I always walk thru garden centers with an eye out for the mark down rack of plants.

And, I don't discount the ragged annuals that won't recover because they are sometimes loaded with seed for the next season.

I did that with some (originally expensive) large and old Angelonia plants. Still have seed left from those marked down treasures.

Fall of 2010, I brought home an encore azalea in a 3gal pot for $3, becuase it ws nothing but bare sticks. Put it in a big pot and left it alone (my standard routine). Next spring, it will go in the ground (I got sidetracked this fall and didn't get it planted)

I'm thinking I didn't do too badly for $3

I ALWAYS check what we call the 'dead rack' at Lowes and have gotten many good plants there.

Buying plants for seeds value is good.
Reviving store neglected plants is fun!

I like to call them the "half-dead, half-off" racks, even though they're mostly more than half off, and can be more or less half-dead.

Dutchlady1 said:I ALWAYS check what we call the 'dead rack' at Lowes and have gotten many good plants there.

I picked up a ton of salvias for $2.50/ea, there was nothing wrong with them other than their flowers were mostly gone for the season.. who cares! That's a great price for a $9.99 plant and they were big & healthy looking otherwise! They went right into the ground. October is my 2nd favorite time of year for plant shopping.. all of the nurseries & big boxes are having major clearances, the weather's perfect for planting (not so hot in the day, ground's not frozen yet, cool nights). I always managed to get some great 3gal Weeks roses for $10! Can't beat it!

I would recommend, for those who have decent Home Depots, to sign up for their Garden Club. They'll send you weekly fliers via email as to what's on sale (most of the time it's just appliances), but I've gotten TONS of BOGOFree coupons (roses during Mother's day, perennials other times) , or $10 off of $50 for the garden center. And they'll combine coupons, so if you're buying $100 & you have 2 $10 off of $50, that's $20 off! Plus you'll find out when mulch/fertilizer/other stuff goes on sale, too. Bags of mulch at $2.50/ea isn't bad at all!

When we go to Lowe's I head to the nursery and the clearance plants. Have found some plants that with a little TLC grew into very pretty plants. Buying plants for seeds never entered my mind, so thanks for that great idea.

Great advice Becky. What was is your best plant ever on a sale?

Good notes from everyone! I love bargain shopping!

My very best deal, Lynn, was a plumbago that looks like not much more than sticks with leaves. I took a gamble for $2.00 at walmart (they just don't water their plants, in my opinion) and took it home for a bunch of TLC. Within about 4 weeks, maybe sooner, it had a show of leaves and buds and eventually became the best little plumbago ever!

I love that bargain story.