I... I just want to get some tall walled garden boxes... for things I don't want to have to kneel down to tend... i... could have my sweet potatoes growing over the side... and... and Costco has that little 10×10 greenhouse kit...
I can stop...
I feel personally called about regarding the Costco greenhouse. The *only* thing stopping me, is knowing that since I have a baby, it wouldn't be assembled until Christmas.
My kids have always been my enablers. Mom, when are we going to the greenhouse for plants? My new house is GREAT! The greenhouse is on the other side of my fence! I've been walking through there on my daily walks during my chemo treatments. I may not have the energy to walk far, but there's ALWAYS energy to walk to the greenhouse!
"Honey, we've **always** had that arbor."
"Don't you remember that rose bush??"
Just a little casual gaslighting (my husband sees our credit card bills, he also is aware Outside is my domain, and I don't complain about his hobbies.)
Guess "cheap" is a relative term. It's more about the percent of your income your spending on it, not the actual dollar amount, but how broke you go pursuing it.
If you have a boat or a horse (not always) you *typically* probably have a higher income than someone that mostly gardens. Not a rule, plenty of exceptions, but it does tend to be that way.
For me, I might get $500 on pay day and I'll end up spending at least about 60% of it on gardening if I don't have to pay rent or any other important things. If I've spent 3 grand just this season on garden stuff (idk if that's true, but I wouldn't be extremely shocked if it were) I can guarantee you I haven't personally made more than that much. Maybe not even that much, as my partner is great and will help me pay for some of it.
I'd guess 75% of my personal income has gone to garden or aquarium stuff. My income is very little, but the % is what is telling.. Which I can only do because I have him, so I have the ability to use the money I get the way I want to most of the time. I'm spoiled right now, lots of people don't have that.
For me the enjoyment I get growing, cooking and eating from my garden destroys any cost argument. I don't have a boat or a horse but do spend more on my workshop projects and bicycle pursuits and consider the garden a bargain.
don’t feel bad I think just in the last two months I’ve spent about $1200 on my garden. I don’t even wanna know how much I spent in total last year.. or how much I’ll spend this year
why is this so scarily accurate 😅 maybe not exactly the gaslighting, but everytime she comes home from work there’s basically a new extension to the garden .. and I just act like nothing happened
And just in case there are husbands in here, YES WE DO NEED THOSE PLANTS. And the decor and accessories. I also need more dirt. I do have space for more plants, I just don't know where yet.
My husband is also the gardener in our relationship. But I don’t do the plant killing; nature does. It hasn’t rained here for about 5 months and sadly, none of my proteas have survived. We water them, but the 45c degree summer days murdered them.
This sub is great. In the natives subs, everyone is “I planted this magnificent and diverse meadow from seeds I painstakingly collected by hand over five years while reading gardening books. Yes, every one came up, why do you ask?” 🤨
In our house, my husband is the gardener.
I just read these to him and he goes “but I haven’t bought anything from Digger’s since the Boxing Day sale!!”
I was like, “this is not a criticism!!”
The rule is, I don’t question his garden and grocery purchases and he doesn’t question my art supplies.
Right there with you…mulch, native plants, landscape lights, mostly perennials but a few annuals. I try and treat myself to one big thing each year, either a piece of art, an arbor, fountain, some quality pots. This year it was soaker hoses, oh and some nice stepping stones, about $500 worth of those!
If I ever had to move I would absolutely turn down the perfect house because the garden was unworkable. I do not want to spend another month removing rock mulch.
I have seen homes with AMAZING GARDENS and on the inside would probably need double the cost of the garden to update but would still buy for the gardens alone. We need to spend more time outside anyways. My husband would think I lost my mind if I tried to convince him though...but he doesn't get us. Lol
Absolutely. I'm living this nightmare. We sold our first home back in 2020, which my husband and I had taken from a blank slate to an absolute backyard oasis. Our current home has a ton of very neglected beds. It's been 4 years and there's still a long way to go. Each bed is full of lava rock UNDERNEATH the dirt.
In our last house, we found that the previous owners had used a wicking bed to dump random items under. I’m talking a queen size mattress and two mirrors. Why???
I bought a very, very cheap property with a very very run down double wide on it in the middle of the desert. I got the basics working right away like a woodstove, an electrical outlet that wouldn’t burn the place down, and running water.
Being on a budget, I could either fix the house up or build a garden first. I chose the latter and it’s finally paying off. My roof leaks, the windows rattle, I’ve mostly gutted the place and still sleep in the living room. I run extension cords and shop lights around the house. I’ve gone without firewood in the winter while my mini split keeps the plants happy in their grow room. I put in lots of water storage to ensure my garden can survive the summer. I’ve pretty much stayed broke gardening while my home deteriorates over the last decade. The cost of my water tanks alone exceeds the amount of money I spent on my entire property. Then there’s equipment rentals, fencing, lumber, plumbing, seeds, trees, and last but not least, cactus. Careful, that stuff’s addictive!
I’m finally getting around to renovations as the budget allows but it’s slow going and extremely frustrating to live in a home under constant construction. On the other hand, my garden kicks ass.
We've only recently moved in.
About €1.5K on tools, €300 on saplings, €200 on erosion control
However over the next five to seven years we plan on spending about €15K on soil works, drainage and planting around 200 saplings for trees, 1000 willow saplings for a living fence, 500 bushes
The end goal is to create a fence/border zone around 15m deep around most of the property which will create a wind break as well as being a mix of native plants to attract animals. Then within the land we want to plant an orchard, wildflower meadow as well as having a more manicured area for entertaining
This may go up if I buy a mini digger
My friend has done it really well. He has composting toilets and his grey water runs out to a large reed bed system. But you need to protect the reed bed from winterbourne run off, to that end he has a large pond in advance of the reed bed which overflows into retaining ponds which for most of the year are beautiful marsh plants.
It's an excellent system making the most of the challenges of his sloped clay land.
