Dig These Gardening Bargains

(Each Friday Bargain Hound will look at how to save money and have fun in San Leandro and vicinity. Past columns have looked at as well as  and .)

Okay DIYers. Time to pull on your overalls and gloves and head into the garden. Or figure out where that greenhouse is going to go after you move the chickens.

Yahoo! 

Now you just gotta build it.

And San Leandro has you covered when it comes to finding everything you need to get started at prices that are easy on your pocketbook.

Planning to build an arbor, a greenhouse, or big raised beds? Want to start seeds near a warm window?

Put these two places on your list. You can invest your savings in a couple of fruit trees and still come out ahead. Just hitch up the wagon and head on down.

C & K Salvage - Recycling Company is a quick jump over the Oakland border. It may look like you've gone the wrong way up a dead-end street but when you add up the savings you'll be glad you came.

All of their lumber is recycled and sold by the board foot. Where else can you find a solid 8 x 8-12 foot Douglas Fir beam for $5.20? 

Why stop there?

You can find boards and beams about as long or wide as you want including antique or vintage flooring.

Boards a little rough? They can re-mill it or cut it to size for you on the spot.

Want to have that old tree in the back yard milled? They'll do that too.
C & K Salvage
718 Douglas Ave.
Oakland, CA 94603
569-2070

Want to put in irrigation or build a metal frame? is the place to go for a huge assortment of rebar, metal beams and posts, or copper foil to snail proof your pots.

Most of their inventory is new but you can find recycled items mixed in as well. This is the place a lot of professional builders and artists come for iron, steel, brass and copper in sizes and lengths the big -box stores don't carry -- and at much better prices. Everything is sold by the pound, based on metal value, so what you don't get in ambiance you get in savings.
Alco Iron & Metal
2140 Davis St
San Leandro, CA 
562-1354

Once you have that part done check these next two places for hydroponics, soil mixes and more fertilizers than a dog can deal with in one day.

D & S Garden Supplies, right on the San Leandro-Oakland border, is the place to go for BIG. Big bags, big selection, very big on organics, big savings, and plenty of helpful information.

They have a great selection of soils, amendments, gravel, fertilizers, irrigation systems, misters, and kits. If you are a first timer this is the place that will help you figure out what you need to get started including the right soil mix and fertilizers. And if you're an old hand you'll just be happy to find what you are looking for in one place -- like a large bag of Fox Farm Organic Soil mix (several varieties) for $12.00.
D & S. Garden Supplies
130 Doolittle
San Leandro
430-8589

Is too big just too big for you? Head over to Hydro Garden Delight.  This place has a great selection of hydroponic supplies in smaller sizes including kits, soils, fertilizers, and everything else you will need at great prices. The only thing big here is the helpful service.
Hydro Garden Delight
13762 Doolittle Drive  San Leandro
357-1857

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