Garden nursery plant buying tips

Before you head to the first garden center or garden nursery this year, I hope you have a plan.

Bad things happen if you don’t.

From overbuying to overspending to purchasing inferior plants. Here are my top tips before heading out to the garden centers.

Let’s get the most bang for our buck this year! Here are my best plant-buying tips.

Read more: Garden nursery plant buying tips

Have a set budget

Last year, an acquaintance confessed she spent $900 on annuals. She was still upset over a year later. I didn’t think the amount was too bad, given the size of her house and how many pots and planters she had to fill.

But I agree that it’s easy to lose track of what you spend at the garden center. Having a budget is key.

Be sure to factor in not only plants (annuals, vegetables, perennials) but also garden supplies and fertilizers, which add up quickly.

It’s easier for me to have a separate amount designated for plants, vegetables, and then amendments to keep me on track.

Otherwise, it’s far too easy to justify extra expenses or spend more on one category than another.

It’s tempting to blow through dollars quickly on annuals; they’re so pretty and colorful, but then there’s nothing left for more “practical” plants.

When you consider the budget, also consider how many garden centers/nurseries you typically visit. Each year, I like to visit four different ones, with one being my clear favorite.

Shop early for the best selection

Every year, I buy at least 24 cherry tomato plants. So the years I putz around and don’t get to the garden center until the end of May/June, I lose. Why? Because they are sold out by then.

Then I go into full panic mode and hit every garden center in the area until I find some. And when I do? All that’s left are sad and pathetic, tiny plants with yellow leaves.

Even when nurtured, they rarely thrive. I would have been better off planting seeds.

But if you buy plants too early, you won’t be able to get them into the ground due to potential frost. Plants waiting weeks to get planted don’t do too well either. It’s all about balance.

Still, I’d rather buy my plants a little too early than too late, or worse, not at all because they ran out. When I’m shopping, I’m mindful that the plants need to get into the ground within a week, or I wait to purchase.

And have you noticed? So many annuals are not being sold in six-packs anymore. Now, all too many are sold in four packs.

Maybe it seems like you aren’t paying more for the plants, but you sure are getting less. Just be mindful of what you are paying per plantling when you shop.

Bring a friend – plant buying tips

When buying a home, most people don’t go solo. They bring their spouse, parents, close friends, and even their sister-in-law for advice.

The same rule applies to buying plant/garden supplies. If you don’t have a shoulder to lean on, you’ll end up with lots of buyer’s remorse.

Advice from someone you trust will keep you from making purchases you’ll later regret. And give yourself plenty of time. It’s far too easy to overspend when you are rushed.

Sometimes, I’ll put something in my cart, think it over, and later decide I don’t really need it and put it back where I found it.

A trusted friend encourages thoughtful buying, and this saves me money. And when I do spot something I can’t live without (a trusty key lime hand trowel), I can go full steam ahead!

Buy plants early or plants that are out of season for best pricing…

Now that your spring bulbs are on their way out, it’s easy to think that it’s not the time to buy bulbs.

But I had some gaping holes in my landscaping due to a lack of daffodils. I need more!

Lucky for me, I stopped by a random garden nursery I don’t usually go to on my way to drop off my son at a birthday party. Huge pots of daffodils past their prime for just five bucks!

Pure elation. We’re talking 6-7 massive bulbs in each pot. In their prime, the garden center was asking $20 a pot. But now, at under $1 a bulb, I can’t go wrong with a 50% discount.

So I bought two pots for $10. Paying full price. Meh. Even plants are getting pricey these days.

Another great option is to buy plants early, as garden centers sometimes overbuy before an unexpected frost. I bought 30 of the 4.5-inch vegetable pots for just $2 a piece. They actually gave me the herbs for the same price. Win.

Since many garden centers keep plants outside for space reasons, they will heavily discount them if the forecast calls for frost. I’m happy to store them in my sunny window until they can be planted outside.

Speaking of buying out-of-season plants…

Now is also the opportune time to buy indoor plants at garden centers. They have to make way for all the annuals and vegetable plants coming.

This is especially true if you live in an area like mine, where it can be 82 degrees one day and snow the next. Garden centers have to keep the most fragile plants in their sheltered greenhouses.

This could mean deep discounts on some fun and fancy indoor plants. Garden nurseries are in a hurry to clear out houseplants, so fingers crossed you score some deals.

And it never hurts to check to see if the garden center has a clearance zone or plant rehab section for even deeper discounts. Most do. These plants tend to be 75% off. Yes. They need lots of rehab and care.

But….when you are paying a super low price, it’s worth the chance that the plant doesn’t make it. I brought a mammoth whale fin plant for $5, and it’s now doing wonderful!

Know when to splurge – plant buying tips

Last year at the local farmer’s market, I saw stunning and healthy gardenia trees for sale. Guess how much?

$30. These were fairly large braided gardenia trees. It was two weeks before Mother’s Day. Feeling frugal that day, I passed. I still regret it.

The same farmer’s market had these same trees this year. For how much? Yep. $45. I could cry. So I passed again. I lost my chance because I don’t want to spend that much on a single tree that is easy to kill.

While I have Mother’s Day on my mind, don’t wait until the Saturday before to buy your plants. Go on the Wednesday before or even a solid week before.

Why? Selection and lines. If you go several days to a week before, you get first dibs on the plants. So, for the same price as everyone else, you pick the best pot in the nursery after you carefully go over them.

If you shop Mother’s Day weekend, you could wait an hour in line to purchase mom her plant. Nope.

I hope you found some of my plant-buying tips useful!

What do you do to save money in the garden center?