An old wheelbarrow can be a good substitute for expensive containers.

We have been experiencing an extremely cold and wet winter this year, perhaps one of the coldest ever, as many people seem to believe. On top of that, the recessionary times have put a tight squeeze on our budgets.

For many, this might mean not being able to devote enough time and money to their gardens, struggling as they are to manage their household budgets. But don’t worry friends – there are a number of alternatives that will help you to not only lower the cost of gardening but also introduce you to more creative and innovative ideas to apply for better returns.

Planning ahead is always a good place to start. The first thing is to decide how much you can and want to spend on your garden for the results you want in the next season or the next few months. Start looking for sales and discounted plants at garden centres and nurseries, when shopping for your garden.

Composting is one significantly useful effort that comes with multiple benefits, saving you money on a number of fronts. When you’re composting, you don’t have to pay to have the grass clippings and leaves hauled away; and then you don’t have to purchase fertilisers every year. Above all, setting up compost piles is not too expensive, and all the material needed to compost comes mostly free.

When growing plants, keep in mind that sometimes seeds are a quick and economical way to quickly get new plants. Some easy to grow seeds are- viola, morning glory, sunflower, and marigold. Transplanting self sown seedlings from around your garden is a great way to get free trees and shrubs. You can use cuttings of easy to grow plants like succulents and daisies to get more out of them.

To save money on planters, you can recycle containers from home or the garden - old gardening boots, wheelbarrows, and toolboxes can be slightly odd but quite useful substitutes for expensive outdoor containers.

Networking with other gardeners by joining gardening groups/clubs can prove to be a great support in tough times.