12 Garden Items Worth Stocking Up On At The Dollar Tree To Prep For Winter

For gardeners tired of spending an arm and a leg at the local hardware store or nursery, try picking up some cheap finds at the Dollar Tree that can help you decorate your garden over the winter. Whether you want to keep your bird feeder well stocked with suet refills for songbirds in the cold or you plant to grow more houseplants indoors, we've got you covered. We've picked 12 of the best items to help you achieve your cold season gardening goals.

There are plenty of tasks to be done in the garden during winter, from pruning some deciduous trees and shrubs to making sure to keep the water in the bird bath thawed. Dollar Tree even has folding pruning saws or ping pong balls that might delay ice forming in your bird baths. You can find things for your indoor plants, too, like plastic rolling plant trolleys that help you move heavier houseplants around to find better light or warmer corners. On top of that, there are easy, DIY craft projects you can buy and complete for the garden, such as a bird house you can paint when you're stuck inside for snowy weather. Either way, rest assured, you don't actually have to break the bank to stock up on garden goodies this winter. 

Keeping birds fed through the winter will help these garden friends survive until spring. In fact, having a feeder in your yard increases the chances that a chickadee will make it to warm weather, as some starve in severe cold. Suet feeders are ideal to use in winter, because the block of high-protein, high-fat rectangles often melt in summer heat. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and wrens will also gobble up Dollar Tree's Bird Feeder's Choice nutty suet.  

For just $1.50, you can buy a roll of Garden Collection jute twine at Dollar Tree, which you can use to help reinforce evergreens or trees with smaller limbs in winter. Heavy snowfall can weigh on thin branches, and sometimes even break them. Using twine to lash branches together in the dead of winter can help them survive blizzards. Twine also can be used to secure burlap fabric that you might use to cover street-facing shrubs to protect them from salt spray from driveways or roads.

Grab a six-pack of All-Star Sports plastic table tennis balls from Dollar Tree and put one in your bird bath this winter. You just might be able to keep bird baths from freezing with this DIY hack. Water in motion freezes at a slower rate than still water, and the bouncing motion of the ball keeps water moving. This won't prevent ice if weather gets cold enough, but you might be able to fend it off for a bit.

To create a sheltered home for songbirds next spring when they're looking to nest, grab a Crafters Square decorative wooden DIY bird house now. They're all ready to paint your favorite color, or put the kids or grandkids to work using nontoxic paint or stickers to cover the small bird homes with decorations. At $1.25 each, you could fill your tree with colorful DIY bird houses. Just make sure to avoid painting the holes or inside of the house, since you don't want birds to accidentally eat paint chips. 

Cold weather months can be the best time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs because they're dormant. In fact, there are at least 10 plants you should be pruning in winter. The insects that prey on trees are also hibernating. That means the beetles that spread oak wilt or Dutch elm disease won't be as much of an issue. Grab a Garden Collection folding pruning saw from Dollar Tree to help with smaller branches.

Did you know you can use a mug in the garden as your own suet bird feeder? Just buy a Royal Norfolk stoneware mug at Dollar Tree for $1.50. Make your own suet to fill it by melting lard and peanut butter together on the stove, and then add in birdseed, raisins, or cornmeal. Next, pour it into your cup. Add in a stick for birds to perch on while it's still relatively soft. Put it in the fridge to let it firm up before hanging it outside. 

Houseplants in winter can suffer in dry, heated indoor air. A pebble or humidity tray can help moisten the air and improve plant health. To make your own, grab some Floral Garden multi-toned river pebbles at Dollar Tree. Fill a plastic tray with the river rocks. Pour in water, but make sure the pebbles aren't quite covered. Set the pot on top. Double check that the pot isn't submerged. As the water evaporates, it sends moisture up near the plant. 

In winter, sometimes we need to move indoor plants to sunnier or warmer spots indoors. To make this job easier, invest in a rolling plant tray, like the Garden Collection plastic planter trolley. They come in multiple colors, including tan, green, and black. The plastic tray catches excess drainage from your houseplants and its four rollers on the bottom help you move heavier plants to sunnier locations or away from drafty windows or doors. Remember, drafts in winter can harm some tropical houseplants. 

On your next trip to Dollar Tree, grab a bottle of L.A.'s Totally Awesome cleaning vinegar. Having some on hand is always a good idea, since vinegar can be put to many uses in the garden. You can potentially kill weeds with it, safely clean your birdbath with it, and you can even use it to help get the rust off your garden tools, so they'll be nice and shiny and clean when you're ready to use them next spring.

With winter chill upon us, many gardeners look indoors to grow seedlings or herbs. If you've got more vertical space than horizontal, try the Garden Collection 3-section stackable planter. The planters come with designated drainage holes, but you'll need a screwdriver to punch the little tabs out. For tight spaces, it can be a great way to take advantage of corners near bright windows. 

Once you build a tower of herbs, you'll need to label them to remember what you planted. Grab a 10-count pack of Garden Collection plastic plant labels for just $1.50. That's just fifteen cents a label, and it'll keep you from confusing your basil with your oregano. Since some herbs need less water than others, labeling can help you remember which ones not to overwater. Plus, if a plant dies, it's best to know which one bit the dust, so you can maybe buy a different cultivar next time.

Winter can be a dusty season for indoor plants, so why not give their leaves a light misting to remove dust with a brand new colorful Garden Collection plant mister? These glass bottle misters come in a variety of colors and they're so cheerful, you might want to keep them out next to your blooming indoor plants for a pop of color. Don't count on misting to raise humidity levels for your plants. Just know that keeping foliage free of dust means plants absorb more sunlight and stay healthier.