Plate Edging

• Look for mismatched plates at yard and garage sales.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Use old dinner plates as a border for flowers beds. Dig a narrow trench, set plates halfway into the trench and back-fill with dirt. Tamp in the dirt at the sides of each plate to keep them secure. You can create an eclectic border with mismatched plates, or opt for a set of plates in one color for a more uniform appearance.
  
  

Eggshell Seed Starters

• You can also use lightly crushed eggshells instead of drainage rocks for potted plants.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Eggshell halves make excellent seed starters for getting a jump-start on spring gardening. All you'll need is a carton of eggs, potting soil and flower or vegetable seeds. Rinse out eggshell halves, poke a tiny hole in the bottom of each eggshell with a toothpick, and fill them with dirt and one or two seeds. Return the eggshell halves to the carton and set it in a sunny indoor location to encourage seed germination. Water weekly until seeds germinate.
  
  After the danger of frost has passed, take the carton outside, dig small, 2-inch holes in the ground and set the eggshells directly into the dirt. Not only will your garden plants thrive on the calcium derived from the eggshells, they'll also have extra protection from soil slugs and grubs.
  
  

Chicken-wire Barricades

• Chicken-wire is flexible and durable.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  If rabbits and rodents are slipping under your fence to nibble on garden plants, use chicken-wire to keep them out. Purchase one or two rolls of chicken-wire and cut it into sections to wedge under the fence. Chicken-wire is already sold in a rolls, so it's convenient for customizing to fit tightly into the gaps between fencing and the ground. For example, if there's a 7-inch gap under your fence, cut an 8-inch width of chicken-wire and roll it together, connecting the wire edges into a "seam." Wedge it under the fence, seam-side down, to keep any animals from getting scraped or cut. Rabbits, squirrels and other pests will soon find out your garden isn't an easy-access buffet restaurant.
  
  

Small Flower Garden

• You can build a low-maintenance raised flower bed with inexpensive railroad ties.Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  If you're on a limited budget, start a small perennial garden with flowers that return each season for a show of color. Visit your local home improvement center and ask for perennials that are on sale, or that won't be blooming again until next season. Be sure to ask for advice to plant perennials in patterns and locations that make the most of bloom times. Enhance your garden with natural features such as large rocks and tree branch borders.
  
  You can also fill in spaces with discounted annuals available at nurseries. Nurseries often stock substantially discounted annuals at the back of the store. These flowers are ideal for a quick splash of color and can often return the next season in southern zones where proper mulching insulates plants during the cold season.