Outdoors and Garden

Many outdoor storage and gardening solutions can be rather expensive, especially when compared to Everyday Cheapskate alternatives. Here are some of my favorite articles on outdoor cleaning and gardening and storage solutions.  These ideas will give you the results you need without the costs you don’t.

Don’t miss the most popular posts in this section, including How to Make All-Natural Weed Killer—Super Easy and Better Than Roundup!, to Get Rid of Bugs and Crawling Insects Fast and Easy Without Poisons and, last, but not least,  How to Make Cut Flowers Last Twice as Long.  Don’t let your lawn and garden costs overwhelm you!

creeping charlie invading a lawn

How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie the Lawn Invader

When I was a newlywed, a friend and I actually shared Creeping Charlie cuttings. We would plant them in pots
wasps

How NOT to Get Rid of Wasps (and 7 Ways to Do It Safely)

The trendy hack going viral on TikTokto get rid of wasps at home using gasoline is extremely unsafe, if not
ice cooler with drinks and male hands

How to Pack a Cooler to Keep Everything Icy Cold All Day

As the weather heats up, even the most highly-rated cooler may struggle to avoid a meltdown. You can put those
man woman working in backyard vegetable garden

10 Little Known Ways to Get Free Seeds, Tools, and Other Gardening Supplies

Regardless of whether you're an experienced gardener or a beginner, due to the present economic conditions, you may be hesitant
Food grade diatomaceous earth in the garden

14 Genius Uses for Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth—from Health and Beauty to Home and Garden

Diatomaceous earth is an inexpensive, readily available powder made from the sediment of algae that has been fossilized in bodies
weeds growing in sidewalk crack

5 Non-Toxic Methods That Really Work for Killing Weeds

There are a number of effective ways to kill weeds. Some involve chemicals or require digging. The problem with chemical

How to Regrow Scallions and Other Vegetables from Scraps

At our house, we're getting much better with storing and using up produce. In fact, we've all but completely stopped
houseplant-on-white-background

8 Pleasantly Surprising Reasons to Decorate with Houseplants

Experts call it "interior landscaping" and it's becoming increasingly popular not only in homes but in offices and other commercial
Flower market with various multicolored fresh flowers

How to Persuade Cut Flowers to Stay Fresh and Beautiful Twice as Long

Whether they come from your garden, the market, or florist, you can persuade cut flowers to remain beautiful for weeks
white plastic patio chairs and table

Quick and Easy Outdoor Cleaning and Storage Tips You Can Use

Many outdoor cleaning and storage solutions can be rather expensive, especially when compared to do-it-yourself or homemade alternatives. Here some
black and white cat lying in yard garden

Easy Ways to Naturally Repel Cats From Your Yard and Garden

Check out these simple ways to repel cats naturally so they'll stop using your lawn and garden as an outdoor
wild rabbit in backyard garden pest repel rabbits

10 Natural Ways to Repel Rascally Rabbits to Protect Your Yard and Garden

As adorable as these creatures are, rabbits can wreak havoc on a lawn and garden. Garden centers, home improvement stores,
Coffee

14 Uses for Old Coffee Grounds That Could Make Your Life Better

If you love your morning cup of Joe, it's a pretty good bet you're throwing out spent coffee grounds on
ants building a house

15 Ways to Get Rid of Ants Quick and Easy Using Ordinary Stuff In Your Pantry

Despite how fascinating ants may be, control and management around the home are important for both health and safety reasons.
Food on a table, with Corn on the cob and Sweet corn

4 Absolutely Brilliant Ways to Cook Corn on the Cob

There's just nothing that screams late summer like sweet corn when it's fresh, hot, and slathered with butter and salt.
Iced Tea at Picnic in Grand Junction, Colorado

How to Make Perfect Iced Tea (Plus Real Southern Sweet Tea Recipe)

The only thing more comforting than a big, tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day is knowing
Ants getting into a house

How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Home and Yard Quick and Easy

