Plant friends, if you are anything like me, you LOVE a good deal, especially when it comes to your garden. After all, it can be costly to buy every gardening tool out there that just seems to drain your bank account. Luckily for us, I picked the brain of my new plant friend—Robbie from Visit Our Garden. Robbie’s garden is a marvel in itself, but even more exciting is how he has mastered the art of making it look luxe on a budget. So in this episode, I’m sharing some of his budget hacks that you can apply to your own garden.

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [03:30] Who is Robbie from Visit Our Garden?
• [07:41] What does Robbie’s garden look like?
• [11:14] Tip 1: Espalier + buying trees bare root
• [15:48] Create a successful garden with Gardener's Supply Company’s high-quality products!
• [17:11] Gift yourself or a loved one a moment of peace and joy with Wind River Chimes!
• [21:22] Tip 2: DIY cement garden art
• [28:00] Tip 3: Painting your fence
• [30:44] Shop nutrient-rich mixes from Espoma Organic for easier, more sustainable gardening!
• [33:58] Tip 4: Shopping smart
• [40:34] Tip 5: Find inspiration in a lot of places (eg. Pinterest)
• [44:57] Where can you find Robbie on social media?

 

 

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The Art of Espalier

One of Robbie's favorite techniques is espalier, the practice of training plants to grow flat against a wall or fence. It sounds super fancy because it’s a french word, but you can do it on a budget!

Robbie shared that he's got about 50 trees on his quarter-acre lot, and a bunch of them are espaliered. He buys bare root trees in late winter or early spring because they are way cheaper – we're talking like $20 per tree instead of the big bucks you'd spend on potted ones.

To create your espalier masterpiece, you'll need:

• Bare root trees (apple trees are great for beginners)
• Wire (go for the three-braided kind)
• Eye screws
• A screwdriver

The whole setup might cost you around $40-50, but the impact is massive. Plus, it's a great way to grow fruit trees even if you're short on space. I'm already dreaming about doing this with some citrus trees on my new lanai in Florida!

 

Cement Garden Art + Pot Feet

Robbie has been experimenting with all sorts of DIY cement projects, including stylish garden art that looks expensive but costs very little. For instance, he’s been making cement balls to add visual interest to his beds.

He uses old glass light fixture orbs from home improvement stores as molds for the cement (not concrete). Once the cement sets, you carefully break off the glass and are left with perfectly smooth cement balls that look like high-end decor. It cost him just $13 per ball, compared to the $120 ones he’s seen at garden centers.

Robbie also loves adding character to his garden by using decorative pot feet. He found some adorable frog-shaped molds on Amazon for making his own.

 

Paint That Fence!

Painting a fence probably doesn't sound like a groundbreaking tip, but Robbie painted his backyard fence black, and apparently, it makes all the plants just pop.

He uses a paint sprayer from the HomeRight brand, which he got on sale. At around $120 (or less when it's on sale), it's a bit of an investment, but think of all the things you could paint. Robbie used his to paint their entire house, outdoor furniture, and of course, the fence.

 

Shop Smart, Garden Smarter

Robbie's got some great tips for finding bang-for-buck garden supplies:

• Facebook Marketplace: You can score some incredible deals here. Robbie found a $1,500 fountain for just $200!
• Clearance racks at places like Lowe's: Don't sleep on these, especially for plants. Just a bit of love can totally revive those sad clearance plants.
• End-of-season sales at local garden centers: Many offer up to 50% off!
• Thrift stores and Goodwill: Great for finding unique items you can upcycle for your garden.
• Amazon for luxury dupes: Robbie found a garden bench dupe for a fraction of the original's price.

Sometimes it might take a couple of tries to get things right (like Robbie repainting his bench), but you're still saving a ton of money in the long run.

 

Finding Inspiration

While it's great to follow gardening accounts on social media, it can sometimes lead to the comparison trap. That feeling when you see someone's perfect garden and wonder why yours doesn't look the same?

That’s why Robbie prefers Pinterest for his garden inspiration. It's filled with ideas without the pressure of comparing yourself to specific people. You can just focus on the elements you love and figure out how to recreate them in your own space and budget.

I've been living on Pinterest lately, looking for biophilic design ideas for my new place in Florida. It's such a great way to get inspired without getting overwhelmed.

 

Don’t Break Your Bank

Remember that gardening is all about creativity and enjoying the process. So don't be afraid to try new things, make mistakes, and have fun with it — all without breaking the bank!

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 253: 5 Tips for Growing in Hot Climates with Janey of Dig Plant Water Repeat
• Cultivate'24
• Is Espalier Worth It? Maintenance || Visit Our Garden
• Installing Espalier Honeysuckle On My Fence With Janey 🪴 || Visit Our Garden
• Fixing my espalier apple tree and planting and clematis 🌸🍎 || visit our garden
• Frog pot feet
• HomeRight
• Solid Color House & Fence Wood Stain | Behr

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Gardener's Supply

From containers to raised beds, seeds to plant supports, Gardener's Supply has everything to create your dream garden oasis. They even sell edging and walkways! Gardener's is an employee-owned company run by passionate gardeners for over 40 years, and they are committed to catering to all kinds of gardeners. Whether you've got acres or just a balcony, you're sure to find everything you need for successful indoor and outdoor gardening.

Discover your garden favorites and exclusive innovations at gardeners.com and use code GROWINGJOY for free shipping.

Wind River Chimes

Allow yourself to have a moment of mindfulness with the help of wind chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a way to soothe your senses and bring a moment of peace in your busy days, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

If you want thriving houseplants that survive any climate, set them up for success with high-quality soil, fertilizer, potting mixes and more! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

 

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TikTok

 

 

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