Free plants for home and garden

This is a little bit off the topic of clothing, but it is along the lines of reusing and recycling

There are many places over the internet where you can get free seeds just for the shippings and handling, but have you ever considered extremely free options?

1. There are many stores that sell plants just as spring hits, do you wonder what happens to the ones that aren't bought after the season ends. They are thrown away. Living things just tossed into a dumpster. If you find a really nice establishment, they might actually give you the plants after they "expire". Many other places won't, because they think of it as a loss of profit. they would rather throw them away than give them away to a happy home. If you're brave enough, just look for the signs, and lift up that lid for some free happy plants.

2. There are many buildings that are demolished in cities and rural areas. Many of them expensive landscaping that is just plowed under when the building goes down. You can often ask the people in charge of the demolition if you could remove the plants before they go on with their work, or ask them to set them aside for you.

3. neighbors are another option. If you already grow, you can go to a green thumbed neighbor and trade clippings and plants. it's a good way to get to know one another and get some neat plants.

4. Hikes or outings can be another great way to get plants. Just think before you act. Some one might consider something a weed, you might like the way it looks. around here there's black berry bushes, wild green onions, and wild flowers. just remember to be kind to mother nature while taking things, and try not to destroy anything or massively deplete anything.

hope you guys found this helpful.

Comments

[Aimee]

My husband brought home a free flowering plant from the local grocery store's floral department - they were going going to toss it, but the girl offered it to us because he's such a regular customer. It's great that they let their regulars take them versus just tossing them...

I've also traded cuttings with neighbors and family - can't beat free!

Happy Gardening!

[jennyslash]

Once people know that you'll take cuttings and divisions, you'll be swamped with offers! But I think it's a great opportunity to learn about plants and to learn about your own growing conditions wothout spending a great deal of money experimenting.

I think it wise to always ask whether or not a plant has a tendency to become invasive. That way, you can decide from the outset what you'll need to do to control it.

My favourite "passalong plants" in my garden: my daylilies - they grew "wild" along the dirt road I grew up on. I planted them at my first house and took some along for my current home. Also: irises that grew in my grandmother's yard and then outside my bedroom window when I still lived with my parents. I got some of them for my first house and for the one that I'm in now.

[miss fitz]

yup, yup. i ask for clippings all the time ESPECIALLY at the end of the season, when owners are only going to let the coleus or vines die in the cold. have built up quite a collection. also admit to, um, borrowing clippable bits from mayor daley's glorious downtown pots. clipping only, no uprooting. i've also rescued plants from dumpsters and alleys - they looked half dead, i cut off the brown stuff and hoped for the best... finally, menards stores sell plants at rock bottom clearance once they start to droop. worth popping in every week or two once the season gets going.