Discount Season

So, this is one of my favorite seasons for plants. Many folks don't appreciate that in temperate climates, fall is an excellent time for planting.

Not to be pedantic, but that's because the roots are drawing energy from the leaves at this time, and continue to grow even after leaf drop, even slowly through the winter.

Which brings me to the title of the post, Discount Season.

This is the time of year you'll start seeing online nurseries, big box stores, and even local nurseries putting this year's potted plants on sale.

I'll bet your inbox is getting hit pretty hard right now with "this weekend only," and, "best sale of the season," and so forth.

If you're not getting 25% off or better, I'd wait. They'll drop the price in the coming weeks.

But, the big box stores? You're looking at 40-80% off in their nursery-by-box-truck situations. I've picked up a lot of random plants this way. You can sometimes even finagle on the prices, even at the box stores, especially if you're picking up a bunch of plants. It's a good way to get a random apple on an unknown rootstock for $15, for example.

These clearance plants are admittedly a bit of a crapshoot, but it's a good way to fight off early onset garden withdrawals.

Chance Lunceford wrote:... Many folks don't appreciate that in temperate climates, fall is an excellent time for planting...

I've never had much luck finding fruit trees this late in my area. Most places sold them all back in June/July as they didn't want to care for them over the summer.

That said, I've been told for years that in my ecosystem, early November is the best time to plant a tree. So maybe I should check out a few spots on my travel routes in the next week. I am busy reinforcing one of my plant zones in the hope the deer will decide to go elsewhere.