the most accomplished gardener, and relevant to the smallest and largest of gardens, Gardening on a Shoestring is an essential partner in helping you to create and achieve the garden you've always wanted. Take the first step toward becoming a money-smart gardener.

Alex Mitchell's 'Gardening on a Shoestring' is full of inventive ways to achieve the garden you want on a budget, whether you are creating one from scratch or improving what you already have.

Growing a pretty garden doesn't have to cost a pretty penny--learn how to create a low-cost garden using a little elbow grease, a lot of creativity, and this book. Gardening on a Shoestring will ease the tension on any gardener's pocketbook, while inspiring them with fun, creative projects for up-cycling, gardening ideas, tips, and alternative designs that will make gardening a pleasure--and an economical one, to boot! By combining classic gardening skills with ultra-creative ideas, author Alex Mitchell teaches readers 100 ways to up-cycle their gardens by creating ingenious green-thumb DIY projects and grow lush gardens. From up-cycling common objects (such as tin cans, old potato sacks, and colanders) to revisiting basic garden techniques (growing from seed, for example), a garden's overall cost can drop dramatically. Thanks to photography, illustrations, and plenty of additional tips, this book has plenty of fodder for readers to create a better garden. Included in Gardening on a Shoestring are outdoor furnishing projects, edible gardening information, and sage advice for garden upkeep. Examples of what you'll find include: Vintage tin herb garden Tapestry of succulents Garden center shopping tips Water-bottle watering system Gardening stools from old tires How to notspend a fortune online . . . and much more! Whether you're a new homeowner tackling the mortgage monster, a renter not wanting to leave permanent traces in your temporary home, or a cost-conscious gardener looking for a slew of creative tips, this book belongs on your bookshelf.

You don't need a sprawling backyard or spacious raised beds to grow delicious fruits, vegetables, and herbs of your own. In The Edible Balcony, longtime urban gardener Alex Mitchell shows how to transform whatever space you have, from a balcony or rooftop to a fire escape or window box, into a profusion of fresh, seasonal produce. While raising your own produce is eco-friendly in itself, you'll learn how to plant, grow, and water as sustainably as possible to ensure your edible Eden remains green and productive all year long. Plus, with a collection of innovative, step-by-step projects for designing colorful pots and plant supports with recycled containers and other household paraphernalia, you'll double your eco-friendliness, avoid hours of shopping, and be able to infuse your space with your own personal flair and style. Who knew saving time, money, and the environment could be so much fun? A collection of practical advice, fabulous container projects, and stunning examples of how gardeners around the world are successfully transforming urban spaces into abundant fruit and vegetable plots, The Edible Balcony is your guide to creating attractive, responsible, and thoroughly rewarding small space gardens—and perhaps never having to settle for grocery store produce again.

Selected as one of the best gardening reads of 2019 by The Daily Mail Short of outdoor space but want to grow fruit and vegetables? Congratulations. Really, lucky you. Not for you the back-breaking trudge of tending large spaces of land, the weeding, digging and pest vigilance. Gluts? They will mean nothing to you. Instead you can look forward to small but perfectly formed bursts of flavour. Handfuls of fresh leaves, berries and tomatoes, just when you want them, and at arm's reach. As more of us live in cities with restricted outside spaces, growing food becomes all the more important, not just for the delicious results, but as a mindful way to connect us to the seasons and to nature. Full of tried-and-tested, fool-proof crop ideas exclusively tailored for containers, raised beds and small gardens, Crops in Tight Spots guarantees vegetable growing success for even the most newbie of gardeners and limited of spaces.

Perennials are permanent fixtures in most home gardens, making this complete guide a perfect fit for any home gardener's library. This book will be a comprehensive and accessible reference for planning, planting, and caring for the most popular perennial plants, from the common hibiscus and peony, to new, must-grow varieties. With an easy-to-navigate package, in-depth coverage of basic techniques, and up-to-date information on new varieties and trends, it is perfect for gardeners of all skill levels, from novice to expert. Filled with colorful diagrams, helpful checklists that make shopping and planning a breeze, and easy-to-follow directions for all kinds of projects, it's the perfect guide to planning and maintaining a beautiful home garden, year after year. Chapters will include a primer on understanding perennials, guidance on selecting the best perennials for your region and situation, inspirational ideas for design, including color combinations and plant pairings. An entire chapter of plant-by-numbers plans will provide step-by-step guidance and inspiration for home garden designs. Special features include lists of top perennial plants and at-a-glance seasonal maintenance charts. More than 700 gorgeous color photos throughout, including a plant encyclopedia that features hundreds of perennials, categorized for convenience.

This fun and lighthearted beginner’s guide to gardening de-mystifies the gardening process with sound advice, hints and tips, delicious recipes, and fun weekend projects to help you make the most of your outdoor area, however small.