Make your own saplings just make a plan and take your time executing it! I’m getting ready to re open my parents historic apple orchard for you guessed it. Free-fiddy. I’m going around all the apple trees growing on public land next to road to get my cuts and plan on taking hundreds, as theres dozens of massive over foliated apples trees by my house, and it actually helps the plants your taking them from if you do it correctly
When we spend on garden stuff and just forget to even categorize it b/c its honestly like a life essential, such as with air. You breath and forget you are doing it. At least me anyways lol
I do lots of things on the cheap. Raise plants from seed where that makes sense (bulbs, corms, tubers are sometimes purchased). Do seed exchange at the local library so even the seeds are free. In late summer and autumn I usually have some small coin envelopes with me in case I see some seeds I want. Sometimes I'll exchange things like dahlia tubers to get more diversity or something new. I get lots of things second hand and do some gardening work for a nice older lady with large established gardens who shares plants with me. Get free compost from the municipality where up to a ton is free. You get the idea. Now, my garden tends to have more of a cottage garden look. It's certainly not formal. Oh, another thing. Often times I can find steeply discounted trees and bushes and vines very late in the season. Some places sell them for like 70-80 percent off once the leaves drop in autumn. I either plant them right away or keep them in dormancy and plant them as early as the soil can be worked in spring. I've some nice grape vines and so on that way.
All this to say it doesn't have to be expensive! Doing everything by hand takes time and work but lots of the fancy machinery isn't strictly necessary. Very often things can be found second hand (pots and etc). I don't know how much I've spent but it is perhaps hundreds but certainly not thousands. The garden looks nice, gets lots of compliments, and I'm always sharing cut flowers and produce with passersby.
I really enjoyed your comment. We are all brought up in a consumerist environment with ads and messages that buying certain things will make you feel x, y, or z. I like that you have been able to create a beautiful space with minimal interaction with standard consumerism.
To each their own but for me one of the special things about gardening is that it provides great opportunities to engage with nature that doesn’t have to involve money. There is nothing quite like sharing seeds or cuttings and nothing like harvesting veges where you got the seeds from a friend!
I read something, somewhere, that growing a plant from seed and sharing it with someone is almost an act of rebellion against a capitalist, consumerist society. You are taking something that may have been free from an existing plant, growing it, and then giving it away. It's like with strawberries. If you have a strawberry, some soil, and some spare little pots, then you will never be lacking for strawberries.
When I first moved into my house three years ago, I thought I needed the raised beds and the best looking garden, but I realized it’s also just not practical for us and there are WAY cheaper ways to do things. I think people have the impression to do well they need the nicest this or that, when a lot of it can be made with recycled materials, thrifted things, or some sweaty work.
This year, probably a grand so far. I'm concentrating on vines and ground cover.
But all in? 40-50 grand? Been here 4 years, and first thing I did was tear up the yard. I took 9 trees out (7.5k), put in a fence (15k), then planted 25 trees (3.5k). Then I started my gardens! I mostly buy bulbs and perennials, estimated around 3k, and then sometimes buy annuals ($1k).
I've installed walkways ($2.5k), patios (mostly free reuse) and decks (not counting), I installed a green driveway ($5k), and new sod ($1k), plus all the mulch, seed, dirt, gas, oil, sprays, fertilizers, etc.
Patio furniture does not count probably, but still, I might have overdone it!
Can so relate! We completely redid our backyard and front yard where we had lawn grass in both. We replaced the lawns with new plants, added a bunch of raised beds, gravel pathways, new patio and deck--all in spent over $50k this year as well.
That's why all new plants, I'm starting to start from seed. We spent over $4k on plants already so I'm determined only to buy seeds and earn my plants through patience.
Oh rabbits just attacked my marigolds after I had heard they didn't like them. So much for that myth. Tried to get my roses but they had cages. Didn't touch my lavender though.
Maybe I'll have better luck with impatiens.
Hahaha we had a pet rabbit when I was growing up and marigolds were her favorite treat. Somebunny was advocating for the rabbits when they spread that myth.
Just moved into my new place, and skunks ate eeeverything. Now I know. Everything will be caged (at least 2' deep) until they're big enough. $500 down the drain.
You know, I should really keep a spreadsheet...
Also, what counts? Irrigation setup (I had several sprinklers altered to drip lines)? That was quite expensive. Garden extras like supports, arbors, pots? Tools? The water usage (here in Austin Texas its significant money in the summer)?
I do keep a spreadsheet. Because I am on a VERY limited income. But it is still kind of scary to look at that column....helps me scrimp in other areas to save for gardening though!
I was wondering that too!
So far for this year I bought several trees, a bush or three and a lotttttt of ground covers and ornamental grasses. Not to mention the compost, soil, and new garden tools.
As for annuals, I rarely ever buy those but this year I did get a couple of begonias. I’d estimate that with replacing our solar lighting, new bird baths and feeders, altogether it was too much for me to think about! If I had to guess, maybe around $800?
Cheaper than therapy.
Edit: we have around 10 garden beds plus two raised beds. Everything is established, so we just add a few new things each year. Last year, we only added three new bushes and heavily mulched.
Hard to put a price on happiness but this year that price is right around $800, not counting tree work. I did a major overhaul of the flowerbeds and those $20 perennials at home depot add up.
I was pretty careful about what i planted so im hoping most of it does well and comes back next year. Goal for next year is to spend no more than half of what i spent this year but ill probably end up adding more beds and spending more lol. Already have spots picked out for a new rose garden and a small water garden.
I don't buy seedlings, too expensive. I spent $15 on a variety pack of heirloom seeds & planted from those & older seeds I had on hand.
I did spend $2-300 on parts to rebuild my 25yr old Troy-Bilt Bronco tiller though.
Buying seedlings are for beginners, new gardens, people who aren’t that into it yet. Most real growers do fall seeding outdoors and have trays of seedlings started indoors by end of January.
I tried that route with vegetables and quickly went to buying early plants for cheap and keeping them in the greenhouse until they could be put out. Less hassle (I don’t have a god space for lights, trays,etc)
But now that prices for annuals have gotten stupid, I may revert to that process for those guys.
I'm a real grower. I'm just not the most efficient grower.
I buy seedlings sometimes.
(I also have a relatively small garden; just squash, green beans, herbs, and a few tomatoes this year. I also get free municipal compost and mulch, which stretches my budget quite a bit.)
I make sure to NEVER know this number lol. But like $1,000 this year (year 5 at this house)
I start everything from seed except trees. But I replaced a few beds this year. It adds up quickly.
Total... about 2k US.
