| Gardening Bargains |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-101 |
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Q: I'm tired of spending a ton of money on filling my empty garden. What's the best way to spot a bargain?
A: (Jessie Mack Burns, Gardening Expert) One of the best times to get some bargain plants is toward the end of the growing season, when nurseries are clearing out their stock. But make certain that you determine whether the plant is a bargain that just needs a little work -- or a diseased flower that might infect the rest of your plants. Here are some things to consider: - Some plants, such as the vinca shown, need nothing more than a good drink of water to revive (figure A).
- Salvia is another plant to look for at the end of the season. It likes the heat and grows most of the summer, so it may be overgrown and get set on the sale table near summer's end. It will probably require some pruning to perk back up, but be realistic: It probably won't grow much now that it's cool.
- Other annuals, such as impatiens and begonias, need to be pinched back at the end of the season. So buy them at seriously reduced cost, then cut them back and put them in a pot --they're not worth putting in the ground for the rest of the season. They may very well fill out and bloom again. Do feed them with some water-soluble fertilizer, too, to help encourage growth.
- A plant on sale at the end of the season is no bargain if it's diseased (figure B) So look for the telltale symptoms of a plant that's going to infect the rest of your plants: pinholes, black spots, signs of chewing -- these are all signs of a plant that's too bad to buy.
- The season's end is a great time to get shrubs and trees -- the garden center is trying to get rid of them. Look for the ones that just have a few unsightly broken spots or a small spot of dead wood. They're worth buying if you can get them at a reduced price, because all you have to do is prune them.
- If a perennial, such as a coneflower or a daylily, has dead blooms or dry stalks, consider buying it anyway -- if you can get a substantial price cut and the greenery still looks healthy. You can snip the blooms or stalks and plant the rest for next year.
Working smarter: When you snip the expired flower from a bargain perennial, save the seeds for next year. More questions for Jessie: Q: What's the best way to spot damage from pests?
A: Look for signs of chewing -- that means something's feasting on the leaves. Also look for black or white spots.
Q: Is a damaged perennial or an out-of-season annual a better bargain?
A: The annuals just have the rest of this year, while the perennials are going to live and bloom for years to come, so if you have to choose, buy perennials to salvage.
Q: Which is better in the long run, a water-soluble or a time-release fertilizer?
A: I like time-release fertilizer, so you don't have to remember to fertilize as often. You can buy it in different increments even up to six months or a year (figure C). Featured plants: - Vinca
- Salvia
- Begonia
- Coneflower
- Daylilies
- Holly
Web site resources for gardening bargains: www.amazing-bargains.com/home-expiring.html
www.newhomemaker.com/money/bargains/crafts.html
www.tx-marketeers.com/agriculture.htm
kings.co.nz/
www.shopheaven.com/shop/garden.htm
www.waysidegardens.com/
Garden.com
www.tashworld.com/gardening_cleaning_books.htm
Gardener's Supply Company
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