{"id":9367,"date":"2013-05-29T09:33:30","date_gmt":"2013-05-29T13:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/?p=9367"},"modified":"2025-02-19T09:17:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T09:17:34","slug":"free-plants-and-easy-ways-to-save-money-on-gardening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalskyweb.co\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/2013\/05\/29\/free-plants-and-easy-ways-to-save-money-on-gardening\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Plants And Ways To Save Money On Gardening"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Find out how to get free plants for your garden and save money. Learn where to look and get creative to find the plants you need without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there easy ways to save money on gardening?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will share my secrets for scoring free plants so you don\u2019t have to pay for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Gardening Frugal By Sourcing Free Plants <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While I am not saying to stay away from garden centers as they offer many plants, there are easier ways to save money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting free plants or buying them at a fraction of the cost is possible, but you must get creative and get your hands dirty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The payoff will always be worth it since the cost of plants can get pricey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing where to look for free plants is the key to getting what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving Away Free Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why would people give away free plants?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless someone grows<\/strong> annuals from seed and has more than they need, you will likely find a great deal on perennials<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing from seed<\/strong><\/a> is a far more cost-effective<\/strong> way to save money in the garden,<\/strong> but not everyone has a green thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love growing plants; seeds are relatively inexpensive compared to the ready-made plants at the nursery or garden centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donate Free Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you look around your neighborhood, I bet you will see many plants that come up yearly and seem to sprout in different spots and multiply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are an avid gardener and want to thin out your plants, you have some work to do, but you also can donate your plants<\/strong> to those who are willing to take them and are in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I speak for myself and many others out there when I say I have a hard time just throwing away a plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not let someone else give it a new home, mainly if it saves them some money in their gardening budget to take it off your hands?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Simple Tips For Dividing Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Divide your plants in the spring to avoid hot weather.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Use a sharp tool to cut; some recommend using a saw, but I use a shovel, which works fine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Look at the plant’s growth, and make the cut where all parts have many solid roots.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. If not replanting immediately, place it in a pot with some soil and give it water. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. If there is a good amount of soil with the clump, a plastic bag around the roots will work, too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6.  Replant sooner than later<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Perennial Gardening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    What Is A Perennial?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A perennial refers to a plant growing for at least two consecutive years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It dies in the fall and regrows on the same roots the following spring.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As the roots continue to grow from year to year your plants get bigger and bigger, your garden eventually will begin to look overgrown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    An annual plant is just the opposite and only lasts the season; once it\u2019s gone, it\u2019s gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some people enjoy a lovely full garden and don\u2019t mind it being overgrown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While many practice splitting or dividing plants to thin the garden out, it takes time and effort to make your landscaping look like it\u2019s from the cover of a magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The majority of perennials can be cut into multiple pieces and planted elsewhere.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some do not survive being uprooted and falling apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The plants could be added to the compost, donated, discarded, or wasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Free Plants In Your City<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Where Can I Find Free Plants?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The internet makes things easy when looking for free plants or trying to give them away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ads can often be found on Kijiji and Free-cycle for people offering free plants; you go pick them up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Check for ads often, though, as some plants shouldn\u2019t be out of the garden for too long, so the posts can disappear quickly as long as the plants survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This past weekend, while working with a CBB fan on her property, we posted on Free-cycle free Echinacea and Daylily plants that we divided and had four replies within minutes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    She was also generous to me, and I came home with some Shasta daisies and Forget-me-Nots to add to my garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Free Plants At Garage Sales<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    I am seeing a lot more plant sales at garage sales<\/strong><\/a> these days, just like Mr. CBB found a money tree for a mere $0.50 last week, a steal of a deal if you ask me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They may not be free plants, but they won\u2019t cost as much as if you had to go to a garden nursery to buy them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A family in our town has been doing it for as long as I can remember. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    More and more people are selling their divided plants from their driveways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You may get a hosta for $2, or however little the person charges, compared to paying $7.99 or more for one from a garden center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Get Free Plants From Friends, Family, and Neighbours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you know someone who will be dividing plants, say your mother, best friend, or the family next door, you could offer to help with the work in exchange for a few plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or even possibly trade for plants you have that you need to divide.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sharing plants with family and friends can also add sentimental value to your garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I am excited and awaiting some Iris that a family member shares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These were initially grown on my great-grandpa’s lane-way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    She received them from great-grandpa, and she\u2019s passing some on to me now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They will always be referred to as great-grandpa\u2019s Iris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Neighbourhood Free Plants Swap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Mr. CBB recently picked up a massive elephant\u2019s ear hosta<\/strong> from his neighbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The base rootstock is about 2 feet long by 1 foot across and enormous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s the size of buying at least 3 x $40 plants at the nursery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He says he has some crackin\u2019 neighbors, which translates to pretty awesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since he is landscaping his entire property, the elephant\u2019s ear hosta will be used as an architectural piece on his property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This plant can grow up to 6 feet in height, has huge leaves, and is simply a beautiful plant that enjoys the shade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s always nice to offer something to your neighbor, even if it is a hand digging out the free plants they offer you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reduced Section For Cheap Or Free Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you are prepared to take the risk, you may get lucky and score a great deal on a reduced plant that needs a lot of love and attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not all plants at a nursery or garden center get 100% attention and get missed and generally start to deteriorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The nursery or garden may reduce the cost of the plant to recoup some of the loss in hopes that it will buy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you see a plant that looks on its last legs and wants to give it a second lease on life, don\u2019t hesitate to ask for a discount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One advantage of buying your plants is that most nurseries and garden centers offer a one-year guarantee on perennials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If it dies, you get a new plant or your money back, so hang on to your receipts<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This would not likely apply to reduced plants as you know you are taking a risk when buying it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Start Looking For Free Plants and Garden Seeds<\/h2>\n\n\n
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    \"HOW-TO-SCORE-FREE-PLANTS-AND-SAVE-MONEY-ON-GARDENING-IN-CANADA-720x1080\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    The best time to look for free plants is in the Spring!!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Perennials are mainly divided mid to late spring before the hot weather hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Transplanting is stressful for the plant, and the heat adds more stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Doing this in the spring allows the plants to get established in their new home before the hot months.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    May is an excellent month to keep an eye out online and while shopping at garage sales, especially for the May 2-4 long weekend <\/strong>when most garage and yard sales begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Swap For Free Vegetable and Flower Seeds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Another great way to score free plants is by swapping garden seeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Perhaps you save your garden seeds to use the next year and have a surplus or extra packets of flowers and vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This would be a great time to see if there is a local garden seed swap to allow optimal variety in your garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019d start a seed swap as early as January or February, which gives you time to start your seedlings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mulch and Compost For Your Garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A garden requires more than just plants\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Contact your local waste facility to see if they offer free mulch<\/strong> and compost<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alternatively, you can make your compost for free using leaves you rake from your property in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our local dump has piles where you can bring your containers, trailer, truck, or bags and load your own at no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s a free opportunity for them to dispose of debris collected around town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I prefer the natural look of mulch instead of dyed, so this works just fine for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look at what plants you already have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you can divide some, use them to fill an empty spot or plant in a new garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you need or would like more plants, taking a quick look online, helping out a friend or neighbor, and using local resources are easy ways to save some hard-earned money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Discussion: <\/strong>Where have you found free plants, and do you have any other suggestions for the readers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Please leave me your comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mr.CBB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Katrina is a horticulture graduate with over ten years of experience with landscaping and greenhouse production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n