If the arrival of summer is ushering an ant infestation into your home and yard, don’t panic. You may not
apple cider vinegar small image

20 Surprisingly Effective Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

It makes a terrific vinaigrette for salad, but apple cider vinegar (ACV) is good in many other ways around the
DynaTrap and a big pile of dead mosquitoes

9 Ways We Can Wage War Against Mosquitoes—and Win!

Mosquitoes are nasty creatures. They bite, they transmit terrible diseases to people and pets, and have no redeeming value in the
Weed

How to Make Everyday Cheapskate Weed Killer—Natural, Easy, Better Than Roundup!

Weeds are the bane of every gardener; a problem for every homeowner. Thankfully, there is a solution that is super
A vase filled with purple flowers

Just Hand Over the Sweet Peas and No One Gets Hurt

Confession is good for the soul, I’m told, and so I’d like to confess. I came this close to clocking
A close up of a flower pot

19 Surprising Ways Epsom Salt Can Improve Your Life

I can recall vividly—and count on one hand—the migraine headaches I’ve had in my life, all of them before age
A bird sitting on top of a tree

Make Your Own Natural Non-Toxic Ant Spray

If you’ve ever had to deal with an invasion of ants, you may know the meaning of exasperation. While the
gardening dirt and tools

How to Make Dirt: Compost 101

Some home gardeners call it "black gold." I understand, it is truly that amazing. But really, it's just dirt. Rich,
edible garden growing in burlap bags.

How to Grow An Edible Garden Just About Anywhere

Even if you don't have time to tend a full-size garden; even if you don't have time or resources to
A close up of a wire fence

Readers in Search of Help with Ants and Sharks

The best part of my job as your humble columnist is the mail I get from my loyal readers. I had
daffodil collage

Lessons from a Daffodil Garden

Year after year, one dried-up seemingly-lifeless bulb at a time, she planted more than 1,000,000 bulbs—creating something of magnificence, beauty,
spring garden with daffodils

Cheapskate Gardening Tips, Tricks and Recipes

Is there anything more gratifying than a beautiful garden when you just happen to be the gardener? One trip to
A bench in a garden©2014 Everyday Cheapskate

Gardening Is Good for Your Heart and Soul

There’s nothing like a series of sunny days in late winter to awaken my inner gardener. I’m convinced this hobby improves
clean outdoor windows in minimal modern living room

How to Get Outdoor Windows Sparkling Clean—Cheaper, Better, Faster!

You can pay a fortune to have your outdoor windows washed professionally, or let me teach you how to do
A bunch of fruit sitting on a table

Now is a Good Time to Join a CSA for Your Health and Wealth

Being a savvy consumer means a lot of things. It can refer to a person who knows how to get
A close up of a rock

Hands Down the Best Way to Kill Weeds and It’s Not Roundup

If you think there’s no way a DIY homemade weed killer could possibly be effective, even potent, against weeds, think
bird house in bottle

Rehab is for the Birds and More Great Reader Tips

If you’re planning a home rehab—or in the throes of that right now—just imagine how wonderful it would be if
Young girl geting help with fixing a broken vase

19 DIY Non-Toxic Natural Pest Control Recipes and Solutions

When asked by friends what to do for their flea-infested home, I grabbed my collection of natural, non-toxic pest control
square foot garden harvest. heirloom tomatoes, tomatoes on the vine, fresh basil, and butter lettuce gems vegetable gardening

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: One Square Foot at a Time

For years I’ve tried to grow decent vegetable gardens. Except for one especially bountiful year, my harvests have ranged from
Homemade lawn fertilizer makes green grass of a private house.

4 Recipes for Homemade DIY Lawn and Garden Fertilizer

I love a beautiful yard, but I hate spending a lot of money to get it that way which explains

11 Surprising Ways Lemons Can Make Your Life Easier

Several years ago, my son gave me the bounty from the two fruit trees that pretty much rule his backyard.