Thrifty, self-taught and passionate gardener Anya Lautenbach, who posts her budget gardening know-how as Anya the Garden Fairy to her one million followers on social media, has collated a lifetime of creative gardening tips and hacks in her first book, The Money-Saving Gardener. It shows how to create a beautiful garden without breaking the bank.
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The book is packed with tips and tricks to help gardeners keep costs down without compromising on style or impact, proving that creating a stunning garden doesn't need to cost the earth or cost a fortune. She also shares her story of family grief and neurodiversity which set her on her gardening journey to support her mental health.
We caught up with Anya about her new book.
Tell us about the new book and why you wrote it
My new book, The Money-Saving Gardener is an essential guide helping everyone to create a stunning garden at the fraction of the cost, no matter their background, budget, or outdoor space. Packed with lots of practical and easy-to-follow instructions, this book will make stunning gardens achievable for all.
I have created my garden for nearly next to nothing and the sense of achievement has been amazing. I have written this book because I wanted other people to get inspired.
The cost-of-living crisis might make some people think that spectacular gardens are out of their reach. I’m proving that nothing can be further from the truth. My approach will transform people’s outdoor spaces, save them money, and give them an enormous sense of accomplishment. All this is harmony with nature. Win-win for everyone.
Stylish ideas for gardening on a budget
What did you learn from writing the book?
It has been such an incredible experience on many levels. As a self-taught gardener, it made me realise how much knowledge has been passed on to me by the previous generations. When you garden, you don’t even think about the amount of information you have.
I started speaking English 16 years ago. This book made me realise how much I have learned over the years and that my experience and my honesty can help so many people.
I realised that by simplifying some processes, my book might encourage more people to get into it. Gardening is so good for us all and can bring so much positivity into our society.
If there was one piece of advice / idea that you’d like to share from the book, what would it be?
It’s the fact that anyone can create an amazing garden without any experience or any special equipment and at the fraction of the cost.
I’ll read anything about/by…
Propagation and garden design.
What I love about gardening is the fact, that no matter how much you know, there’s always something you learn, every day.
The books on my nightstand/kindle right now
RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
The Cottage Garden by Claus Dalby
What first sparked your interest in gardening?
I got into gardening as a young mum. I had a newborn, full time job and very shortly after that I was pregnant again. Facing life challenges, I found it hard to stay positive, but gardening kept me going and it brought so much happiness and fulfilment. It was something so accessible, right there on my doorstep and it didn’t require much money. As a result, I ended up with a lovely garden, happy life and a very fulfilling career.
What is your current garden like?
My garden is a reflection of me and my soul. I feel like I’m part of it, I sometimes feel like I’m just one of the plants. Having created it by propagation, I have a very special connection with this place. I have a large garden full of wildlife. I designed it in an informal cottage style with some elements of formality, which I add by pruning my lavender into perfectly shaped balls, but when the spring and summer arrive, the formality is lost in the sea of blooms and textures. My garden is an extension of my indoor space. I have connected it with the style of the house. An old building full of character and stories. I believe that imperfections make it all unique and charismatic.
I created this garden by taking cuttings and collecting seeds from my mother-in-law’s garden. Her time came to an end a few years ago, her house and garden got sold, but because I have literally moved her garden in form of seeds and cutting to our place, her legacy lives on. My garden is full of happy memories.
For many months in the year this garden is like a floral symphony. A feast for all senses. I am very relaxed about my garden. Perfection is a distant memory for me because wildlife doesn’t like perfection and I like wildlife. I have an orchid, wildflower meadows and large herbaceous borders. They might seem high maintenance, but with some of my top tips even the busiest people will be able to achieve it and all of this for nearly next to nothing.
Can you share your biggest gardening mistake or failure?
It was long time ago when I had a newborn in the house and my mother-in-law had given me a tray of dahlia tubers. I was very busy at this point and rushed outside and planted them in a very boggy area of the garden. I then watched them die within weeks. I very quickly learned that it’s not about what we want to grow, but what conditions we can provide for the plants to thrive. It was a very valuable lesson that helped me on my gardening journey.
What’s your guilty gardening secret?
Planting spring flowering bulbs late. I love a bargain and I tend to buy too many bulbs in late season when they are reduced. They often get planted much later than they should be planted, but this also shows us that sometimes we can push boundaries. Nature and plants are very forgiving and accommodating. One year I planted daffodils in February, and they did fine.
How late is too late to plant bulbs?
What’s your favourite garden or landscape to visit?
I love discovering new gardens and I regularly visit gardens open to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme. There is so much to learn from other places. I’m also a regular visitor to RHS Garden Wisley and Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire - my spiritual home. A place that has been a great inspiration for me over the years.
What else are you up to at the moment?
Over the next few months, I’ll be very busy promoting my book and sharing my story with a wider audience. I have a very active audience on my social media channels, where I share my easy-to-follow tutorials. It’s something I’ll keep doing. I love connecting and inspiring other people.
I would like everyone to learn about propagation and to understand that they don’t need much money to achieve something truly spectacular. I’ll keep sharing my knowledge with others.
The Money-Saving Gardener: Create your Dream Garden at a Fraction of the Cost by Anya Lautenbach (Dorling Kindersley, £16.99) is published on 8 February 2024.
Find Anya on Instagram @anya_thegarden_fairy