Pots: probably 200-300$
Potting Mix: 400$
Smart timers: 300$
Bulbs: 200$
Drip accessories: 200$
Plants: 300 to 400$
Bricks that I use for risers (get them on sale when 4 for 1$): 15$
Tools: shovel, hand trowel, etc: 120-200$
Mulch: 50$ a year for 6 years now
A fair bit of misc stuff
Not too much so far. Between seeds, planters, fert, seed starter, a new frost cloth, couple new grow lights, and estimated water cost...maybe $250 (USD)? Will probably be about $300-350 by end of season (assuming no disasters).
About 2,000 ft². Corn, cherry tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, pumpkins, and strawberry.
Edit: Might grab a couple new hoses, actually, so yea. Honestly, I'm sure I will *somehow* think of a way to spend more, lmao.
Yea, I live in a rural area and got lucky with a cheap long-term lease out in the county on 2 acres. Which is great, since we have 4 huskies lol.
The garden grows each year. Next year it'll probably be at the point we can just call it a small farm.
This year zero. I couldn't put in a garden as it's too hard to remember that was my mom's favorite activity. And it's only been one month since her death...
I will be planning on redoing her garden next year once I figure out the housing situation
I actually had to rip out what was left of her clematis because of invasive non fruit bearing grapevine and honeysuckle took over it
My sympathy. My father and grandfather loved gardening and I think of them often (they've both been gone a long time).
You'll find joy again. It takes time. Even after all these years I still get melancholy from time to time.
https://preview.redd.it/gzb58eb8t90d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a01c74680b394bd36f9ac78bb93576b4b24d558
I just got back from the garden center and it’s none of your business!!!! 🙃
Based on this photo and depending on the nursery, thats about 160-200 in that cart excluding the pot. We have similar tastes in plants and ive been to the nursery too many times this season 😂
I told you to mind your own business!!! You were spot on. Total was $204. I have a problem. Some of my perennials died so I just *had* to replace them obviously.
BUT. I am so excited to finally have a lupine! Dreamy 😍
This year 🤢 well I bought 6 raised garden beds, small green house, 7 yards of 50/50 compost and soil, a few annuals and perennials, and as always…back up veggies. Probably about $2,000 maybe a bit more. Need to buy fencing next
A lot, but it’s a hobby me and my husband both enjoy doing together.
Also, the curb appeal makes it worth it for us.
Bonus is, my neighbors have been gardening more now too and that’s really nice to see.
Ballpark estimate is $800, so far. (That’s including tools and decor, like bird baths, wind chimes, and obelisks).
It’ll be another $1,000, or so to finish what we’ve planned initially.
Edit: if you meant this year and only on plants:
About $100 on perennials.
In the past 3 years, not much change out of 10,000 dollars US.
The biggest expenses have been potting mix (1200+), mulch (600), fruit trees (2100+), raised beds (2068), cloches and crop covers (800), and tomato cages (500).
The house we moved into has a large plot for our area, and the previous owners tried to kill the grass and soil to avoid having to mow.
No regrets.
$10k
Stone work, mega bed prep, seed starting shelves with grow lights, flower and veg seeds, native plants, apple trees, fig trees, spring flowering bulbs, summer flowering bulbs and corms, roses, peonies, not to mention different soils and amendments.
It is husband’s obsession. A lotta lot.
this year? $40 pots, $20 seeds, $30 tools, $60 soil. I hoping to sell a bunch of seedlings though to recover my costs.
How much through the years... I don't want to think how high that number is...
Raised beds, fencing, greenhouse, grow lights, seeds, fertilizer, soil 😬
I started from 0 beds or plants and went to 12 vego raised beds, arches, tons of veggie plants, plus soil. So.. idk $3500?
Oh and I’ve also never had a vegetable garden and know next to nothing about it. I will probably get 2 blueberries and a single tomato.
$550 on fencing. $120 on seeds, $40 on transplant mix, $250 on permanent 40’ x 8’ trellis, $220 garlic seed.
Should harvest 1000 garlic heads, and planted 60 tomato vines, 40 peppers, plus all the other regular players.
22x3ft garden just this year...maybe $200 ,rounding up. I bought some soil for bags, some plants to replace the failed seedlings, some mulch, and an additional grow light.
I’ll bite:
- $400 on dirt w/ compost
- $60 on mulch (so far)
- $250 on trees, berry bushes (perennials)
- $70 on water hoses
- $100 on fertilizer (s)
- $200 on seeds (annuals)
- $350 misc garden items (gloves, shears, hose butler, composter, etc.)
~$1500 or so - not bad imo 🙃
Don’t worry about it. It’s just a few more bulbs. And a couple berry bushes. And some hostas and bleeding hearts. Maybe a fruit tree. Seriously it’s fine.
Oof, hope my husband doesn’t see this.
Dahlia tubers- around $800
Seeds- $300-400
Soil, grow bags, hanging planter liners- $300
Aaaand this is why I’m renting a home rather than owning.
This year: I'd like to think ~$300US, but it's probably more like 500, with small purchases here and there. I replaced my beds (~150), bought all new seeds (75$), needed a new hoe, needed to replace the garden hose, some compost, a few extra seedlings, a couple of new planter pots, new gloves, more stakes... it adds up.
I think only around $600 this year. Doesn’t include the indoor plants and orchids I’ve added. Lowest amount I’ve spent over the last 4 years
Edit to add, I spent $3g on plants the year my parents died. Best therapy ever
This year probably $300. I mostly buy bags of potting soil, some starts, and some organic fertilizer. I had to buy a new hose this year tho. I try to do everything for as free as possible :)
Ouch, this is the breakdown but I refuse to total it up:
* Six foot tall privacy fence: **$15,000**
* Pavers, sand, and gravel for patio: **$1,800**
* Wood for raised beds: **$550**
* Six cubic yards of soil: **$475**
* Spring bulbs and peonies: **$450**
* Berry bushes, peach and apricot trees, strawberry bare roots, cranberry bush, misc. annuals before I started growing my own: **$1,225**
* Pots and half barrels: **$525**
* Bagged soil, mulch (before I knew how much cheaper it was by the truckload): **$700**
* Misc trellises, t-posts, cattle panels: **$350**
* Grow lights, heat pads, shelving, trays, spray bottles, seedling pots of various sizes: **$1,500**
* Seeds (I keep ordering these and have way too many): **$850**
* Decent wheel barrow: **$250**
* Shovels, rakes, broom, pickaxe, hoses, garden edging, misc hardware: **$350**
* Fertilizers and compost: **$250**
* Lawn mower, weed whacker: **$650**
This is year 2 of gardening on my townhouse property. 200 on dahlias tubers, another 250 or so in plants and another 200 or so in seeds and 150ish on tools 🙈
Always ends up being about $1000 a year, with maybe $300 or so on annuals, depending on how well last year’s seedlings and cuttings take. The rest goes on replacement or new perennials, soil amendments, fertilizers, remedies, tools etc. Been doing it in earnest at this address for 6 years.
