The Latest Breaking News from Frugal Gardening

How Much Water Does a Garden Need During Late-Summer Heat?

Late-summer heat can turn a perfectly reasonable garden into a collection of thirsty plants by lunchtime. The tricky part involves knowing how much water actually helps because a quick sprinkle across the soil can look productive while doing very little for the roots. During hot weather, most gardens need consistent…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 28

A Lawn Dispute With an HOA Ended With 7 Days in Jail: Here’s How It Got That Far

Brown grass usually calls for a sprinkler, a hose, or perhaps a resigned shrug at the weather. For Irena Green, a homeowner in Riverview, Florida, brown grass became the opening chapter of an HOA dispute that eventually led to a court order, an arrest warrant, and seven days in the…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 28

7 Budget-Friendly Tasks That Prepare Raised Beds for Fall

Raised beds do not need an expensive autumn makeover. A little cleanup, some strategic soil care, and a few inexpensive materials can leave those beds in much better shape when spring rolls around.

Frugal Gardening · Aug 28

6 Pollinator Plants to Start Now for a Stronger Spring Garden

A pollinator garden does not begin when the first bees start buzzing around in spring. The smarter move happens months earlier, when gardeners choose plants that can settle in, develop roots, and prepare for another season of flowers. Starting perennial pollinator plants now can give the garden a head start…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 27

Before You Let the Kids Pick Those Berries, Make Sure They Aren’t One of These Plants

A backyard full of colorful berries can look like nature’s candy aisle, especially to a child who spots a shiny red or purple cluster hanging at exactly eye level. That makes berry season a great time to teach children one simple rule: pretty does not mean edible, and nobody should…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 27

How to Shade a Vegetable Garden Without Buying Expensive Structures

A vegetable garden does not need an elaborate pergola, pricey greenhouse kit, or backyard construction project to get a break from brutal summer sun. A few inexpensive materials, some strategic positioning, and a little garden ingenuity can create useful shade when heat starts stressing lettuce, spinach, young seedlings, and other…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 26

6 Ways to Save Seeds Without Ruining Next Year’s Germination

Saving seeds sounds wonderfully simple: let a plant make seeds, scoop them up, put them somewhere safe, and plant them next year. Unfortunately, seeds can act like tiny divas when gardeners give them the wrong treatment, especially when moisture, heat, immature seeds, or poor storage enter the picture. A little…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 26

Poison Ivy Isn’t the Only Plant Gardeners Should Learn to Recognize

Poison ivy gets the celebrity treatment when it comes to plants gardeners should avoid, and for good reason. Its three leaflets have inspired generations of cautious yard work, but several other plants can cause much more serious problems, from painful skin burns to severe poisoning if someone mistakes them for…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 26

Ordered Seeds on Amazon? You May Not Know What You’re Actually Planting

Ordering seeds online feels wonderfully simple. A few taps, a colorful photograph of an enormous flower, and suddenly the garden has a new botanical adventure on the way. The trouble starts when that photograph shows a plant that cannot actually exist, or when the packet contains seeds that have little…

Frugal Gardening · Aug 26

A Closer Look at Garden Supplies Worth Buying at End-of-Season Clearance

End-of-season garden clearance can turn a routine trip past the garden center into a surprisingly productive treasure hunt. As retailers make room for fall merchandise, gardeners can find useful tools, containers, trellises, soil amendments, and other supplies marked down simply because the calendar changed.

Frugal Gardening · Aug 26