1 COST CUTTINGS
Before shelling out cash on brand new plants, taking some time to prepare and get some expert help (see www.which.co.uk/gardening) can save you money. Also try taking cuttings from friends’ plants and if you buy seeds, don’t plant the whole packet. Some could last a good few years.

2 GiVE US A HAND
A hand cylinder mower can be a good choice if you have a small garden. Generally cheaper than electric and petrol mowers, they’re also great for the environment. The Husqvarna Novocut 64 is a Which? Gardening Best Buy, available for £79.95 plus grass collector at £14.95 from www.greenwarehouse.co.uk – about £80 cheaper than the top electric mower.

3 HEDGE YOUR BETS
If you’re looking for aBest Buy bargain that will keep your garden hedge under control, try the Bosch AHS 48-16. At time of going to press, you could get this trimmer online for £41.99 – a saving of over £60 on the most expensive Best Buy.

4 SAVE FOR TO-MARROW
Growing your own veg doesn’t have to be hard work and it could help you save on food bills. Almost all veg can be grown in pots, provided they are big enough to allow root space and you keep them watered. Visit www.which.co.uk/advice/your-garden for more.

5 SWAP TILL YOU DROP
Swap your excess plants, unwanted bulbs, and unsown seeds at websites such as www.plantsreunited.com or www.gardenswapshop.co.uk. You sign up for free, browse the items on offer and, if something takes your fancy, can start swapping immediately.

6 GET SEEDY
Yet another great website for swapping is is www.seedypeople.co.uk, which helps you exhange seeds and plants. However, the site also runs Seedy Sunday (www.seedysunday.org), which is ‘the UK’s biggest community seed swap’ – check the site for dates and locations.

7 SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
If you want to enjoy gardening on a budget why not try a mini greenhouse. Access Value Half Wall Frame FW3-VP is a Which? Gardening Best Buy, available at £148 from www.garden-products.co.uk. Ideal for use under a window it produces top-quality plants and has plenty of growing room.

8 FREE COMPOST
About 40% of dustbin waste is suitable for home composting, so why not make your own? A 56l bag of Miracle-Gro Soil Improver is £3.98 at Homebase while home compost is free. Visit www.recyclenow.com for more information.

9 SALAD DAYS ARE HERE
With the barbecue season on its way, what better to go with burgers than your own fresh tomatoes. A bag of great value Westland Growbag (£1.99) and a pack of Chempak Standard Tomato Food can produce around 12kg of tomatoes – a big saving on shop prices.

10 BEG, BARROW AND STEAL
If you’re looking for a money-saving wheelbarrow, go for the Best Buy B&Q Sovereign at £40. It will save you nearly £40 over the most expensive barrow on test. Visit www.which.co.uk/wheelbarrows.