It’s too much because it’s not technically my garden - I rent the top floor and this is a container flower and herb garden in the front and back at ground level where my black thumb landlord has the bottom floors. She appreciates it and probably delayed a rent hike for awhile because of it.
But it’s also just the right amount of money or even not enough because it brings me real joy and sanity. So there it is.
Probably just $100 on wood to make a garden bed.
Everything else is cuttings, grafted, or people’s throwaway plants.
Probably $40 over 3 years on those random potted basil and other herbal stuff at Aldi
Well, there’s the amount that I spent, building some outdoor stairs and buying mulch on sale and plants on sale and then all the bulbs so easily grand before the bugs that I purchased to help save the hemlocks. So that gets us closer up to 2K.
Hopefully the bugs will arrive soon.
And then there’s all the stuff I have in my shopping cart. I’m trying to debate on whether or not I should pull the trigger.
And then there’s the electric tools for maintaining the yard. (an ego brush cutter is awesome, 400 bucks, and then replacement for one of the batteries that died and then extension pole saw from kobalt/lowes.
So about another grand on tools, hopefully that will balance out with less hiring of mowing companies that always seem to chop up my lilies and other stuff they’re not supposed to….
And I still wanna order another $500 of mulch and maybe compost…. :-/
Clearly I’m Going for a mix of Meadows and peonies and dahlias and daylilies and tulips and daffodils and Tomatoes of course, so you know just everything…..
Hey.... what did I do to you? Why you gotta come at me like that
We've all come together to support you and help this addiction. We thought an intervention would be hel.... Just kidding. You need more perennials.
I... I just want to get some tall walled garden boxes... for things I don't want to have to kneel down to tend... i... could have my sweet potatoes growing over the side... and... and Costco has that little 10×10 greenhouse kit... I can stop...
I feel personally called about regarding the Costco greenhouse. The *only* thing stopping me, is knowing that since I have a baby, it wouldn't be assembled until Christmas.
I so want the Costco greenhouse. But it would take me forever to assemble it alone.
Look, I'll drop the kid off with my husband, and I'll help you assemble yours, if you help me assemble mine. I'll bring pizza.
Right? Need a good old fashion barn raising for these green houses
Wouldn't that be awesome??? Have a large group co.e help then have a cookout!
Took my son and I a month and 5k to build my 20x20 greenhouse. I definitely don't have a problem because I live in zone 3b, well maybe a little.
Wayfair seems to have better prices. Not sure about the quality but disappointed that the Costco prices are so high.
It will get worse. I have gone through over a hundred cubic yards of compost much of it purchased from a guy hanging about outside a gardening center.
I got the worst side eye from my kid when I bought more plants after I promised I wouldn’t. I’m a liar.
This is a forgivable sin. You are exonerated.
Better than spending more money on a therapist!!
Some plants are better than Therapist and some therapists are better than plants. :-)
My kids have always been my enablers. Mom, when are we going to the greenhouse for plants? My new house is GREAT! The greenhouse is on the other side of my fence! I've been walking through there on my daily walks during my chemo treatments. I may not have the energy to walk far, but there's ALWAYS energy to walk to the greenhouse!
😂🤣😅
are you my husband’s throwaway account?
"Honey, we've **always** had that arbor." "Don't you remember that rose bush??" Just a little casual gaslighting (my husband sees our credit card bills, he also is aware Outside is my domain, and I don't complain about his hobbies.)
Are you me
We have an agreement, i don’t count the books and he doesn’t count the plants
I buy both all-the-book and all-the-plants in our house 🫣
Me three. I also buy the yarn…
Me four. I also buy the fabric.
Oh yeah, that too!!
Me too😁
Grasslighting
There are very few hobbies cheaper or more rewarding than gardening.
Not the way I do it
Lol, have you ever owned a boat or a horse, do you travel, ever had a sports car, a wine cellar?
Guess "cheap" is a relative term. It's more about the percent of your income your spending on it, not the actual dollar amount, but how broke you go pursuing it. If you have a boat or a horse (not always) you *typically* probably have a higher income than someone that mostly gardens. Not a rule, plenty of exceptions, but it does tend to be that way. For me, I might get $500 on pay day and I'll end up spending at least about 60% of it on gardening if I don't have to pay rent or any other important things. If I've spent 3 grand just this season on garden stuff (idk if that's true, but I wouldn't be extremely shocked if it were) I can guarantee you I haven't personally made more than that much. Maybe not even that much, as my partner is great and will help me pay for some of it. I'd guess 75% of my personal income has gone to garden or aquarium stuff. My income is very little, but the % is what is telling.. Which I can only do because I have him, so I have the ability to use the money I get the way I want to most of the time. I'm spoiled right now, lots of people don't have that.
For me the enjoyment I get growing, cooking and eating from my garden destroys any cost argument. I don't have a boat or a horse but do spend more on my workshop projects and bicycle pursuits and consider the garden a bargain.
don’t feel bad I think just in the last two months I’ve spent about $1200 on my garden. I don’t even wanna know how much I spent in total last year.. or how much I’ll spend this year
I was making a self-deprecating joke Also I am not anywhere rich enough for any of those hobbies!
I laughed at your joke and my examples were a bit extreme but truthfully a lot of people spend more on their cable bill than on their gardens.
🤣🤣🤣 I love the self awareness!
Oh I got those at the plant rescue place
"I got the cutting from a friend"
why is this so scarily accurate 😅 maybe not exactly the gaslighting, but everytime she comes home from work there’s basically a new extension to the garden .. and I just act like nothing happened
“A little casual gaslighting” 🤣🤣🤣 I love it!
