Should gardeners gamble on deeply-discounted plants and trees?

There is no doubt that sometimes it is best to “do as I say and not as I do!”

Recently, I went to Womack’s Nursery in De Leon because they were having an incredible sale on container trees, and despite my recent article on the proper time and way to plant a fruit tree, I came home with a brand-new peach tree.

On another occasion, I was at a “big-box” store waiting for my husband to buy wood and I found shelf after shelf of plants marked 50% off. I bought a cart-load of very questionable-looking plants. Further, I subscribe to many seed catalogs and they are offering great discounts on certain seeds. 

This week I am sharing my opinion on when buying discounted and on-sale plants, seeds or trees are worth the risk.

Most things do not go on sale at exactly the time that we need them or during the ideal time to display them. Plants, trees and seeds are no different. If a plant is on sale, there is a reason for the discount, and the shopper needs to attempt to determine that reason. The main reason that these items are discounted is because they are out of season. 

Annuals are primarily discounted once the plant is out of season. For example, I am seeing many containers filled with pansies and other winter annuals at deep discounts! These plants are at a deep discount because they are not successful in our area at this time of year.

No matter how well a gardener takes care of these plants, they are unlikely to be successful or come back next year. These plants are perfect if you are looking for some temporary color. Otherwise, these plants may not be worth the price – even at a deep discount. 

Trees, on the other hand, may be planted successfully even out of season. The question then becomes "is it worth the trouble?"

We typically plant trees when they are dormant — in the winter. We do this so that the roots have time to become established before the trees put on leaves and fruit. If you find a discounted tree, and it is discounted because it is past the tree’s ideal planting time, then the gardener must decide if it is worth the extra effort that the tree will require after it is planted.

It will need some extra work becoming established in its permanent place. It may not look great until next year! But I have seen excellent discounts, and it may be worth it!

The thing to remember is that it is a bit of a gamble; so, if the tree does not do well, it may just be that the tree was planted at the wrong time of year. It could also be that the tree was not well taken care of while it stayed in the container longer than expected.

Do not give up. Just try it again during the proper time of year with a regular-priced tree.

Seeds are a great deal on sale. They typically will keep for two to three years as long as they are kept in a dry place, and truthfully, I have planted seeds much older than three years and had them grow!

The main downside when buying seeds on sale is that the varieties are limited. The popular seeds are likely to sell out early in the season.

If you are willing to try something new or you are not particular about specific varieties, then buying seeds on sale can be a great deal! Just be sure to store them correctly, and start them at the correct time of year.

The other main reason that plants go on sale is that they just do not look good. For example, I just bought several geraniums that looked terrible! The leaves were brown and the plants were small. But they were so cheap!

Geraniums are in season, and this is the ideal time to plant them. These plants must have stayed outside during a cold snap. These are a great deal!

It will not take long for these plants to bounce back and remain beautiful throughout the summer season. However, because I could not see any flowers, the color of the geraniums will be a surprise when they bloom. 

When in doubt, just know that buying discounted plants, seeds or trees is a gamble. Hopefully, this article will help you stack the odds in your favor!

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Sarah Adams is a member of the Big Country Master Gardeners.