BBC Gardeners' World

Gardeners' World Magazine is the authoritative voice in gardening, the clear market-leader since it launched in 1991. The award-winning editorial includes topical, practical advice in the readers' favourite 'what to do now' section, and regular contributions and features from the top names in BBC gardening. Packed with fresh ideas and clear advice - the innovative approach offers creative, practical and problem-solving solutions to all keen gardeners.

Welcome

1 Sow & save

10 ways sowing seed can save you £££s • Growing plants from seed is the key to thrifty gardening, whether it’s flowers, veg or shrubs. Here are 10 ideas to get your started

Seed buying savvy • Growing crops from seed is budget friendly, but you can also making savings when choosing and shopping for seed - here are our top tips

Sowing success • If your bargain seeds don’t germinate, then they’re no bargain, so follow our tips for sowing success. Taking time and care to sow seeds well is an investment in itself

Best seed to save • Saving seed can save £££s but which are the best varieties to start with? Here are our recommendations for ornamentals and vegetables

Thrifty sowing tips • To save money, look at ways to make pots for less and save on seed trays, containers and watering devices. Biodegradable pots are easy to make out of newspaper, while guttering is an alternative to trays. If you don’t have a greenhouse, use a sunlit porch, south-facing windowsill or cold frame to start your seeds.

Make an eco seed tray • Wooden seed trays look great, but can be expensive. So instead of forking out, use our quick and easy guide to turn scrap wood into smart and eco-friendly trays

Make a raised bed • These simple raised beds are easy to make from secondhand wood – just fill them up with some compost and topsoil, and you’re ready to start growing veg straight away

Make your own cloche • Cloches are vital to keep newly germinated seedlings snug through capricious spring weather. You can pay at least £25 per cloche in shops – but wire coat-hangers and clear plastic can be used to make them for free

2 Frugal flowers • Filling a garden with colour and interest can be daunting because of the cost of plants. Buying perennials and shrubs for one border can be expensive, let alone a whole garden. But there are many thrifty ways to grow and source flowers. Discover which are the best plants to grow from seed, or make savings on buying shrubs bare-root in the winter. Once you have a stock of plants, learn how to propagate them to get more plants for free. This way of gardening is not only cheaper, but incredibly satsifying.

10 frugal flowers • Through winter and spring, gardeners dream of borders and containers overflowing with flowers. Filling borders with perennials, though, can be expensive, especially if your borders are large. A thriftier way to bring colour to your displays is to sow annuals or perennials from seed. Investing in a few packets of seeds can return immense dividends.

Planning can save you money • How can you make a garden as impactful and attractive as possible, without breaking the bank? First, a cunning plan is called for to save time and money in the long term, and the best way to arrive at the right answers is to ask yourself the right questions, starting with the site.

Buying guide • Before buying annuals and perennials, think about how to make the most of your investment. Taking time to do some research before buying seeds and plants will ensure that you are able to spend wisely and get good value from your plants.

Perennials

Best plants to buy bare-root • It’s far cheaper to buy shrubs and trees bare-root, during the dormant season, but which are the top types of plant...