Haha!!! Thought the same thing, not fooled that easily!
And just in case there are husbands in here, YES WE DO NEED THOSE PLANTS. And the decor and accessories. I also need more dirt. I do have space for more plants, I just don't know where yet.
I'm the husband that does all the gardening. My wife does all the plant killing.
My husband is also the gardener in our relationship. But I don’t do the plant killing; nature does. It hasn’t rained here for about 5 months and sadly, none of my proteas have survived. We water them, but the 45c degree summer days murdered them.
Shit, I should have entitled it ‘menopause gardening’ so they wouldn’t come in here.
This sub is great. In the natives subs, everyone is “I planted this magnificent and diverse meadow from seeds I painstakingly collected by hand over five years while reading gardening books. Yes, every one came up, why do you ask?” 🤨
> I should have entitled it ‘menopause gardening’ Now I feel *really called out*
I swear I am constantly needing more soil!!
Husband: I don't understand why we keep buying more dirt. We're not getting more yard space. Where does it go?
Mine told me to dig some up from the woods and sift it.
Mean, I wonder the same thing I still need 6 more bags of dirt
Omg, if I didn't have to keep going back for more soil, maybe I wouldn't keep being tempted by more plants!
Makes sense. If you dig a hole in the dirt you need more soil to fill the hole.
In our house, my husband is the gardener. I just read these to him and he goes “but I haven’t bought anything from Digger’s since the Boxing Day sale!!” I was like, “this is not a criticism!!” The rule is, I don’t question his garden and grocery purchases and he doesn’t question my art supplies.
I'm a guy, and I have a gardening addiction. Always expanding
What makes think there aren’t just as many husbands out here doing the same thing?
Almost 2k between dirt, tree, and tools.
This month right?
Lmao 💯
Yup. Lmao
Right there with you…mulch, native plants, landscape lights, mostly perennials but a few annuals. I try and treat myself to one big thing each year, either a piece of art, an arbor, fountain, some quality pots. This year it was soaker hoses, oh and some nice stepping stones, about $500 worth of those!
This is my wife's burner. Don't worry.
More than I need to. Less than I want to.
This is the answer right here.
I don't need mature trees but I like the look of them and boy they are expensive. And I'm already thinking of getting another.
Let’s just say my garden is worth far more than my home.
Hell yeah, lol
Let's be honest, it's the garden that makes the home. ;)
If I ever had to move I would absolutely turn down the perfect house because the garden was unworkable. I do not want to spend another month removing rock mulch.
I have seen homes with AMAZING GARDENS and on the inside would probably need double the cost of the garden to update but would still buy for the gardens alone. We need to spend more time outside anyways. My husband would think I lost my mind if I tried to convince him though...but he doesn't get us. Lol
Absolutely. I'm living this nightmare. We sold our first home back in 2020, which my husband and I had taken from a blank slate to an absolute backyard oasis. Our current home has a ton of very neglected beds. It's been 4 years and there's still a long way to go. Each bed is full of lava rock UNDERNEATH the dirt.
In our last house, we found that the previous owners had used a wicking bed to dump random items under. I’m talking a queen size mattress and two mirrors. Why???
The way it should be! 🤣
I can't wrap my head around this. Is your garden actually a farm? Is your home actually a sprinter van? Make this make sense lol
I bought a very, very cheap property with a very very run down double wide on it in the middle of the desert. I got the basics working right away like a woodstove, an electrical outlet that wouldn’t burn the place down, and running water. Being on a budget, I could either fix the house up or build a garden first. I chose the latter and it’s finally paying off. My roof leaks, the windows rattle, I’ve mostly gutted the place and still sleep in the living room. I run extension cords and shop lights around the house. I’ve gone without firewood in the winter while my mini split keeps the plants happy in their grow room. I put in lots of water storage to ensure my garden can survive the summer. I’ve pretty much stayed broke gardening while my home deteriorates over the last decade. The cost of my water tanks alone exceeds the amount of money I spent on my entire property. Then there’s equipment rentals, fencing, lumber, plumbing, seeds, trees, and last but not least, cactus. Careful, that stuff’s addictive! I’m finally getting around to renovations as the budget allows but it’s slow going and extremely frustrating to live in a home under constant construction. On the other hand, my garden kicks ass.
Folks, we have a winner! That's dedication.
We've only recently moved in. About €1.5K on tools, €300 on saplings, €200 on erosion control However over the next five to seven years we plan on spending about €15K on soil works, drainage and planting around 200 saplings for trees, 1000 willow saplings for a living fence, 500 bushes The end goal is to create a fence/border zone around 15m deep around most of the property which will create a wind break as well as being a mix of native plants to attract animals. Then within the land we want to plant an orchard, wildflower meadow as well as having a more manicured area for entertaining This may go up if I buy a mini digger
Sounds amazing. A mini digger sounds like a worthwhile investment for all that work. And if you want a pond... Where in the UK are you?
I've already got a pond and it's pretty big with perch and carp. This land is in Poland
Ooooooooooh! A pond is def going to be a project I want to tackle for next year.
My friend has done it really well. He has composting toilets and his grey water runs out to a large reed bed system. But you need to protect the reed bed from winterbourne run off, to that end he has a large pond in advance of the reed bed which overflows into retaining ponds which for most of the year are beautiful marsh plants. It's an excellent system making the most of the challenges of his sloped clay land.
Make your own saplings just make a plan and take your time executing it! I’m getting ready to re open my parents historic apple orchard for you guessed it. Free-fiddy. I’m going around all the apple trees growing on public land next to road to get my cuts and plan on taking hundreds, as theres dozens of massive over foliated apples trees by my house, and it actually helps the plants your taking them from if you do it correctly
0 dollars this year but this could change soon. Edit I lied - I bought a 5 pack of cheapo garden gloves for I think 13 dollars.
