Don’t let consumption core fool you; you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on gardening supplies to be a “real gardener.” I’m a thrifty gal, and my secondhand hacks have never done me wrong in the planting department. If you hate gatekeeping like I do, you’ll love my tips for thrifting and repurposing all the gardening gear a beginner may need.
A Secondhand Screwdriver Punches Seed Holes Like a Pro
A secondhand screwdriver may only cost you a few bucks, but it’ll till and punch the soil as well as any rake or machine. The longer the screwdriver, the better, especially if you have hard dirt that needs a little extra beating before you can work a shovel into it.
Measuring depth for your seed holes works great with a screwdriver, too. Just measure up the screwdriver as high as you need and wrap some tape around it. You’ll have precisely punched holes in minutes.
Seeds Cultivate in Old Coffee Tins Just as Well as in Fancy Pots
If you’re new to gardening, you may get scammed into needing the “right” environment to cultivate your seeds in. You don’t need a particular pot or special container to ensure your seeds sprout. All you need is an old coffee tin or baked bean can and some good dirt.
Just make sure you punch out drainage holes in the bottom of the can before planting. You don’t want to drown your seeds before you’ve really gotten started.
Metal Serving Spoons Dig as Well (if Not Better) Than a Spade
My grandfather bequeathed my mom one of his old kitchen spoons from the army, and I’ve never found a better spade in my life. It’s easy to bend out any dents or dings that come from hitting rock, and its extra-long handle gives you enough reach to scrape the bottom of tall pots.
Metal serving spoons might not look like good gardening gear, but they might turn out to be some of your favorite tools.
Anything Can Be a Planter if You Can Drill Holes Into It
Pretty much any pot-shaped item you find at the thrift store can turn into a planter…so long as you can drill drainage holes in it. And if you don’t want to play a game of Russian roulette with a thrifted pot, try some woven baskets instead.
Yardsticks & Rulers Are a Handy Multi-Tool to Have
It doesn’t matter what antique store or thrift shop you step into. There’s a high likelihood you’ll stumble across a ruler or yardstick of some kind. These ultra-cheap measuring implements are a secret gardening workhorse.
From measuring how far apart you want to plant everything to digging holes at a precise depth, yardsticks and rulers are multi-tools worth thrifting. And, if you’re planning on planting vining vegetation — like tomatoes — they work just as well as any expensive trellis.
Vintage Drink Pitchers Cost Way Less Than a Fancy Watering Can
You’d be shocked at how expensive decorative metal watering cans are today. Chip and Joanna Gaines want you to pay $58 for a that won’t cover a fraction of my yard in a single trip.
If you’re working on a budget, head to the thrift store and look for the classic tea, Kool-Aid, and lemonade pitchers of our youth. These vintage pitchers were made for picking up and pouring and will hurt your hands far less than any fancy watering can at the store will.
Metal Tins Make Quick Work of Fertilizing Your Plants
My great-grandfather was handy by necessity, and one of the most unique contraptions he made was a fertilizing coffee tin. Just punch a few holes into an old coffee tin, pop the plastic lid over the holes, and fill the can with fertilizer. He rigged up a handle at the top, but you can just as easily use it without.
When you’re ready to fertilize, pull the top off, and gently shake the can and the fertilizer over the designated area.
Wooden Bookshelves Make the Perfect Base for Raised Beds
Raised garden beds are more popular than ever, but they do have a large upfront cost. Or so you might think. Instead of crossing your fingers and wielding a nail gun for the first time to save some money, look for used wooden bookshelves.
Place a few pieces of cardboard underneath and inside the bookshelves to keep any grass or weeds from overtaking your plants.
Old Bed Sheets Were Made for Protecting Plants From Frost
Old bed sheets are great for a lot of things: keeping your floors protected from paint, preventing your windshield from getting frosted over, and insulating your plants on those cold spring mornings. If you’re still fighting frost, old bed sheets staked into the ground work just as well as any plastic plant cover.
Beach Tote Bags Are Big Enough to Cart Your Tools Around In
Sure, you can invest in a fancy yard cart, and some people with lower mobility will need something easy to maneuver like that. However, if you’re only planting a few things to start with, you can load all of your tools up in a beach tote. They’re big enough to store a lot of stuff, and the canvas material is both tough and easy to clean.
Patio Chair Cushions Double as Garden Kneeler Pads
Gardening pads really changed the game for me, but don’t feel like you need to spend a lot of money on a name-brand cushion. Patio chair cushions work just as well because they’re plush and made with weather-resistant material.
A Slice & Stitch Will Turn Compression Shirts Into Arm Protectors
Long-sleeved athletic compression shirts can do just the same thing as garden-specific arm protectors. Simply slice the sleeves off above the elbow, and stitch around the slice to keep it from fraying. Will it protect from more prickly plants like arm protectors? No. But does it work in a pinch? Totally.
It Doesn’t Take Much to Start a Garden
Don’t let corporations gatekeep gardening from you. With a little know-how, some hard work, and a thrifty eye, you can cultivate a beautiful garden for cents on the dollar.
