How to get free plants for your garden

• Take cuttings from the plants you already have‍

• Divide existing perennial plants. You simply divide large, existing plants into smaller sections that you can replant somewhere else in the garden. These include Cosmos, Agapanthus, Coreopsis, Geranium, Fuchsia and Lavender.

• If you don’t have any perennials in your garden, ask family and friends if they have any extras when dividing theirs.

•  Grow flowers from seeds. While they’re not quite free, it will be a lot cheaper than buying established blooms in pots.

• Organise a plant swap in your street

• Choose self-seeding plants. Once grown or sown they come back year after year. These include Californian Poppy, Sweet William, Cosmos, Nasturtium and Sweet Pea.  

• Save the seeds from any fresh vegetables you buy. These could include tomato, chilli, pumpkin, capsicum. Just separate the seeds from the flesh and dry them on a paper towel for a few days to reduce the risk of rotting.  

• Find out if there is a local Buy Nothing Group on Facebook in your local area. Members of local communities often offer plants for free.

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