BUDDING gardeners will understand the frustrations of painstakingly perfecting your flower beds and veg patch, only for dreaded pests to come along and start destroying your plants.
If you’re fed up with aphids and other minibeasts undoing all your hard work, there’s help at hand.
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A gardening expert has come up with a clever hack to get rid of the pesky pests and the good news is – it won’t burn a hole in your wallet.
Michael Foote from money-saving website Quotegoat.com told The Sun: “There’s a really cheap and easy way to eradicate pests, thanks to two cheap household cupboard items.
“All you need is some fresh chilli and some fresh garlic.”
At Aldi, you can pick up a 65g pack of chilli peppers for 65p.
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At Sainsbury’s you can buy a clove of garlic for 24p, and at Tesco you can find a four-pack for 95p.
Once you’ve got your ingredients, it’s then time to mix up your homemade concoction.
Michael said: “To create your own pest spray, crush three cloves of garlic and chop up a handful of chilli peppers.
“Mix them into about a litre of water – along with a splash of liquid soap.”
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Having done this, let the mixture sit overnight to allow the garlic and peppers to infuse into the water.
“In the morning strain the mixture through a sieve,” said the green-fingered whizz.
“Transfer the liquid into a spray bottle and apply your mixture onto your plants as usual.”
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You can purchase reusable spray bottles from The Range for 56p each.
“This is all about saving money on expensive commercial chemical pesticides by opting for an eco-friendly alternative,” said Michael.
“Garlic naturally deters pests such as caterpillars, beetles and aphids due to its potent scent.
“The spicy heat of chilli peppers creates an inhospitable environment for pests, preventing them from feeding on your plants.”
According to the pro, this DIY concoction comes with lots of benefits – both for your garden and your finances.
“Spray your plants and watch as pests retreat without causing harm to your plants, your wallet or the environment,” said Michael.
“In my view, it’s a complete no-brainer. It will do the same job as a commercial product, but for a fraction of the price.”
Other gardening tricks with store-bought products
This is not the only trick the gardening expert has come up with to save on the expense of store-bought products.
“You can make your own compost, too,” he said.
“Rather than buy bags which can be costly, consider creating your own instead.”
At B&Q, a 10-litre bag of compost will set you back a fiver.
Buy a few of these, and the cost will soon mount up.
Make your own, on the other hand, and it needn’t cost you a penny.
“Simply layer ‘green’ material and ‘brown’ material,” said Michael.
“Green items include things such as fruit and veg peels, coffee grounds and freshly-cut grass.
“Brown items include the likes of dry leaves, straw, shredded newspaper and cardboard.”
According to the gardening supremo, with regular maintenance, you should be able to produce nutrient-rich compost within three to six months.
As an added bonus, leftover coffee grounds help to deter pests such as slugs, too.
Don’t assume garden centres are the cheapest
Another of Michael’s simple money-saving tips for budding gardeners is to buy seeds, rather than splurge on starter plants.
“They are more affordable,” he said.
“Plus you’re likely to find there’s a wider selection of plant varieties to choose from.”
Don’t assume that garden centres are going to be the cheapest places to buy what you need.
“Supermarkets are a good place to look for plants and seeds,” said Michael.
Discount stores can also be a cheaper option.
At The Range, for example, there’s a host of seeds for sale for just 49p per pack, including cucumbers, carrots, sunflowers, lavender – as well as wildflower mixture scatter seeds.
Elsewhere, Wilko is currently running a four for £3 deal on selected seed products.
A clever way to cut costs, Michael adds, is by opting for perennial plants.
“These live for more than two years – and will return year after year – reducing the need for replanting,” he said.
“Once established perennials require less maintenance and water, making them a cost-effective choice.”
Peonies, for example, are colourful perennials that will bloom time and time again.
Black-eyed Susan, a daisy-like flower, is another prolific perennial.
It needs little care to grow with abundance making it a great low-maintenance addition to your garden.
At B&Q you can buy packs of peony seeds or black-eyed Susan for around £3 per pack.
“Keep your eyes peeled for second-hand gardening equipment in charity shops and on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace,” added Michael.
“You can often find quality items at a fraction of the price of buying new.”
The money-saving supremo also recommends regularly cleaning, sharpening and oiling gardening tools as this can extend their lifespan.
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“Proper maintenance reduces the need for frequent replacements,” he said.
“It ensures your tools remain effective and efficient for longer – helping to save your cash.”
Gardening tips and hacks
THERE are plenty of ways to transform your outdoor space on a budget.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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