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Gardening is big business - the average UK family spends around £200 a year on their gardens. And we in Wales are no exception, spending a staggering £100 million a year.

But because money doesn't grow on trees, we sent Lucy on the search for ways to make your garden grow - at a fraction of the cost.

She visited Jean James, a keen gardener from Ferryside, in Carmarthenshire, who is already making lots of savings.

Jean's top tips for frugal gardeners include planting perennials - plants which flower every year, instead of planting new ones annually. You could save between £2 and £30 a plant.

Planting wildflower seeds can brighten up empty corners of your garden at very little cost. And why spend a fortune on pots? Plants will grow in almost anything - from a cracked chimney pot to an old kitchen sink!

Jean is also an avid composter. Using her own saves her around £3 a bag.

If you don't have your own garden, you might want to consider getting an allotment.

Allotments are nothing new - they've existed since Saxon times and had their hey-day in World War Two, when families were encouraged to dig for victory. But the current economic climate has seen a boom in their popularity.

For mums like Rosie Phillips, from Carmarthen, rising food bills were a great incentive to start growing her own. She was spending between £25 and £35 on fruit and veg every week until her family got an allotment.

The savings soon add up. For example, a single tomato plant costs around £1.50. But while the same amount of money could buy you a six-pack of tomatoes, your humble plant could yield up to 3kg of fruit - saving you around £15.

The Phillips family now plans to be self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables between June and October this year - and they're harvesting savings of around £500 a year from their plot.

Not bad, when you think they only pay £27.50 a year to rent the land.

If you fancy starting an allotment, the first port of call should be your local council. Prices vary and there may be a waiting list.

But if you're willing to plot share or renovate a disused allotment, you'll reduce the risk of a long wait.

A less energetic way to save money is by going to a plant or seed swap event.

Whether you're gardening at home or in the allotment swapping your spare seeds or cuttings for new ones is a great way to save money and collect a great variety of plants.

Lots of towns run plant and seed swaps several times a year, so why not look up your local gardening club or find one online.

But no matter how organised you are when planning your dream garden don't forget the one thing you can't control is that good old Welsh weather.