Gardeners Special Offers

Special Offers for Gardeners

Internet traders and retailers of plants and seeds start making special offers of plug plants around the beginning of May. They have grown to order but added some extra stock for sale and will put deals and discounts together. It can be a cost effective way of getting more plants.

Newspapers are regularly making up special offers. They usually involve buying several items of one species in several colours or varieties at a bulk price. Distributors need a minimum order value to make a deal worthwhile.

At the end of any selling season special offers and discounts are used to liquidate stock. As long as the timing is not too bad you can make some good purchases. I particularly look for Tulips sold in October/November which is the time to plant them anyway yet retailers want the space for Christmas stock.

Horticultural societies are a good way to buy your dry goods, chemicals, fertilisers and composts at a discount. It is well worth the cheap membership fee for good advice and better prices. Many get funds or discounts from bulk seed purchases by adding members deals together.

Casual retailers at car boots, open gardens and special plant sale events can be a good source of new plants.

Tips on Special Offers

• Every retailer is looking to make a profit. Caveat emptor means buyer beware.
• Do not buy plants that look like they are dead, diseased or past their sell by date.
• I particularly dislike vendors who sell plants that are finishing flowering and will not flower again.
• Seek value for money by considering growing from cuttings, seeds or scrounging gifts.
• Try not to buy what you don’t want. I overfil my garden every year and always have more than I need or the garden can cope with.

Special offers link to Thompson & Morgan