MARY LOU MARCHAND, Beltrami County Master Gardener

 Gardening can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many ways to get plants other than by buying container plants. For some you need patience, for others, friends and neighbors who are willing to share. A good gardening resource, whether a book from your library, a Web site on the internet, a friend or relative who gardens, or a phone call to the Master Gardener hotline is an essential part of your frugal gardening plan.
A big cost saver is growing your own plants from seed. Starting plants from seed is more economical than buying four or six packs of plants and you don’t have to invest in a lot of fancy equipment to do this. Seeds can be planted in almost any container: paper cups, egg cartons, used but cleaned and sterilized plastic pots, pots made from newspaper, milk cartons, yogurt cups. Non-porous containers should have a couple of drainage holes in the bottom. Start with smaller containers and transplant to larger ones as the plants grow. The seed packet, if you have one, or other gardening resource will tell you the proper time to start the various seeds you want to grow.
Saving seeds from your best heirloom tomatoes or from your favorite hollyhock and trading with fellow gardeners adds variety to the plants you grow. Most gardeners are quite willing to share.
The one investment for seed starting that is worth making is sterile soilless mix to prevent disease from killing the young seedlings. You can buy this mix or make your own if you need large amounts. A good mix is 1/3 peat, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 vermiculite. After seeds sprout, they can be placed in a south facing window or under an ordinary fluorescent light. Special grow lights are not necessary, but be sure the light is 3-4 inches from the plant. Fluorescent lights stay cool and won’t burn plants.
Remember to harden off these seedlings by putting them in a sheltered spot outside and gradually extend the length of time they are exposed to the sun and other elements before planting them in the garden.
Growing trees and shrubs from seeds requires more patience, but it can be done. Seeds can be collected from your yard, from a park or from a neighbor who is willing to share. These seeds often require special handling to sprout. Most large tree seeds, for example, oak, maple, and ash lose vitality if allowed to become completely dry. They should be sown as soon as they are available. Seeds with fleshy coverings such as apple, dogwood, and barberry should have the pulp removed before they are planted. Information on growing shrubs and trees from seeds may be found in your local library or on the Internet.
Many plants can be grown from plant cuttings. Vegetative cuttings can be made from stems, leaves, or roots and are usually taken when the plant is actively growing. The cuttings should be taken only from healthy plants. Again, a good gardening book or other resource will be able to give you information on how to handle these specific stem cuttings. With cuttings you can generate a number of plants that will be the same as the parent plant, a great way to start a border where you want a lot of the same type of plant.
Once your garden is planted and growing, mulch it. Grass clippings, straw, wood chips, pine needles all help reduce the need for weeding, keep the soil temperature even and slow moisture evaporation. Mulch saves you time and, in hot dry weather, reduces the amount of water needed to keep your garden healthy and producing. A longer deep watering is better for your plants than several shallow waterings.
Start a compost pile as a money saver and as an excellent, nearly free, soil conditioner. It does require some labor. An enclosure out of free wooden pallets, wire, or regular garbage cans keep the compost contained but you can also just make a pile of the materials if you’ve got an out of way spot to hide it. Again, check with your gardening resource on how to start a compost pile and keep it cooking.
When it comes to gardening tools, be frugal, not cheap. Buying low cost tools is fine, but make sure they are sturdy and will last for many seasons. If you’re just getting started with gardening, check the garage sales for good used garden tools. If you properly maintain and store your garden tools, you’ll have them for years.
Frugal gardening provides great rewards; fresh vegetables, beautiful flowers, handsome trees and shrubs and the satisfaction of having grown all these things in a way that fits your budget.
Watch for gardening workshops such as the one offered March 31 by the local Master Gardeners to learn about plants and methods. There is also free and reliable information about insects, plant diseases, and landscaping in cold climates at the Minnesota Extension Service Web site, www.extension.umn.edu.