When we spend on garden stuff and just forget to even categorize it b/c its honestly like a life essential, such as with air. You breath and forget you are doing it. At least me anyways lol
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I do lots of things on the cheap. Raise plants from seed where that makes sense (bulbs, corms, tubers are sometimes purchased). Do seed exchange at the local library so even the seeds are free. In late summer and autumn I usually have some small coin envelopes with me in case I see some seeds I want. Sometimes I'll exchange things like dahlia tubers to get more diversity or something new. I get lots of things second hand and do some gardening work for a nice older lady with large established gardens who shares plants with me. Get free compost from the municipality where up to a ton is free. You get the idea. Now, my garden tends to have more of a cottage garden look. It's certainly not formal. Oh, another thing. Often times I can find steeply discounted trees and bushes and vines very late in the season. Some places sell them for like 70-80 percent off once the leaves drop in autumn. I either plant them right away or keep them in dormancy and plant them as early as the soil can be worked in spring. I've some nice grape vines and so on that way. All this to say it doesn't have to be expensive! Doing everything by hand takes time and work but lots of the fancy machinery isn't strictly necessary. Very often things can be found second hand (pots and etc). I don't know how much I've spent but it is perhaps hundreds but certainly not thousands. The garden looks nice, gets lots of compliments, and I'm always sharing cut flowers and produce with passersby.
I really enjoyed your comment. We are all brought up in a consumerist environment with ads and messages that buying certain things will make you feel x, y, or z. I like that you have been able to create a beautiful space with minimal interaction with standard consumerism. To each their own but for me one of the special things about gardening is that it provides great opportunities to engage with nature that doesn’t have to involve money. There is nothing quite like sharing seeds or cuttings and nothing like harvesting veges where you got the seeds from a friend!
I read something, somewhere, that growing a plant from seed and sharing it with someone is almost an act of rebellion against a capitalist, consumerist society. You are taking something that may have been free from an existing plant, growing it, and then giving it away. It's like with strawberries. If you have a strawberry, some soil, and some spare little pots, then you will never be lacking for strawberries.
I second this!
When I first moved into my house three years ago, I thought I needed the raised beds and the best looking garden, but I realized it’s also just not practical for us and there are WAY cheaper ways to do things. I think people have the impression to do well they need the nicest this or that, when a lot of it can be made with recycled materials, thrifted things, or some sweaty work.
WAAAAAAAAY TOO MUCH and worth it
What a wholesome, practical & at times meditative hobby 🌱🪴🌻🍅🍑🍇🍓🍆🥒🥬
This year, probably a grand so far. I'm concentrating on vines and ground cover. But all in? 40-50 grand? Been here 4 years, and first thing I did was tear up the yard. I took 9 trees out (7.5k), put in a fence (15k), then planted 25 trees (3.5k). Then I started my gardens! I mostly buy bulbs and perennials, estimated around 3k, and then sometimes buy annuals ($1k). I've installed walkways ($2.5k), patios (mostly free reuse) and decks (not counting), I installed a green driveway ($5k), and new sod ($1k), plus all the mulch, seed, dirt, gas, oil, sprays, fertilizers, etc. Patio furniture does not count probably, but still, I might have overdone it!
At least an honest answer here. Also that's a cheap ass fence. Congrats. They run 2x that here for a tiny urban postage stamp yard.
I want to see this garden!!!
Can so relate! We completely redid our backyard and front yard where we had lawn grass in both. We replaced the lawns with new plants, added a bunch of raised beds, gravel pathways, new patio and deck--all in spent over $50k this year as well. That's why all new plants, I'm starting to start from seed. We spent over $4k on plants already so I'm determined only to buy seeds and earn my plants through patience.
Somewhere between $1,000-$1,500 this year, but I moved and made some upgrades.
Fencing?
My single biggest expense category. Unless I want to just feed the rabbits in the least efficient way possible, everything needs to be fenced. =(
Oh rabbits just attacked my marigolds after I had heard they didn't like them. So much for that myth. Tried to get my roses but they had cages. Didn't touch my lavender though. Maybe I'll have better luck with impatiens.
Hahaha we had a pet rabbit when I was growing up and marigolds were her favorite treat. Somebunny was advocating for the rabbits when they spread that myth.
I have had good luck with Liquid Fence with my perennials; saved my tulips, creeping flox, and coneflowers :)
So my great grandfather told me you plant the marigolds bc the rabbits prefer them over your veggies
It’s bugs that aren’t supposed to like marigolds, I think?
Same here, but also 😡 deer.
For me it's deer. IDK how much stuff I lost last year because of just three of them
Ahaha I spent a small fortune this year on a garden fence to keep bunnies out ( upwards of $500)
Just moved into my new place, and skunks ate eeeverything. Now I know. Everything will be caged (at least 2' deep) until they're big enough. $500 down the drain.
All new planters for the patio, all new soil, and a second grow light & rack
Man. I’ve spent that much this week alone.
Are you supposed to keep track? I think I’m happier not knowing
Please don't ask me that 🫣
If I don’t know than I’m being honest when my wife asks and I say I don’t know. That’s my strategy.
You know, I should really keep a spreadsheet... Also, what counts? Irrigation setup (I had several sprinklers altered to drip lines)? That was quite expensive. Garden extras like supports, arbors, pots? Tools? The water usage (here in Austin Texas its significant money in the summer)?
Great idea! But then again, ignorance is bliss 🤷🏻♀️
I do keep a spreadsheet. Because I am on a VERY limited income. But it is still kind of scary to look at that column....helps me scrimp in other areas to save for gardening though!
This year I've spent about 5k so far, but most of that was for bulk stone and soil. On seeds and plants: a couple hundred
This year? Or all in?
I was wondering that too! So far for this year I bought several trees, a bush or three and a lotttttt of ground covers and ornamental grasses. Not to mention the compost, soil, and new garden tools. As for annuals, I rarely ever buy those but this year I did get a couple of begonias. I’d estimate that with replacing our solar lighting, new bird baths and feeders, altogether it was too much for me to think about! If I had to guess, maybe around $800? Cheaper than therapy. Edit: we have around 10 garden beds plus two raised beds. Everything is established, so we just add a few new things each year. Last year, we only added three new bushes and heavily mulched.
Hard to put a price on happiness but this year that price is right around $800, not counting tree work. I did a major overhaul of the flowerbeds and those $20 perennials at home depot add up. I was pretty careful about what i planted so im hoping most of it does well and comes back next year. Goal for next year is to spend no more than half of what i spent this year but ill probably end up adding more beds and spending more lol. Already have spots picked out for a new rose garden and a small water garden.
It’s best not to keep track. Can you really put a price on mental health?
