5 ways to save money in your garden

Brits are being told of five things they could be doing in their garden to help them save money.

Garden design experts at LightingLegends.com suggest installing a water butt and using solar powered lighting to cut costs.

Maintaining a garden can be expensive but there are ways to minimise costs and save money.

Using solar powered lighting and rainwater from water butts means that households can make use of natural resources and save on their water and electricity bills over time.

The experts also advise upcycling where possible and giving old household items a second lease of life in the garden.

Jon Saeed, managing director of LightingLegends.com said: “Running a home isn’t easy and maintaining a well kept garden can be a massive cost.

“We’re encouraging households to work smarter and save in certain areas of their garden. Solar powered lighting is a great example, these lights will get their energy from the sunlight in the day to power up at night, over time this can save you a lot on your energy bills.

“Upcycling household items also brings endless opportunities and you can really get creative with this. We’ve seen it all from old boots being used as planters to pallets being used as garden seating.”

Things you can do in your garden to save money:

1. Install a water butt

Water butts are a large container that sits in your garden and collects rainwater. This water can then be used to water plants, top up ponds or water features and wash the patio and other garden furniture. The natural outdoor water could help you save money on your water bills.

2. Use solar powered or LED lighting

Solar powered lights get their energy from the sunlight in the day so they can illuminate your garden at night. They’re easy to install and are a great choice for keeping electricity bills low. LED lights are another option that are long lasting and energy efficient.

3. Grow your own salad and vegetables

Growing your own salad and vegetables will not only save you money but it can also feel really rewarding. Things like lettuce, radishes, and spinach are all fairly easy to grow.

4. Upcycle waste and rubbish

Get creative and start upcycling items instead of throwing them away. Use sticks from ice lollies as plant tags or turn old watering cans and wheelbarrows into planters instead of buying new pots. Once you get creative the ways to upcycle are endless.

5. Start composting

Start composting your kitchen scraps like vegetable peelings and coffee grounds and combine them with garden waste such as leaves and grass clippings to create a nutrient rich compost. This could reduce your need to spend money on expensive fertilisers.