Check out this strategy for enhancing your garden with new plants for FREE!!
Even though my desert home just saw snow, I can’t help but feel like spring is right around the corner. And one of my favorite things to do in the spring is garden.
But if you’ve ever gone to a plant nursery or the garden section of a store, you know that plants are not cheap. Even seeds can be expensive depending on what you want, and there’s no guarantee that sprouting will be successful.
So how can you fill out your yard without breaking the bank?
Build your garden with free plants from found seeds!
Produce
If there’s some sort of fruit or vegetable that you just can’t live without and want to try growing, keep the seeds from the produce that you get at the grocery store and plant them. For smaller seeds, you can start them out in egg cartons and move them up into larger and larger containers and eventually the ground as they sprout and get larger. It’s fun to try growing different varieties, and you’re using something that you would have bought anyway and possibly discarded.
Native
One thing that I love to do is to collect seeds from native vegetation. These are plants that already grow naturally in your area. Oftentimes these are the best plants to put in your yard because they are already suited to the environment. By using seeds from plants that have survived and reproduced in the area, you increase the chances that your seedlings will be successful in your yard.
Keep an eye out for flowers, and you will know that fruit and seeds are on their way.
Landscaping
Certain plants are chosen for landscaping based on their hardiness, attractiveness, and drought tolerance. These plants, like native plants, have been surviving and thriving in your current climate conditions, so you are likely to have success in your yard as well.
I have definitely been known to discreetly (and sometimes not so discreetly, ha!) grab a handful of seed pods of an interesting plant in a parking lot. And honestly, I’ve maybe had some looks, but no one really cares. They’re just going to fall on the ground and get raked up anyway. I also like to ask my friends and family for seeds if they have plants that I’m interested in.
Houseplants
Houseplants can often be propagated using cuttings, which can either be rooted in soil or rooted in water and transferred to soil. So if you have friends or family who have houseplants you like, ask if they’d be willing to share a cutting with you.
Aloe vera pups in my yard. 
Cactus I grew from pups I obtained off Craigslist!
Also, if you’re into succulents, you can usually plant an arm of a parent plant and propagate a second plant. This can also generally be done with cacti as well. Succulents and cacti will also have pups grow out near the parents that can be dug up and transplanted as well.
Two Slight Catches
Admittedly, they’re not completely free plants in that you’ll need containers, soil, and water, but these are things you would need for any new plant anyway. It’s also a strategy that requires patience, but I find it extremely satisfying to watch my plants grow from seeds.
Go Forth and Garden!
I feel like building my garden out of found seeds and cuttings is like a scavenger hunt. If you pay attention, there’s all kinds of cool plants out there that you might not ordinarily notice. And it’s totally possible to have them in your yard too! Using seeds and cuttings is also an awesome way to make the most of plants that you already have and want more of. It’s also a great activity to do with kiddos to teach them about gardening and different types of plants.
As always, check out my updates on Facebook and Instagram and feel free to peruse Homebody Hall for more ideas on how to make your house a home, on a budget! Happy creating!
No post found!
Want to remember these plant sourcing tips? Be sure to pin this guide to your favorite Pinterest board!
