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Adding Up

March 7th, 2013

It’s amazing how quickly seed and plant orders can add up. Now that I’m starting over again, I’m at that point where I need to purchase plants once again. Back in Ohio, my gardens were pretty much full as far as perennials. Luckily, I brought a lot of plants with me, so I’ll save some money. I’m also starting all my herbs and a few perennials from seed, which will save me a bundle as well.
buying plants
I could wait to purchase some of the plants I want, but my goal is to set up a nursery area this summer that I can use solely for propagating plants for the garden. Since I’ll be propagating future plants, I want to get these plants in ASAP. I’ll work on developing my vision for this place as I tend my nursery of plants.

Do you set a budget for your garden spending each year?

11 Comments to “Adding Up”
  1. kristin @ going country on March 7, 2013 at 9:28 am

    No. Were it up to me, it would be a very minimal expenditure, but since I share the garden planning with the MiL, who is quite a spender, we end up with a LOT of seeds. Which I don’t actually pay for, so I guess it’s all good.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

    • Susy on March 7, 2013 at 9:39 am

      That’s the best kind of budget, spending someone else’s money!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Warren on March 7, 2013 at 9:31 am

    I should set a budget…but I could never stay within it!

    Reply to Warren's comment

  3. KimH on March 7, 2013 at 9:37 am

    Nope..though I do try to buy wisely.. I bought almost all of my seed at a local garden store in Jan & Feb when it was 40% off.. There were 5 or 6 things I couldnt get there so I ordered them online which was a little costly compared to what I got at the Garden Center, but I got what I wanted, and thats all that mattered to me.

    I tend to wait to buy online when I can take advantage of a sale or a discount offer too..

    Reply to KimH's comment

  4. Sierra N Hampl on March 7, 2013 at 10:15 am

    I really want a beautiful perennial garden, but buying the plants is way too expensive for us, so I’m going to try to grow some from seed this year. We’ll see. I have low expectations since I’m not even sure I can call myself a real gardener yet…so much to learn. :)

    Reply to Sierra N Hampl's comment

    • Susy on March 7, 2013 at 10:37 am

      You need to find a few friendly gardeners in your area. I was always giving starts of perennials to visitors. Focusing on varieties that will seed and self-propagate is also a good way to save money. One of my favorites back in my Ohio garden was Liatris.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  5. Maybelline on March 7, 2013 at 10:31 am

    No budget but always frugal.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  6. Donna B. on March 7, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Oh… budget? I *try* and keep my seed-purchasing limit to around $30.00 a year… but plants are negotiable! Hahahaa…
    Normally I will buy undersized plants that aren’t the ‘big-n-blooming-fully-grown’ size for instant gratification that some people are looking for… But they’re perfect for me!
    I’m also a clearance plant shopper! A garden center near me had some Baptisia [I got one violet, and one yellow!] on clearance for $3.00 apiece. How could I say no to that? :D

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  7. Kaytee on March 7, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    No budget for me, but I try to be wise about spending. For the past couple of years I’ve really limited myself and bought a bunch of discounted plants in the fall. This year though, I’m totally redoing the flower beds so I’m spending big. But to save some money, I’m starting a lot of flowers from seed. So far, so good.

    Reply to Kaytee's comment

  8. Jerry on March 7, 2013 at 3:15 pm

    Here in the Midwest, it’s so hard to overwinter many plants, especially as I can only garden on my deck. But saving seed is a great way to perpetuate plants that were particularly successful, as well as making my budget go further. I would rather raise seedlings where I can than splash out on nursery raised plants.

    Reply to Jerry's comment

  9. Deb on March 7, 2013 at 7:32 pm

    No particular budget, I get what is needed and try to avoid those cheap places as I grow organic heirloom seeds and it’s hard to find those for cheap prices many places. I order online, mostluy from seedsavers. Tryi ng to save more seeds this year if we don’t have a drought again. Grow things myself in the greenhouse to save on plants unless it’s some herbs that I find extremely difficult to get to germinate. Don’t waste a lot of money on perrenail flowers unless I use them for herbal remedies or eat them. I want to grow what I cna eat and use for herbal health. Never buy annuals, I think that’s a waste of money. Maybe spend $25 approx. each year , this year less than that for seeds.

    Reply to Deb's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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