Anya Lautenbach(Image: (Image: Dorling Kindersley: Britt Willoughby))

'Garden Fairy' Anya Lautenbach lists November's essential garden tasks to cut costs

by · DevonLive

As the cost of living continues to soar, finding joy in simple activities like gardening can be a welcome respite. And with a bit of planning, you can even save money while tending to your green space.

Anya Lautenbach, a renowned expert in budget-friendly gardening, shares her expertise in her new book, The Money-Saving Garden Year. With a focus on maximising results while minimising expenses, Anya guides readers through the essential tasks for each season.

Although the gardening year is slowly coming to a close, November still offers plenty of opportunities to get involved. Speaking to the Express, Anya recommends purchasing bare root plants this month, rather than waiting for the potted versions in spring.

"I teach people how to save money in the garden," she explains, "and I also like to support the horticultural industry."

Anya believes in taking time to appreciate every little thing in your garden(Image: (Image: Dorling Kindersley: Britt Willoughby))

By opting for bare root roses, shrubs, and trees in November, gardeners can not only save money but also contribute positively to the environment. "There's less packaging involved in this process, and the industry gets supported," Anya points out. "It's a win-win for everyone, and that's the best outcome in my opinion."

Anya's frugal approach to gardening stems from her childhood in Poland, where growing her own food was a necessity rather than a choice. "I left Poland nearly two decades ago," she recalls, "and life back then was completely different to what it is now. When I was growing up in the eighties, growing your own food wasn't a choice, it was a way of surviving."

Anya added: "If you didn't grow, you simply didn't eat. I remember growing up in an atmosphere of gratitude for the food that our garden was giving us. Nothing was being taken for granted and nothing got wasted."

Despite her move to leafy Buckinghamshire, Anya has faithfully maintained this ethos. When she first moved into her house 11 years ago when the garden was a virtual wasteland.

Yet, she has dedicated over a decade to converting this once barren patch into a sanctuary brimming with vibrancy, all while keeping costs minimal – the total outlay is reckoned to be around £1,000.

Anya's new book, The Money-Saving Garden Year, is out now(Image: (Image: Dorling Kindersley))

Anya keeps costs down by nurturing most of her plants from seeds, practicing propagation extensively, and producing her own compost and plant food.

"Now my world is different and I live in a different country," she says, "but I still like to live the same way as I was brought up. Grow your own and feel grateful for every stem and every fruit or veg your land is giving you is the way forward."

Anya's enthusiasm for this season trumps all due to her recently launched book; nonetheless, autumn holds a dear place in her heart: "I adore autumn," she admits. "This is where a lot of gardening gets done, but it's also a very peaceful time for me."

Looking ahead, Anya says: "I like to reflect on the previous seasons and make plans for the coming ones.

"As a person with ADHD I'm very sensitive to the beauty our gardens offer us at this time of year, to the movement of ornamental grasses, stunning colours of trees such as Sumac and ornamental cherries and the colours of Asters.

"Gardens at this time of the year can turn onto a symphony of colours and I just love to stop and admire the changes and miracles on our doorstep."