Saving Big with Last Chance Gardening
Spring is known as blooming season, while fall is considered harvest season—especially around the Northeast and Midwest, where temperatures dip and the weather isn’t kind to buds and beautiful flowering gardens. For deal-savvy gardeners, now’s a great time to visit your favorite online nurseries and home improvement websites as they’re looking to clear inventory. You’ll score great clearance deals on bulbs, trees, seeds, soil and even plants that you can enjoy right now.
Say Yes to Soil!
If you planted vegetable garden, you know it’s time to remove old, dead plants and weeds, plus clear away fallen leaves and brush before winter arrives on your doorstep. Spread an even layer of mulch to protect your crops, being cautious not to use too much soil. Through December 31st, you can get $5 off your $50+ purchase at Kmart.com, so stock up on brand-name mulch. Stock up on seeds you can save to plant come springtime. You’ll find great deals on vegetable seeds at GardensAlive.com, which right now is offering an amazing $20 off $40+ purchase.
Bulbs Against Bare Gardens
Although most recommend not planting bulbs in the fall, you’re never going to see prices on flower bulbs as low as they are right now, so why not plant a few and see how they do? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Typically it’s recommended that you plant bulbs 6 weeks before the first frost, so if you get going this week, your bulbs will have enough time to take root. WaysideGardens.com is currently running a 50% off (most) bulbs sale. Add that to their 25% off $100 purchase and you’ll be making out like a bandit.
Easy Evergreen
Nothing evokes the holiday season like the sight (and smell) of evergreen trees. Currently on super sale, you can grab a great deal on evergreens and plant them in front of your house. Not only will they look great, we learned on AARP.org that they can serve as a windbreak, potentially saving you money on your heating bill. You can also find deals on shrubs, hedges and trees at SpringHillNursery.com, who are currently running their fantastic “double your quantity for one cent sale.”
Mum’s the Word
Your front porch is decorated with pumpkins, gourd—and perhaps a scarecrow or two, but what would really make your house shine are some potted mums. Chrysanthemums ( “mums”, for short) are perennial flowering plants with many different flower types, including pompon, (my favorite) which resemble small globe-like buds. Right now you can save big with $15 off your $75 purchase at Burpee.com, which carries mums in all colors of the rainbow.
Blooming flowers and sprouting fruits and vegetables are something worth waiting for, so get a head start dreaming about those spring days spent with your hands in the dirt, freshly picked flowers in your best vase, and ripe tomatoes cooking on your stove. Happy Fall Gardening!
