Spring is here and that means gardening is going to pick up. When the temperatures start warming up and the last frost comes and goes, you can pull out your seeds and plants and start your garden for the season.

If you plan to do a garden, but want to do so on a budget, check out these great tips and tricks. Gardening is a great way to enjoy fresh produce without having to go to the store, but it can be expensive over time. Implement these handy tips and keep your budget in check.

Start small: If you are new to gardening, my biggest tip is to start small. Whether you grow a few of your favorite fruits or veggies or just want to plant a few stunning flowers in your front yard. Start small and grow with each year. Do not stress yourself out with having a massive garden the first year.

Plant seeds: Vegetables and flowers are cheaper when you buy seeds instead of plants. Talk to any of your friends or neighbors and see what plants and flowers they have had success with in your area. My neighbor has the most beautiful yard, so he would be the first person I would ask before heading out to buy anything for my yard. Then head to the store and buy the seeds you need. Most seeds do not have to be started indoors to start their growth. You can almost always plant them straight in the ground, which can be a huge time- and money-saver.

Save containers: If you want to start your seeds indoors, save any containers you use throughout the year. Whether they’re cottage cheese, butter or salad containers, they will all work great for tossing in some soil and plants to help those seeds sprout indoors. This will save you from having to buy seed-starter packs. You can even cut down milk jugs or soda containers to make them work as a seed starter.

Swap seeds with other gardeners: Chances are you will not use a whole packet of zucchini seeds in your garden or other flowers or produce. Consider talking to friends and neighbors and swap your half packages for one of their half packages. It helps cut down on money spent, and you still get a variety. Or if you know a friend who plants from seeds, make a list of what you both plan to plant and then split the cost of the seeds and share.

Coffee grounds: Some plants like carrots, radishes, other produce and flowers thrive in acidic soil. Save back your leftover coffee grounds and mix them into the soil a few days before you plant your seeds. If you are not a big coffee drinker, check with your local coffee shop to see if you can get their coffee grounds. I know a few of our local Starbucks locations gladly offer their customers their coffee grounds for this exact reason. Coffee grounds are a natural way to help fertilize the soil. Just make sure the plants you are planting like the acidity or it could have an adverse reaction on their growth.

Homemade weed killer: Don't spend $30 on a bottle of weed killer. Make your own using vinegar. Simply take a spray bottle and pour in white distilled vinegar. Then spray this on any weeds that you find. Try to do this on a hot sunny day, and you might have to repeat the process. Just make sure you do not get this on your flowers or produce, as it will kill them. This also works great for keeping the neighborhood deer out of your garden. I love the family of deer that lives in our neighborhood, but do not like them eating everything in my garden. I do not want to spray harsh chemicals on my garden that might harm the deer, so I use vinegar.

Garage sales, thrift stores: Be on the lookout when you go to garage sales or head into a thrift store. Look for gardening supplies like tools, pots, etc. This is a great way to get the items you need without paying full price for them. If you buy planters, just make sure to wash them really well, just in case the plant that was previously in it had a fungus issue of some kind.

Homemade compost: If you really plan to grow a garden each year, consider using homemade compost. You simply mix it around using peelings from fruit and vegetables, old flowers, grass clippings, egg shells, fallen leaves, sawdust and small twigs. You mix it all together and let it sit and compost. Then next year you will have homemade compost. I, however, have a dog who eats everything (ask my vet), so I am unable to do this.

What gardening tips do you incorporate to save money each year?

