What is the cheapest way to do a garden?
In my experience, raised beds work best, but it can be cheaper to start a garden in the ground if you’ve got a good shovel and are willing to put in the effort to break up the soil. Look up the “double dig” method. Or if you can rent or borrow a rototiller, that will speed the job for you. I prefer organic compost – i put my plants straight into that and they grow fast, large, and healthy. Many garden centers now sell bags of raised bed soil and that’s a good option too. Use a rake to even the soil out, but don’t smoosh it down – plants like non-compacted soil for their roots to easily spread through.