Backyard Bounty: Tips for Starting a Garden at Home

A secret for saving money on your grocery budget and stocking your kitchen with fresh veggies may be as close as your backyard. If you’ve never grown a garden before, give it a shot this spring. Set aside a small plot of dirt, and watch seeds become a backyard bounty with these tips for starting a garden at home. Plus, don't forget to check out the deals on everything from plant stakes to garden rakes over at the UltimateCoupons' Gardening Coupons page!

Set Aside Space - You don’t need acres of land to have a successful garden. Setting aside a few square feet is plenty—especially for beginner gardeners. Consider a raised garden which will keep weeds at bay. Follow these two simple steps for building a raised garden from Better Homes and Gardens.

Find Free Seeds - There are plenty of resources for finding free seeds which lowers your investment in your backyard garden. Check out WinterSown.org. It’s an organization that receives donated seeds and sends them out to would-be gardeners like you. Don’t forget to include a self addressed stamp envelope with your request. You can also get free vegetable seeds from HumeSeeds.com if you agree to give your excess bounty to a local food bank.

Maintain Soil - Before planting your seeds, make sure the soil is healthy. Add manure or fertilizer to give your plants extra help. When you plant your seeds, be sure to keep soil loose because compacted soil can stunt plant growth because roots won’t have enough room to grow. You’ll also want to make sure your garden gets plenty of water and sun.

Join a Garden Club - Join the Home Depot Garden Club. It’s free and you’ll get exclusive coupons and tips with your membership. You’ll find lots of helpful articles and regional updates based on your location.

Track Your Veggies - An important part of successful gardening is knowing when to harvest your veggies. Check out SavvyGardener.com for a glossary of common garden vegetables. That way, you’ll know exactly when to take your veggies out of the garden and put them onto your plate.

By Alison Storm

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