How to Start a Garden for Free, According to Longtime Gardeners

11.05.2024 - 11:33 / thespruce.com / Ashley Chalmers

As much as we love a beautiful garden full of lush greenery, it’s hard to deny that starting a garden and buying plants can start adding up in price.

And to add insult to injury, if you're new to gardening or not sure plants will survive your trial and error, it might feel like you’re throwing money away.

Imagine our surprise when we learned there’s a whole world of free plants and ways to start a garden out there.

We turned to a few of our favorite gardeners, and they clued us in on some of the best-kept secrets for keeping your plant budget low this season and beyond.

The Spruce / Cielito Vivas

If you’ve spent time on houseplant or gardening TikTok, you know the widespread love for plant propagation. Teri Valenzuela, the natural science manager at Sunday, shares this love and recommends it as a great way to source free plants.

Be warned, though, that this one takes some time. “Depending on your plant, don't rush to get them in the ground,” she says. “Start by propagating indoors or controlled environment.”

This is key for developing a strong root system and makes for a much easier transition to the outdoors. But if you want to move things along, Cate Singleton, Tilly’s director of design, says you can use a good growth hormone and a humid environment to speed up the process.

“This can be created using plastic coverings or domes to help keep moisture in,” she says.

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The Spruce / Autumn Wood

Another great way to source free plants is through plant swaps. You can look around for locally organized groups, or Valenzuela says she likes to simply ask her neighbors.

This is an especially