Just A Buck (Some Now $1.25) Gardening Deals

Besides cooking on the grill while enjoying time with my husband and a glass of wine, my favorite thing to do in the spring and summer is to garden. The perfect day would actually include gardening for about eight hours and then lounging on the deck, sipping wine while watching my husband grill lots of goodies we picked up at a Farmer’s Market.

Between seeds, potting soil, garden tools, plants, containers, etc., it can add up pretty quickly when it comes to the wallet though. Which is why one of the first places I head for once the weather gets warmer is the Dollar Tree. While you won’t find a lot of large pots or fresh plants, you can find a ton of the basics and in some cases, the very exact items you’ll find at other stores but for much less.

I wear gardening gloves and let me tell you, they take a beating. We have no grass in our yard whatsoever. Instead it is big boulders, and lots of rock and mulch, which can be hard on gloves. I usually wear a pair out every summer and occasionally two, depending on the projects. For several years my husband bought gloves for me that quite frankly, I thought too expensive. He figured they would last longer and be more comfortable but you know, they really didn’t and weren’t. By the end of both summers, I had worn holes through the fingers just like I did with my less expensive ones. But there was about a $20 difference each summer in the prices.

For years now, these have been my “go-to” gloves for gardening. They are just a buck, they usually last me an entire summer full of digging, and if I lose one, it’s no big deal. The only downside is they don’t have a huge variety of sizes but I can usually find a pair that’s perfect.

And lots of tools to choose from. I personally wouldn’t buy something like the temperature gauge simply because our weather is too rough with the winds and it would break the first day probably. But items like the hand shovels work pretty great. I’m actually using the same hand shovel I bought a few years back from the Dollar Tree and it’s still sharp and working just fine.

Lots of “just for fun” decor you can add for next to nothing. Perfect for some themed outdoor events too.

You can find this brand of seed at Walmart, Walgreens, and other places. In fact you can find the same exact boxes of seeds as these, which covers 25 Sq. Ft., but you’ll pay more. These were a buck a box versus the $2.99 other places are selling them for. (Marigolds are one of the few flowers I can grow since the deer won’t eat them…usually.)

And lots and lots of smaller pots to choose from. (I like to pick up a few up to keep on hand for when I give friends and neighbors transplants from my garden or as little take-home gifts after a get-together here.)

I picked up these alphabet beads thinking the grandsons would have fun stringing them for some of my pots of seeds. A bag of 325 for a dollar. (We also string these with guest names to use as wine charms at parties.)

These are what I use each year when I start seeds indoors. They are the perfect size, especially for sunny window sills. I especially like the Seed Starter Pots which are biodegradable, made from organic recycled materials, and you get 12 for a dollar.

Another fun way to get seeds started and I love having these on hand to add to summer gifts. They are just fun and you get quick results. Lots of varieties to choose from and they come with the  soil and seeds you need, which you grow right in the container.

Fun labels for all those potted seeds. You get 10 staked plant labels which are great for the garden or just use adhesive labels you like (these are 50 for a dollar.) The staked labels are great for cheese platters or for labeling dips and salads at a buffet too.

Some inexpensive ideas to get a head start on your summer gardening. I think kids would enjoy planting and labeling some seeds, watching them grow and then transplanting them outside too, if you’re looking for a kid-friendly activity. At these prices they could all have some age-appropriate tools and other garden items like watering cans to really make this a fun project.