Every project priced line by line · How we price

How We Price

Every cost on Dirt Cheap Garden follows the same rules, so you can compare one project with another and trust the total.

Where prices come from

  • Typical shelf or online prices at major US home and garden retailers and on Amazon, checked on the date shown at the top of the article.
  • When prices differ a lot between stores or regions, we show a range (for example, $26–$40).
  • Prices are rounded to the nearest dollar and do not include sales tax or delivery.

What counts as $0

A material is listed as $0 only when most people can get it free: cardboard boxes, fallen branches, kitchen scraps, leaves, grass clippings, or pallets offered free by local businesses. Tools you probably already own (a drill, a shovel, a tape measure) are listed but not added to the total.

Cost per unit

In gear comparisons we divide price by what you actually get: cost per square foot of growing space for raised beds, cost per foot for hoses and fabric, cost per season for items that wear out. A cheap item that lasts one season can cost more than a better one that lasts five.

Updates

We recheck prices on our most-read articles regularly. If you see a price that is out of date, let us know.

Product links may be affiliate links. They never change a price or a ranking. See our Affiliate Disclosure.