Buy a Bargain Garden

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to garden. The green may be fading, but as the plants falter, go dormant, or die, it helps me focus on the future. Like most gardeners, I know next year's garden will be even better than this one. We learn from mistakes and successes and look for something new to try. As you think of new things, think about saving money too.

I like this time of year because the nurseries and garden centers are trying to eliminate much of their inventory as they turn their attention to the holidays. Now is a great time to pick up plants at pennies on the dollar. Often they may not look like much with brown leaves and broken branches after a season of neglect, but with a little extra attention on your part you can benefit from cast-off plants.

As I've blogged before, fall is a good time to plant trees and coincidentally it's about the best time of year to buy them. Nurseries all over are offering 25% and 50% price reductions on trees. With careful shopping you may find a damaged specimen for up to 90% off normal price. I don't mind buying a tree with broken branches as long as the central leader is strong. Lower branches on a small tree will be pruned off eventually so I'm benefitting by adopting a less-than-perfect plant.

It's still not too late to plant bulbs for spring flowers. A strategic layer of mulch before the ground gets cold will help soil stay a little warmer for a little longer. Many stores that overstocked with bags of bulbs are looking to get rid of their stock so they can open up the floorspace for Christmas ornaments. Bargains can be found. Even if the weather changes dramatically and only a fraction of the bulbs root and grow, you still may find yourself ahead. If the price is reduced 75% and only 50% of the bulbs grow, you've still saved 25% off normal price.

Many fall flowers can be better deals. Chrysanthemums hit the shelves just a month or two ago and their flowers have long faded. Last year I stocked up on $5 mums that were being liquidated for 25 cents at a garden center. I planted them and didn't see flowers until a year later, but at a 95% savings I could afford to be patient.

Even seed packets go on the chopping block. Seeds packaged for 2010 planting should still have virtually 100% viability in 2011. Buy them now, plant them in the spring, and you'll save dramatically over next year's prices.

Tools and pots often are sold at clearance sales. Hoses, lawnmowers, and trellises too. You'll need to find a spot to store them over the winter, but I'm sure you can find room in your garden shed or garage. These items don't have an expiration date; take care of them and they last for a very long time.

Lawn fertilizer is one of my favorite fall bargains. I'll buy a couple bags of a good fertilizer and save them for spring and fall fertilization next year. I've followed this pattern for years and the only downfall is remembering where I stored them when I'm ready to break out the broadcast spreader.

Look for these opportunities next time you wander into the gardening section of a store or a nursery. You may have missed out on some bargains because this isn't a well-kept secret; many gardeners do the same. With a little practice and foresight you'll be able to save a fortune on plants you were going to buy anyway. And isn't saving money fun?

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to garden. The green may be fading, but as the plants falter, go dormant, or die, it helps me focus on the future. Like most gardeners, I know next year's garden will be even better than this one. We learn from mistakes and successes and look for something new to try. As you think of new things, think about saving money too.

I like this time of year because the nurseries and garden centers are trying to eliminate much of their inventory as they turn their attention to the holidays. Now is a great time to pick up plants at pennies on the dollar. Often they may not look like much with brown leaves and broken branches after a season of neglect, but with a little extra attention on your part you can benefit from cast-off plants.

As I've blogged before, fall is a good time to plant trees and coincidentally it's about the best time of year to buy them. Nurseries all over are offering 25% and 50% price reductions on trees. With careful shopping you may find a damaged specimen for up to 90% off normal price. I don't mind buying a tree with broken branches as long as the central leader is strong. Lower branches on a small tree will be pruned off eventually so I'm benefitting by adopting a less-than-perfect plant.

It's still not too late to plant bulbs for spring flowers. A strategic layer of mulch before the ground gets cold will help soil stay a little warmer for a little longer. Many stores that overstocked with bags of bulbs are looking to get rid of their stock so they can open up the floorspace for Christmas ornaments. Bargains can be found. Even if the weather changes dramatically and only a fraction of the bulbs root and grow, you still may find yourself ahead. If the price is reduced 75% and only 50% of the bulbs grow, you've still saved 25% off normal price.

Many fall flowers can be better deals. Chrysanthemums hit the shelves just a month or two ago and their flowers have long faded. Last year I stocked up on $5 mums that were being liquidated for 25 cents at a garden center. I planted them and didn't see flowers until a year later, but at a 95% savings I could afford to be patient.

Even seed packets go on the chopping block. Seeds packaged for 2010 planting should still have virtually 100% viability in 2011. Buy them now, plant them in the spring, and you'll save dramatically over next year's prices.

Tools and pots often are sold at clearance sales. Hoses, lawnmowers, and trellises too. You'll need to find a spot to store them over the winter, but I'm sure you can find room in your garden shed or garage. These items don't have an expiration date; take care of them and they last for a very long time.

Lawn fertilizer is one of my favorite fall bargains. I'll buy a couple bags of a good fertilizer and save them for spring and fall fertilization next year. I've followed this pattern for years and the only downfall is remembering where I stored them when I'm ready to break out the broadcast spreader.

Look for these opportunities next time you wander into the gardening section of a store or a nursery. You may have missed out on some bargains because this isn't a well-kept secret; many gardeners do the same. With a little practice and foresight you'll be able to save a fortune on plants you were going to buy anyway. And isn't saving money fun?