Gardening season is just around the corner, so it is time to start thinking about gathering those garden supplies. If you need new garden supplies this year, or just want to refresh the stash you have, you might be seeing dollar signs. But don’t worry; because the truth is there are plenty of places to find frugal gardening supplies, you just need to know where to look. Take a peek below at where to find frugal gardening supplies so you can grow your garden for less.
Frugal Gardening Supplies
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1. Lowes
Lowe’s takes back the plastic pots that they sell plants in as part of their recycling program (not sure about Home Depot as I haven’t see a cart there). Just wander around the garden center and I’m sure you’ll see a cart full of plastic pots and trays of all sizes. My local one has it right by the front where the cashiers are. Ask and they’ll let you help yourself to FREE CONTAINERS. Just be sure you wash them out well before using.
2. The Dollar Store.
You won’t want to buy all of your gardening supplies at the dollar store, but they do offer a few great deals. For example, you can score seeds at 4 for $1. I normally buy seeds from these seed companies, but one year I had very limited funds and bought my veggie garden seeds at Dollar Tree and had great success with them. You can also find packs of seed starters for just $1 each, fertilizer spikes, planters, and gardening gloves for $1. Skip the tools, as you will want something more durable!
3. The Thrift Store.
Can you really find gardening supplies at the thrift store? You bet! Visit the thrift store for an assortment of pots and planters that you can use for container gardening. Also keep your eyes out for watering cans, tins that can be used as starters, and even ceramic garden décor. I have found some amazing gardening things at Goodwill! Like this Smith & Hawken Bird Attracting Seed Kit for $2.92. Nothing was even missing!
4. Amazon.
Amazon is a hot spot of bargain gardening supplies. Find seeds, fertilizers, hoses, tools, bulbs, starter kits, and more for under $10 each. Plus when you spend $35 or more, your order will ship to you for free. Now that growing season is here, Amazon will no doubt have some competitive prices.
5. Garage sales.
It seems as though gardening tools are at just about every garage sale you attend. Score planters, tools, even leftover fencing and edging people have to get rid of. People often sell what they have excess of so it is a great way to score like new for less.
6. Social Media Sale Sites.
Join local sale or gardening groups on Facebook and other social media sites. This is a great way to buy gently used items, find gardening freebies, or even do some swaps.
7. Craigslist free pages & Freecycle
Check out the free page on Craigslist to find people who might be getting rid of plants they are thinning out. Often times gardeners will do this since they don’t want to throw away the plants. This is a great way to score garden plants for less. Freecycle is a great one to check out as well. I’ve offered free plants quite a few times to people who would be willing to come and dig/divide them. You list things for people to take or you can list wanted items. Here’s the link Freecycle.org. Put your town and state in the search bar and it will bring up the closet Freecycle group to you.
Growing your garden this season doesn’t have to be pricey. Give these tips for finding gardening supplies for less a try and get ready to get growing!
You might also be interested in these gardening posts:
Apple Tree You Can Grow In Pots
This is all good to know stuff. I didn’t know Lowes took back the pots. I just threw a bunch of little ones away yesterday.
Brenda
Great ideas! We saved the containers our blueberry bushes came in. I’m thinking they’ll come in handy for growing some kind of veggie in! I didn’t know that Lowe’s lets you take their used containers. Will keep that in mind for sure!
I am another one that did not know L’s took the containers back. Wonder if it is L’s that actually does it, or the vendors that stock their plants. Was there yesterday, and noticed a lot of them by one of the checkouts. They appeared clean and were stacked so neat by size, etc., so just thought they were for sale. Nice to know, as have pitched many over the years.
The cucumbers my daughter grew, and had so much success with last year were from seed packets she bought at DT. She bought more, and a bigger variety to try this year.
Enjoy the weekend!
I really enjoy your website and articles. Your tips are also very helpful. But i just have to make this comment. And it’s not to be mean. But to correct you so you can improve your writing progress. I’ve notice from time to time, that you tend to write overly long sentences. And then you use commas to keep those long sentences going. It’s better to write short declarative sentences and then stop. Maybe your writing in a hurry. That’s understandable. I’ve done that too. But believe me, it’s pain to read. One more point relating to getting gardening tools on the cheap. I’ve ask elderly relatives/neighbors if they might have a tools i need. I know that they are never going to use it again. And i either offer them a few dollars. Or bake them a treat. I’ve saved a nice chunk of change doing that over the years. God bless.
Hi Paul,
My pet peeve is the use of your instead of you are or you’re as in, “Maybe you are writing in a hurry.”
Lots of good ideas here – thanks! I scored some free pots on Freecycle, and will be making the rounds of garage sales as soon as they start back up. My husband and I spent $88 at Home Depot this morning, so it’s important to find ways to get things for free/cheap. (We got a lot of great deals at the HD “Spring Black Friday” sale, but still, it adds up quickly!
That HD Spring Black Friday was pretty good. Our HD was packed!
I agree about thrift stores being good places Manuela. You can often get unique items there, which I love! Great ideas as always.
Thanks Doreen! I’ve gotten so many great gardening things at Goodwill! Commercial grade edging for my beds, a bulb planter (the kind you step on), numerous planters and much more! Like with anything at the thrift store you have to go often and just be there at the right time!
I often find that my local nurseries are a good deal, too. For one, they always have great plants and know and trust me when I say that a plant isn’t a good one or if it didn’t make it they know I take care of my plants. I love the Dollar Store!!
I will have to check HomeDepot next time I go to see about free pots, I did get a great price on marigolds the other day at HomeDepot though, a price I just couldn’t pass up because plants really are expensive. I use to take cutting of family and friends plants to root years ago. I use to start bush that way too, they start out really little but they were free. I even rooted so many that I sold quit a few in a yard sale.
I just paid over $3 for some green bean seeds, I wish I would of thought to look at dollar tree when I was there last week. Thanks for the frugal tips! Pinned, tweeted, Google, and FB (-;
Hi Linda,
Oh yes, propagating your own plants is a great way to save money! I always do that with hydrangeas (so easy). I don’t know if HD has the same program as Lowe’s with pots. Lowe’s also seems to be better about putting plants on clearance whereas Home Depot usually sends them back to the grower. At least that’s the way it works around here.
Those seeds at Dollar Tree go fast but I was able to get a package of zucchini seeds!
Thanks for all the SM shout outs! I appreciate it!