Improves the soil of raised beds with homemade compost
Image: ShutterStock
Gardening will bring you outside, improve your fitness and bring immeasurable satisfaction. And with some clever hacks, there’s no need to break the bank. We asked our favourite gardening experts to share cost-effective ways to improve soil quality. Here are some of their practical tips for creating an affordable garden from scratch…
Make your own compost
“The best way to improve soil without breaking the bank is to make your own compost from food waste/garden waste, as it’s free. That doesn’t take much time and results. is really worth it.”
– Allison Levy from Blackberry Garden
Keep a chicken
“For many years, I have documented how much I spend in my garden, and one of the best costs is compost. Using garden waste, cardboard and even old underwear, I can get as much as possible. By making, you reduce costs. Another thing that helps you make compost is to keep chickens. We have our own fertilizer to add to the bottle. The resulting compost is , the best way to improve any soil to add organic matter. I like to use it as mulch. This also helps reduce weeds.”
– Richard from Veg Grower Podcast
Small woodchips break down faster
“If you put your own grafts, the soil improvements can be free. I regularly use woodchips, fertilizers and coffee grounds from local facilities. When I mix them, I get amazing compost. There are starters or mulch. Make sure your wood chips are smaller in size, as these will spoil faster.”
– Steve Newland at @snewland97
Underwater pond plants
Image: Scented Pond Kit from T&M (© Brand Garden Products))
Pond plants can also be composted
“We’re trying to do everything we’ve always done, cheap, and we’re always trying to do. We’ll compost pond scraps, grass cutouts, cardboard and thinning from pond plants (for a while). (After leaving it near the pond, anything that lives in them can return to the water). It also manufactures Comfrey Liquid and helps compete in the annual “Stations In Bloom” contest. They may even supply to local stations for. ”
– Pete from weeds to my knees
Horse fertilizer is a great soil amendment
“I’ve always been on top on a raised bed, with horse fertilizer that breaks over the winter and saves the amount of compost that needs to be added in the spring. It’s not always well lotted But it’s usually full of worms that have magical effects. You need to look for someone along with a horse that is willing to let you collect fertilizer for free when you need it.
“Making your own compost is also a must to reduce costs. The more compost bins, the better. I have five at the moment, but I want a six by the end of next season! It contains anything you can! Do you use compost from an empty container or pot? I mix it with chicken fertilizer pellets and use it to put my bed together.”
– Jackie Glynn from @my.allotment.escape
Alpaca fertilizer does not burn plants
“My favorite option is to find a farm where alpacas are located and see if they can collect poop or sell some bags. They are usually very cheap, but use them without burning the plants. It can be done, and unlike cows and horses, it smells unattracted by humans.”
– Derek Daley @fiveminutegardener
Modular compost bin
Image: Modular Wooden Compost Bin from T&M (© Thompson & Morgan))
Make a leaf mold for free
“My number one tip for creating a free soil goodness is to collect fallen leaves and mulch the leaves. If there are not many deciduous trees in the garden, city parks often gather some. I put mine in an old bin that I’ve drilled out a few drain holes, and the bin liner works as well. It can take several years to spoil in mulch, but Once ready, they can spread across borders to boost emerging plants in the spring and help regulate moisture retention.”
– Hannah from @talesfromgarden
Plant green fertilizer
“Please remember that green manure is also a valuable way to improve the soil. I use winter tar (vetch), white clover and green field beans to protect my bed in the winter and weeds. It will stop and form a nice carpet that will bring lots of nitrogen back into the soil. My plants love it.”
– Terry King Allocation Gardening on a Budget
Let’s start the warmery
“Another option is Warmery. There are some great options to buy, but it’s easy to make. I have Warmery in the kitchen and my lovely tiger worms have kitchen waste and paper. Turn it into a great forage for my garden and home plants. No extra costs for me!”
– Catherine from @lemon_housegarden
Image: T&M’s Maze Worm Farm
Compost does not require a bottle
“The coffee grounds contain most coffee shops, so I regularly add a light cover to the exposed soil (I like to alternate between them with a thin layer of grass cutouts when available). () Composting does not need to occur on a large scale or involve bins or regular turning. Green waste (without seeds or roots) remains on the surface of the soil, or on the plant. It will rot if buried in a small hole between them. I dig out some trowels, drop the waste, and push the soil back. Or, I dig into bean trench early in the spring and with garden waste for weeks. Fill it, then push the soil back, ready for planting. Surround the bean plant with coffee to block slugs, retain moisture and add nutrients.”
– Carol Hassey from @plot303
Know your soil and choose the right plant
“Knowing your soil allows you to build or destroy a garden, especially if you spend money on the plants and plant it without first checking whether you like the conditions. (I definitely have this We fell into a trap!) We were “unlucky” to have very heavy clay so my first big thing in the garden was to dramatically improve the soil. The first year we dig up bulk bags of soil amendments, making a huge difference. I also added some small grits to break down the soil and help with drainage, but if the money is tough, you can make your own compost. Clay soil can be painful, but there are many plants that thrive in it. ”
– @Rudge_Yorkshire_Gardener’s Rudge Wilson
If your soil is good enough, grow it in a raised bed
Image: Garden Gear Metal Rais Modular Planter from T&M (© Thompson & Morgan))
If the soil is very poor, use a raised bed
“Making a raised bed sounds expensive, but it’s not really the case. I used a pallet board and screws. You can collect free pallets from anywhere, but make sure they’re heat treated rather than chemically processed Please (if you are growing food). Make a plant label from a plastic jug of milk.”
– Garden ideas and DIY Abdur
Plants and flowers will flourish when planted in nutrient-rich soil. Browse composting equipment, bring things to a flight start and choose from the entire range of high quality seeds when you’re ready to start growing.
The Thompson & Morgan Horticultural team produces a wealth of content on gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalogue was released in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown into one of the UK’s largest mail-order seed and plant companies. Through publishing catalogs and running an award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the highest quality products that money can buy.
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