1) I look for places that have cheaper prices. A farm store charges MUCH less than a fancy nursery. I buy as much of the "basics" (e.g. marigolds, parsley) at cheap places and maybe hit a fancier place for a few extras. Trees and shrubs are astronomical at a nursery and expensive even at a farm store, but closer to affordable at some mail order places. Sadly the cheap mail order nurseries that did those are all gone, but it's still possible to find bargains.
2) As much as possible, I buy small plants, in multipacks if I can get them. I got 4 basil seedlings in a pack for less than 1 bigger one in a pot.
3) Some places will give you a discount if you buy a whole flat of plants that are all in the same type of container.
4) Watch for bedraggled plants or other sales. The basils were 25% off and there were others up to 75% off. I got a huge order from American Meadows because they ran a season-end sale in fall, which plants just arrived recently. I've found end-season bags of 25-50 bulbs for $5.
Admittedly, my plant budget is higher than it used to be, but even when it was smaller I usually managed to get a decent selection of things.
Other ways to save that I also use:
1) Buy seeds and you can get many plants for less than the price of one. I've already got all my seeds for this year, unless I spot a random amazing thing. I've already started some wildflowers and native grasses. It's not warm enough to start some other things yet.
2) Divide what you have. I dug out the daffodil bed and planted many dozens of bulblets along the savanna hedge, most of which bloomed this spring!
3) Once you have a permaculture going, stuff just ... appears. Wild grapes, elderberries, and cup plants are among my surprises here.
4) Swap seeds and plants with other gardeners. One of my favorite hostas -- a plain dark green that grows vigorously -- came from a plant swap. I wish we had a club, but I've only found occasional events.
5) Landraces! Save seeds from things you grow and establish your own strain. I have Shithouse Marigolds, although I also buy some. I'm working on sunflowers next.
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Thoughts
Date: 2025-04-30 09:36 pm (UTC)2) As much as possible, I buy small plants, in multipacks if I can get them. I got 4 basil seedlings in a pack for less than 1 bigger one in a pot.
3) Some places will give you a discount if you buy a whole flat of plants that are all in the same type of container.
4) Watch for bedraggled plants or other sales. The basils were 25% off and there were others up to 75% off. I got a huge order from American Meadows because they ran a season-end sale in fall, which plants just arrived recently. I've found end-season bags of 25-50 bulbs for $5.
Admittedly, my plant budget is higher than it used to be, but even when it was smaller I usually managed to get a decent selection of things.
Other ways to save that I also use:
1) Buy seeds and you can get many plants for less than the price of one. I've already got all my seeds for this year, unless I spot a random amazing thing. I've already started some wildflowers and native grasses. It's not warm enough to start some other things yet.
2) Divide what you have. I dug out the daffodil bed and planted many dozens of bulblets along the savanna hedge, most of which bloomed this spring!
3) Once you have a permaculture going, stuff just ... appears. Wild grapes, elderberries, and cup plants are among my surprises here.
4) Swap seeds and plants with other gardeners. One of my favorite hostas -- a plain dark green that grows vigorously -- came from a plant swap. I wish we had a club, but I've only found occasional events.
5) Landraces! Save seeds from things you grow and establish your own strain. I have Shithouse Marigolds, although I also buy some. I'm working on sunflowers next.