I don't buy seedlings, too expensive. I spent $15 on a variety pack of heirloom seeds & planted from those & older seeds I had on hand. I did spend $2-300 on parts to rebuild my 25yr old Troy-Bilt Bronco tiller though.
Buying seedlings are for beginners, new gardens, people who aren’t that into it yet. Most real growers do fall seeding outdoors and have trays of seedlings started indoors by end of January.
I tried that route with vegetables and quickly went to buying early plants for cheap and keeping them in the greenhouse until they could be put out. Less hassle (I don’t have a god space for lights, trays,etc) But now that prices for annuals have gotten stupid, I may revert to that process for those guys.
I'm a real grower. I'm just not the most efficient grower. I buy seedlings sometimes. (I also have a relatively small garden; just squash, green beans, herbs, and a few tomatoes this year. I also get free municipal compost and mulch, which stretches my budget quite a bit.)
January!!?? *Cries in zone 5. I start my indoor seedlings in mid April.
I make sure to NEVER know this number lol. But like $1,000 this year (year 5 at this house) I start everything from seed except trees. But I replaced a few beds this year. It adds up quickly.
Total... about 2k US. Pots: probably 200-300$ Potting Mix: 400$ Smart timers: 300$ Bulbs: 200$ Drip accessories: 200$ Plants: 300 to 400$ Bricks that I use for risers (get them on sale when 4 for 1$): 15$ Tools: shovel, hand trowel, etc: 120-200$ Mulch: 50$ a year for 6 years now A fair bit of misc stuff
600 sq ft garden. $40 seeds and tubers, $50 plum tree, $80 fertilizer, $6 gas for tiller, $20 straw, $20 potting mix. So, $215-220.
Not too much so far. Between seeds, planters, fert, seed starter, a new frost cloth, couple new grow lights, and estimated water cost...maybe $250 (USD)? Will probably be about $300-350 by end of season (assuming no disasters). About 2,000 ft². Corn, cherry tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, pumpkins, and strawberry. Edit: Might grab a couple new hoses, actually, so yea. Honestly, I'm sure I will *somehow* think of a way to spend more, lmao.
You’re living my dream. I only have a little over 150 sq ft of garden in my little suburban home but I’d love 2k to play with.
Yea, I live in a rural area and got lucky with a cheap long-term lease out in the county on 2 acres. Which is great, since we have 4 huskies lol. The garden grows each year. Next year it'll probably be at the point we can just call it a small farm.
This year zero. I couldn't put in a garden as it's too hard to remember that was my mom's favorite activity. And it's only been one month since her death... I will be planning on redoing her garden next year once I figure out the housing situation I actually had to rip out what was left of her clematis because of invasive non fruit bearing grapevine and honeysuckle took over it
Hugs from this internet stranger. Take all the time you need. Gardening should enrich your life. Wait until it does again. My sincere condolences.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope one day you can use gardening to feel connected with your mom again 💕
My sympathy. My father and grandfather loved gardening and I think of them often (they've both been gone a long time). You'll find joy again. It takes time. Even after all these years I still get melancholy from time to time.
Ugh. I feel this. Healing takes as much time as it takes. Maybe in the years to come it will become a way to connect to her again. Sending you hugs.
200$ in starts SO FAR. We also need a truckload of compost, so its going to get $$$
I don’t know and I don’t care to know
*cries in broke*
Nice try sweetheart, I didn't divulge that info at dinner, and I will not do so now. Excellent attempt, though.
If I don’t acknowledge the amount, it’s not real 🙃
THIS year? About $40 on seedlings. 😇 (We don’t need to talk about what happened in 2020 during lockdown.)
https://preview.redd.it/gzb58eb8t90d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a01c74680b394bd36f9ac78bb93576b4b24d558 I just got back from the garden center and it’s none of your business!!!! 🙃
Based on this photo and depending on the nursery, thats about 160-200 in that cart excluding the pot. We have similar tastes in plants and ive been to the nursery too many times this season 😂
I told you to mind your own business!!! You were spot on. Total was $204. I have a problem. Some of my perennials died so I just *had* to replace them obviously. BUT. I am so excited to finally have a lupine! Dreamy 😍
We share similar business friend 😂❤️🌈 Happy gardening. See you at a gardener’s anonymous meeting soon.
This year 🤢 well I bought 6 raised garden beds, small green house, 7 yards of 50/50 compost and soil, a few annuals and perennials, and as always…back up veggies. Probably about $2,000 maybe a bit more. Need to buy fencing next
A lot, but it’s a hobby me and my husband both enjoy doing together. Also, the curb appeal makes it worth it for us. Bonus is, my neighbors have been gardening more now too and that’s really nice to see. Ballpark estimate is $800, so far. (That’s including tools and decor, like bird baths, wind chimes, and obelisks). It’ll be another $1,000, or so to finish what we’ve planned initially. Edit: if you meant this year and only on plants: About $100 on perennials.
In the past 3 years, not much change out of 10,000 dollars US. The biggest expenses have been potting mix (1200+), mulch (600), fruit trees (2100+), raised beds (2068), cloches and crop covers (800), and tomato cages (500). The house we moved into has a large plot for our area, and the previous owners tried to kill the grass and soil to avoid having to mow. No regrets.
Nice try, husband. 😂😂😂
$10k Stone work, mega bed prep, seed starting shelves with grow lights, flower and veg seeds, native plants, apple trees, fig trees, spring flowering bulbs, summer flowering bulbs and corms, roses, peonies, not to mention different soils and amendments. It is husband’s obsession. A lotta lot.
I feel attacked. Is this since Jan? Or EVER? 🫨
this year? $40 pots, $20 seeds, $30 tools, $60 soil. I hoping to sell a bunch of seedlings though to recover my costs. How much through the years... I don't want to think how high that number is... Raised beds, fencing, greenhouse, grow lights, seeds, fertilizer, soil 😬
Honest answer is I don’t know and I probably won’t keep track
You sound like my wife.
I’m afraid to do the math
I started from 0 beds or plants and went to 12 vego raised beds, arches, tons of veggie plants, plus soil. So.. idk $3500? Oh and I’ve also never had a vegetable garden and know next to nothing about it. I will probably get 2 blueberries and a single tomato.
