The Money-Saving Gardener: Create Your Dream Garden at a Fraction of the Cost

by Anya Lautenbach

The Money-Saving Gardener reveals the tips and tricks to keeping costs down without compromising on style or impact. Learn how to repurpose what you have, make the most of so-called garden "waste", and boost your plant collection for next to nothing with seed-saving and propagation hacks. Revealing the plants that will give you the best long-term value for money, cost-cutting tips for every season, and projects for making the most of your propagated cuttings and seedlings, The Money-Saving Gardener proves that a stunning garden doesn't need to cost the earth or break the bank.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, How To

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2024

Reviews

[Inger-Johanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked up the book after seeing a post on Instagram by the author. I was interested in more details on what she described there, and found it in the book. Otherwise, I don't have any ambitions to garden (as this is taken care of by others in the household). The book is clearly written, covers a wide range of topics, and will be useful as a reference book.

[anna wakelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book

Great ideas and content from Anya I have purchased both books and follow her instagram account and highly recommend her methods and tutorials, lovely lady and very welcoming

[Kerry Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My garden in SW France is just over an acre of green space. Largely lawn with more than its fair share of weeds. I’ve loved following Anya on instagram and her book was excellent. I’m looking forward to testing her tips on propagating and here’s hoping that I will be able to create my dream garden for my family and friends to enjoy.

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 4 out of 5]

With inflation pushing up the cost of everything faster than our incomes, this book is a timely addition to our public library’s collection. I normally focus more on food production, but we do have a couple of perennial and bulb gardens, so I picked this up off our new book shelf. It’s a really great resource for budget-conscious gardeners. Lautenbach grew up in Poland, where her mother taught her about gardening and how to grow and propagate plants without spending unnecessarily. She now lives in England and is apparently well-known on social media as Anya the Garden Fairy. Her book focuses on techniques more than plant lists, taking the reader through six sections after a short introduction: Make a Start, Supporting Acts, The Natural Garden, Know Before You Grow, Plants for Free and A Year in the Garden, followed by a list of resources and an index. Each section covers frugal approaches to developing your flower and shrub garden, from using free items for pots and supports and as tools to techniques for propagation, making use of insects, and choosing plants with a better understanding of soil and location so they are more likely to survive. There is a lot here – I learned a great deal and am hoping to save an aging crabapple with her hardwood and softwood cutting techniques. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its adult nonfiction collection.

[Vanya Prodanova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Красива книжка и вероятно доста полезна ако вече си на по-високо ниво на градинарските си умения, но ако си някой аматьор като мен - не е добро начало на градинарските ти приключения.

Харесва ми идеята да не харчиш пари, защото градинарството тук може да стане безумно скъпо, но всеки, който е опитвал да усвои ново умение, знае, че идва с много грешки, проби, пари и време пропиляни. :)

Бих казала, че авторката се фокусира основно върху това как да пропагандираш растения. Всичко останало е просто мимолетно споменато и това е. Определено на някакъв етап би било любопитна книга, но когато имаш едно празно парче земя, някак си е не е много полезна.

Това, което обаче ще запомня и запазя за себе си, което може да приложиш не само към градинарството, но към всичко в живота си е - търпение и наблюдение. Опознай градината си, не бързай, фокусирай се върху един малък проект, бавно и славно нещата ще се преобразят и вероятно ще похарчиш по-малко пари в дългосрочен план, ако не прибързаш.

Освен, разбира се, ако нямаш инвазия от листни въшки по дивите растения, които растат в двора ти, тогава прибързването ми се струва оправдано.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Anya’s instagram feed, Anya the Garden Fairy, so one of my four stars is pure fandom. Otherwise it’s ok, but not what I expected. I think with “money-saving” on the title and Anya’s famous propagation videos, I was expecting a large, oversized paperback packed with photos and instructions about propagation. Instead this is a small hardcover with brief chapters about everything to do with gardening from soil to seasons. That may work for many people, but as an avid gardener and garden book reader, I didn’t want an overview, I wanted in-depth into the thing she’s most well known for. There are roughly 50 pages of propagation in here and they are solid, but could have been more.

This is a pattern I see with many first time authors, they throw everything into the book instead of picking a slice and doing it really well.

Nevertheless I hope this sells really well so Anya can develop a career as a book author and wind up doing follow-on volumes that go into each topic.

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was kind of disappointed in this book, actually. I hadn't heard of the author before but the information presented was very surface level. Some of the techniques she mentions really needs more details in order to be successful. I wished there were photos that included the many plants she talks about. So, I deem this more of a book for beginners who don't know a lot about gardening basics. The rest of us will be wanting more.

[Cecelia L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but not informative

This book has a lot of interesting facts and information but I found it lacking in photos, drawings, pictures and similar details on how to do what is discussed. There are some photos, most with the author, but I would have preferred more detail. Too much on flowers, shrubs etc. I was hoping to find more on edible gardens , ie vegetables, fruits etc. The nook may be a best seller but I’m sorry I purchased it ( kindle edition)

[Carolyn Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you spend time and are thoughtful, you will save a bundle of money (and some energy too, once you learn to quit fighting nature). I love this book, I want to buy a copy! Simple, lovely, timeless, helpful. A lot of gardening books are for people with enough money to landscape everything right away, but I could actually see myself using this!

[Scott Lupo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really informative read on saving money with gardening. This book is mostly about flowers, not veggies. I agree with most of the reviews about chapter 5 - propagation. I'm going to use this new skill quite often! Anya's lists of suitable plants and the middle of the book with pictures is wonderful.

[David Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A summary of all the good stuff you pick up from bigger more complex books

[Shayla Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Hoping to use chapter 5 to fill my garden!!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely book but not necessarily as detailed of how to for what I am looking for!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it for the propagation info alone! It's the kind of book that you can skip right to the topic that you're interested in. Glad I purchased it.

[Rachel Nowak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book for beginners gardeners on a budget. Follow Anya on Insta as Anya the Garden Fairy.

[Laurie Cybulski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. I skimmed this. I follow her on Instagram and think her videos- Um Reels— are better than the book.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas for growing plants FROM your garden!

[Mavis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written with England in mind, not our urban yards in Saskatchewan.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with practical ideas.