Here are my top shopping secrets you can use when buying new plants.

  1. Shop when it is raining for smaller crowds.
  2. Make sure plants you buy are nice and compact, not leggy and stressed.
  3. Instead of buying a hanging basket all done, design your own hanging basket.
  4. Instead of buying small single pots of plants, buy a flat.
  5. Buy grass seed in bulk.
  6. When buying plants, trees and shrubs, don’t buy them if they don’t look good. Also, don’t buy dying plants.
  7. When buying trees, make sure they are straight and branches are balanced.
  8. Take a peek at the roots by pulling the plant out of the pot, to make sure the plant has a good root system. If the plant is rootbound, it may need to be repotted after you buy it.
  9. Note that most plants from garden centers come with 3 months of fertilizer so it is not needed when you get the plant home.
  10. Save up questions and ask them in the garden center of the store you usually go.