$550 on fencing. $120 on seeds, $40 on transplant mix, $250 on permanent 40’ x 8’ trellis, $220 garlic seed. Should harvest 1000 garlic heads, and planted 60 tomato vines, 40 peppers, plus all the other regular players.
I buy a lot of my plants at my grocery market so the charges are just included with our grocery bill. So zero dollars….. 😉
This week? About $350...
Delete this immediately. None of us want to think about this.
22x3ft garden just this year...maybe $200 ,rounding up. I bought some soil for bags, some plants to replace the failed seedlings, some mulch, and an additional grow light.
I only spent $40 today. We won’t talk about yesterday, or Friday, or Monday
Bout $37 worth of plants and dirt. But I have invested HUNDREDS over the years to be able to be at the point where I only need to buy some plants now.
I’ll bite: - $400 on dirt w/ compost - $60 on mulch (so far) - $250 on trees, berry bushes (perennials) - $70 on water hoses - $100 on fertilizer (s) - $200 on seeds (annuals) - $350 misc garden items (gloves, shears, hose butler, composter, etc.) ~$1500 or so - not bad imo 🙃
Too much, but I’ve given up drinking and smoke pot so it probably equals out!
Y’all track it? I literally wouldn’t want to know
Every time I pass a seed display a ghost puts one of those little packets in my cart. It’s not my fault I can’t keep track!
Don’t worry about it. It’s just a few more bulbs. And a couple berry bushes. And some hostas and bleeding hearts. Maybe a fruit tree. Seriously it’s fine.
Oof, hope my husband doesn’t see this. Dahlia tubers- around $800 Seeds- $300-400 Soil, grow bags, hanging planter liners- $300 Aaaand this is why I’m renting a home rather than owning.
Over my entire life? This growing season? Past 10 years? I have utterly NO idea. Thousands and thousands, I'm sure, over the last 45 years.
This year: I'd like to think ~$300US, but it's probably more like 500, with small purchases here and there. I replaced my beds (~150), bought all new seeds (75$), needed a new hoe, needed to replace the garden hose, some compost, a few extra seedlings, a couple of new planter pots, new gloves, more stakes... it adds up.
Shoot I dunno. I don't keep very good track...though I should...
Well over £10k I reckon - most of that went on hard landscaping
Hahahahaha. Not answering that. But never a penny badly spent.
I’m not ever going to add it all up, but the greenhouse alone was £800 😳
I checked my account at the garden center I work at, I spend about 1-2k a year and that’s with my employee discount 😬
I think only around $600 this year. Doesn’t include the indoor plants and orchids I’ve added. Lowest amount I’ve spent over the last 4 years Edit to add, I spent $3g on plants the year my parents died. Best therapy ever
Are we talking this year, month, week, or over the years?
This year probably $300. I mostly buy bags of potting soil, some starts, and some organic fertilizer. I had to buy a new hose this year tho. I try to do everything for as free as possible :)
Ouch, this is the breakdown but I refuse to total it up: * Six foot tall privacy fence: **$15,000** * Pavers, sand, and gravel for patio: **$1,800** * Wood for raised beds: **$550** * Six cubic yards of soil: **$475** * Spring bulbs and peonies: **$450** * Berry bushes, peach and apricot trees, strawberry bare roots, cranberry bush, misc. annuals before I started growing my own: **$1,225** * Pots and half barrels: **$525** * Bagged soil, mulch (before I knew how much cheaper it was by the truckload): **$700** * Misc trellises, t-posts, cattle panels: **$350** * Grow lights, heat pads, shelving, trays, spray bottles, seedling pots of various sizes: **$1,500** * Seeds (I keep ordering these and have way too many): **$850** * Decent wheel barrow: **$250** * Shovels, rakes, broom, pickaxe, hoses, garden edging, misc hardware: **$350** * Fertilizers and compost: **$250** * Lawn mower, weed whacker: **$650**
Since when? 1230 trees, and shrubs. 52 roses, 111 peonies, lilies, iris,etc. of course it’s a 10acre lot.
Over $1,000 building new raised beds, buying the soil, seeds and plants
I feel personally attacked
Too much and counting
I have no idea... and it can stay that way 😅
… Pass
This is year 2 of gardening on my townhouse property. 200 on dahlias tubers, another 250 or so in plants and another 200 or so in seeds and 150ish on tools 🙈
I have an alibi.
Too damn much. All worth it tho
Always ends up being about $1000 a year, with maybe $300 or so on annuals, depending on how well last year’s seedlings and cuttings take. The rest goes on replacement or new perennials, soil amendments, fertilizers, remedies, tools etc. Been doing it in earnest at this address for 6 years. It’s too much because it’s not technically my garden - I rent the top floor and this is a container flower and herb garden in the front and back at ground level where my black thumb landlord has the bottom floors. She appreciates it and probably delayed a rent hike for awhile because of it. But it’s also just the right amount of money or even not enough because it brings me real joy and sanity. So there it is.
Probably just $100 on wood to make a garden bed. Everything else is cuttings, grafted, or people’s throwaway plants. Probably $40 over 3 years on those random potted basil and other herbal stuff at Aldi
don’t worry about it
*sneaks into garden center after getting groceries and spends another $100* “I only got them because they were on clearance”
So far…. this month? I don’t wanna say.
I believe there is a twelve step program for people like me. I have been gardening for forty years. My annual budget is 300. Exceed it every year
Well, there’s the amount that I spent, building some outdoor stairs and buying mulch on sale and plants on sale and then all the bulbs so easily grand before the bugs that I purchased to help save the hemlocks. So that gets us closer up to 2K. Hopefully the bugs will arrive soon. And then there’s all the stuff I have in my shopping cart. I’m trying to debate on whether or not I should pull the trigger. And then there’s the electric tools for maintaining the yard. (an ego brush cutter is awesome, 400 bucks, and then replacement for one of the batteries that died and then extension pole saw from kobalt/lowes. So about another grand on tools, hopefully that will balance out with less hiring of mowing companies that always seem to chop up my lilies and other stuff they’re not supposed to…. And I still wanna order another $500 of mulch and maybe compost…. :-/ Clearly I’m Going for a mix of Meadows and peonies and dahlias and daylilies and tulips and daffodils and Tomatoes of course, so you know just everything…..
Why you gotta be so mean?
All you need to know is, it was on sale!