Tips from Olle Garden Bed: Six Free Gardening Supplies You Can Get

Gardening is a great way to reconnect with nature, grow your own food, and beautify your surroundings, but it can be costly. Here are some ways to get free gardening supplies! Read here are some things that you should know when It comes to Olle Garden Beds!

Gardening is a great way to reconnect with nature, grow your own food and flowers, and improve your physical and mental well-being. However, the costs can add up depending on the size of your garden - but they don't have to!

In addition to DIY fertilizers and pesticides, there are many other supplies you can get for free. Learning about some of the gardening supplies you can acquire for free will help you save money that can be spent on other inevitable expenses.

Here are six ways to get free gardening supplies:

1.Seed Starting Containers

Buying brand new seed starting containers can be expensive, especially if you want to start many seeds. Instead of spending money on purchasing seed starting trays and kits, consider reusing egg cartons, baby food jars, yogurt cups, paper cups, old muffin and ice cube trays, and milk cartons.

Toilet paper roll pots are another excellent alternative to coconut coir pots and peat pots, which can be expensive when bought in bulk. Another option is to start seeds in paper towels, eliminating the need for multiple containers and saving space.

You can even check the Nextdoor app, Facebook Marketplace, or your local Craigslist to see if anyone is willing to give away their plant pots and containers for free.

2.Compost

Compost not only provides nutrients to plants but also has many other benefits. It helps improve soil structure and fertility, promoting plant growth. Since you will be using a significant amount of compost each year, making your own batches is cheaper than buying commercial compost.

Turn your kitchen scraps and organic garden waste into black gold for your garden! Use a compost tumbler, build an outdoor DIY compost bin, or use an indoor compost bin. You can even compost on your balcony.

If you want to compost and grow plants simultaneously, check out the concept of lasagna gardening or build a keyhole garden to save space, time, and effort! If making compost is not feasible, check online resources, local farms, or local programs that offer free compost giveaways.

3.Mulch

Mulching is a great way to conserve soil moisture, prevent erosion, and suffocate weeds before they steal nutrients from plants. You can buy commercial mulch, but if you have a large garden, purchasing bag after bag can be expensive.

Instead of skipping mulching altogether, consider using any of several free alternatives for your garden. Fallen leaves, grass clippings, shredded newspaper, and wood chips make excellent substitutes for store-bought mulch.

Tree trimming or logging companies often have bags filled with leaves, tree trimmings, and wood chips that you can acquire for free or at a discounted price, depending on your location. Alternatively, check your community or browse online for people giving away free leaves.

4.Pallets

You can DIY many garden projects using wooden pallets. You can build compost bins, vertical gardens, garden furniture, and even Christmas trees with pallets! If you are growing climbers and vines, you can also use pallets as DIY trellises.

Many large stores have stacks of pallets that they don't mind giving away for free. You can check:

Hardware stores
Large furniture stores
Builders
Sporting and equipment stores
Large pet supply stores
Grocery warehouses
Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor app
When choosing pallets, avoid ones labeled with "MB." Pallets labeled with methyl bromide (MB) have been treated with a broad-spectrum pesticide that is harmful to human health. If you use them in gardening, they will leach dangerous chemicals into your crops.

Opt for pallets that have been heat-treated (HT) as they are free from harmful chemicals and safe to use.

5.Basic Gardening Tools

Shovels, trowels, rakes, spades, forks, and pruners are essential gardening tools that can weigh heavily on your pocket. Check online resources and join local gardening groups to connect with other gardeners willing to trade or give away tools for free or at a discounted price.

Keep in mind that gardening tools can last for years or just a few months depending on their quality and maintenance, so budget for replacing them when necessary.

6.Seeds

Buying seeds online to grow a few plants may not cost an arm and a leg, but purchasing seeds in bulk can start to add up. (Plus, always consider shipping costs!)

Apart from asking neighbors, there are several other ways to acquire free seeds for your garden. You can join local seed exchange programs, harvest seeds from vegetables you purchase or grow, or check out seed libraries in your area for rare, heirloom, and open-pollinated seeds. Seed libraries work similar to book libraries; you borrow seeds, grow the plants, and return seeds after the plants produce them.

Even if you don't have seeds to exchange, still join seed exchange programs. You can save seeds from this year's produce and trade them for more seeds in the next growing season. Lastly, check with gardening stores to see if they would give you old seeds instead of throwing them away.

Bet on Leaves!

Gardening is a popular hobby and a great way to be self-sufficient, but it can become expensive. However, with the tips provided above, gardening doesn't have to burn a deep hole in your pocket. To reduce costs and save money for inevitable expenses, getting free gardening supplies is a huge relief.

Join your local gardening group and browse social media to connect with people offering gardening supplies for free or at a discounted price. Additionally, join seed exchange programs to get free seeds for various vegetables, fruits, and flowers!