Not sure where this should go cause it's not really gardening, as such. So mods if it should be moved, do so. 🙂
More a help to those just starting, on where to get plants that they may not be able to afford while prepping for other things.
1. Check out you local paper and on line sources of ppl that are giving away free plants. C.L., Freecycle, etc.
Some of us have/are dividing our plants, or started too many and no more room to put them or have enough, but hate to toss them out.
2. Stores that don't normally carry plants year round, will be putting many on sale as the summer gets into full swing. They don't want the job of looking after them, nor do they have the place to do so.
Last couple years I got fruit trees/shrubs free and others 1/4 the cost!
Those were not little stubby plants either , but trees starting at least 7 plus feet tall and in blossom.
This also enabled me to get other trees/shrubs I wanted but pay full price if I had to.
3. Talk to ppl around you that you know are gardening. They may have some that you can have just to make room in their gardens.
That's 3 places, I am sure someone can add other ideas.
This year a have way to much rhubarb, gooseberries, raspberries to name a few with no more place to put them.
I would love to give them to someone.
I am sure there others are in same boat with extra plants.
Go find them, where ever you are and good luck. 🙂
A sense of humor is absolutely essential to survival.
-Find wild natives to "redistirute" (berry brambles & vines or fruits/nuts, especially those that are encroaching on ditches and park trails and doomed to be mowed every 3 years, anyway)
-Find edible wild natives to propagate by air and tip layering (tip layering is especially unlikely to be detected), or by root, shoot and stem cuttings (leaves the native for wildlife and others, but allows the ultimate in zeroscaping for each area)
*Please beware of local edicts about transport of non-natives
**Please be super ware of invasives in your area and take care not to transport their roots, shoots, flowers, seeds and stems on boots, tools, and the patches that are dug up.
- Organize a summer meeting for a group buy from 1 or 2 dealers
(not free, but buying in bulk and shipping to a single location can cut costs significantly)
-Organize a seed, seedling, and cutting swap just ahead of autumn tree and shrub planting season
(start organizing and advertising now or in July-August so people know well in advance and have time to divide and propagate things to swap)
*Group ideas might include posting at the local gun range, veteran's organization, church group, HAM club, sewing circle, or finding a gardening forum for your area and broaching the idea there.
**A board can be set up in churches and private clubs of various types usually, with an "I have" and "I would like" section for individuals to list out, or just use message boards that are available in many club settings
***This can also be a way for small growers to start with less than 25 strawberries or potatoes, 3-5 interested parties buy in and nobody ends up passing because they don't want to waste the money on 17 plants they don't have room for
-Similar to 1&3 above:
Find a neighbor/fellow church or club member with what you'd like and see if they'll allow you to take cutting or layer the specimens you're interested in
-Barter - find a farmer or nursery grower and see if there are tasks you can perform either for cuttings or potted/burlapped perennials, or see if a worker at one of those will get you their discount; one of the Homestead Gardens growers ends up with so many extra veggie and 4-8" berry and rose brambles he ends up offering them to staff at cost, which is peanuts and 1/10 or less what we pay for them at Lowes/Home Depot
Although it's not exactly what's addressed, supplies for the new trees or shrubs can sometimes be had at 75% or 1/2 cost by seeing if the retailer has a section of damaged bags of peat, compost, manure, soil or other amendments, or dented/scratched rings, vole guards, and deer guards. Some home improvement places also end up with cracked pipe or bent pipe and chipped or broken dowels than can be used as supports, and will offer those at deep discount or for free.