Secret Insights Landscaping Professionals Want Customers to Discover
Savvy Shopping Tips for a Budget-Friendly Plant Nursery Experience
For garden enthusiasts looking to save money while still enjoying a vibrant and thriving garden, here are some expert-recommended tips for smart shopping at a plant nursery.
Timing is Key
Shopping at the end of summer can be a golden opportunity to find great deals. Instead of buying summer-blooming annuals that are likely past their prime, opt for fall-blooming annuals which will provide a longer season of enjoyment [1].
Invest in Quality Items
End-of-summer sales are the perfect time to invest in high-quality items like raised garden beds. Purchasing metal or cedar beds on sale ensures durability and savings for future growing seasons [1].
Choose Carefully
When browsing clearance plants, it's essential to choose wisely. Look for healthy clearance plants that can thrive despite discounts, avoiding those that require costly effort to revive [3].
Maximize Your Garden
Divide larger container plants to effectively multiply your garden plants for the same price. For example, large pots of perennials can be split into several plants [4].
Smart Shopping Locations
Choose independent nurseries or DIY stores over posh garden centers for cheaper prices. Supermarkets during spring and summer also offer inexpensive plants [5].
Native Plants for Low Maintenance
Native flowers and plants are well-adapted to local climate and soil conditions, making them low-maintenance choices for gardens.
Expert Advice and Guidance
Garden center staff are a valuable resource, offering advice on plant placement, arrangement, and spacing, as well as which plants to grow for winter interest, extended blooming, and colour contrast. They can also provide advice on soil amendments and fertilizers tailored to local climate and soil conditions, and steer you away from invasive plants [6].
Analyze the Root System
Before making a purchase, it's always a good idea to analyze a plant's root system to ensure it's healthy.
Plant Tags and Labels
Plant tags often contain valuable information about light requirements, mature size, soil preferences, and special care requirements. Some plants may even come with a warning label, indicating they are invasive or aggressive growers that could become problems in your garden [7].
Visit During the Week
Visiting a garden center during weekdays allows for less crowded conditions, shorter wait times, and better plant selection.
Buds Over Blooms
It's always wise to buy plants with buds rather than blooms to enjoy an extended period of flowering as the buds open gradually over time.
Bulk Buys and Perennials
Buying soil or mulch in bulk can yield significant savings, even with added delivery fees. Gardening with perennials can help maximize your budget by eliminating the need for yearly planting and associated expenses [8].
Embrace the Green Thumb Community
The staff at local garden centers are gardeners themselves and want shoppers to succeed. Amy Draiss, the Digital Community Manager at the platform since 2021, is a shining example, blending hands-on gardening experience with a digital green thumb. She shares her love for hydrangeas and gardening wisdom through videos and social media [9].
Remember, these strategies combine careful plant selection with smart timing and shopping locations to optimize both plant quality and budget efficiency. Happy gardening!
When focusing on expanding your home-and-garden lifestyle, consider investing in quality items such as raised garden beds during end-of-summer sales for future growing season savings [1]. To multiply your garden plants without additional cost, divide larger container plants, like perennials [4].
While shopping for plants, be sure to choose native plants for low-maintenance gardening and seek advice from garden center staff for guidance on plant placement, arrangement, and soil amendments tailored to your local climate [6].
