Confession time. I’m a career tightwad. I love saving money. I want quality but I don’t want to pay more for it. Gardening is no exception. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save on everything from plants to tools.

First, know that gardeners are generous souls. We love to share seeds, cuttings, divisions and more. So tap your gardening friends to see what you can snag or swap. Look for seed swaps. National Seed Swap Day is in late January. Many organizations including Master Gardener groups organize swaps. But you can find seed swaps throughout the year or organize your own.

Make your own compost. Use free pallets, chicken wire or recycled wood to make the frame. Toss in leaves, grass, straw, food scraps and other organic materials, all free. Grow plants you can divide in a few years to get free plants to use or share. Most perennials and bulbs should be divided every three years. Growing plants from seeds can save money, too. I direct seed some plants like basil and squash. Others nurture seedlings under grow lights which involves an initial investment but saves a good bit of money in the long run.

Potting soil prices have gone up, up, up so everyone’s looking for deals. Save by buying broken bags at a discount, hitting end-of-the-season sales or sharing the cost of a big bale with friends. Tap the buddy system to save in other ways. Split a flat of flowers or the cost of rented equipment like an lawn aerator.

Use what you have. Make pea stakes – trellises for the vines to climb – from tree and shrub trimmings. Turn chopped leaves and untreated grass trimmings into mulch. Become a rabid recycler. Use plastic salad boxes as seed starting trays. Convert old dresser drawers into grow boxes for salad greens. Repurpose everyday containers to grow vegetables. Five-gallon buckets and crates can become affordable small-space gardens.

Save seeds. Unless you have a hybrid plant that won’t come back true to type, save seeds to use next year. Seeds even a few years old will often deliver good germination. Market your muscle. Some CSAs will give you a share of the crop or seedlings if you work in their gardens. Some gardeners I know have the same arrangement. Seek out sales. Garden groups often hold spring plant sales, offering significant discounts. Check with your local Master Gardener group to find out if they have a sale. Some public gardens also have plant sales.

Shop off season. Look for bargain plants and supplies at garden centers in late fall. Buy leftover amaryllis bulbs after Christmas. Book an arborist in the off-season to get a discount on tree pruning. Don’t overlook yard sales, thrift shops, and estate sales for discounted tools, pots, and other finds. Older tools often have plenty of life left.

Tap tech and barter. One garden writer found a woman on Craigslist too pregnant to dig her iris and strawberry beds. She did the digging in exchange for some rhizomes and runners. Check construction sites for free bricks and stones for paths and borders. One friend got a massive boulder by asking nicely. Another scored handsome old bricks, free for the hauling. Need free gardening advice? Call or e-mail your local Extension office with questions or send your questions and photos through our Ask Extension service. We’re here to help.

The garden savings go on and on. Take advantage, and don’t forget to pay it forward. Consider donating some of your seeds, harvest, and time to those who have helped you.

By Annette Cormany, Principal Agent Associate and Master Gardener Coordinator, Washington County, University of Maryland Extension.

This article was previously published by Herald-Mail Media. Read more by Annette.