False economy to buy pot-bound end-of-season plants?

Kevstir

was in homebase today and picked up a Rudbeckia Fulgida for £2 , its just coming in it's flowering season as well

do you think i should plant it and let it get on with it or should i plant it and cut it back so that it puts more energy into establishing??

TravellingAbuela

Agree with Kevstir, Homebase have some excellent bargains at the moment. Lots of summer bedding (past its best) and quite a few perennials at good prices. Last weekend I got a hardy fuschia, smothered in flowers, and also a patio rose bush reduced from £4.99 to £1.99. Both in really good condition. They also had some standard fuschia which I was tempted by but not a very big reduction as yet - keeping my eye on those in case they come down a bit more!

Zazen999

Kevstir wrote: »

was in homebase today and picked up a Rudbeckia Fulgida for £2 , its just coming in it's flowering season as well

do you think i should plant it and let it get on with it or should i plant it and cut it back so that it puts more energy into establishing??

I'd plant and cut it back....next season it will be stronger for it.

amcluesent

>I'd plant and cut it back...<

IIRC they experimented on Gardener's World and pretty much all the echinaceas were better from having the flowers removed when planted out.

maypole

When I go to the garden centre, the first place I look is in the "sick bay" I have had some good plants really cheap, just bought some shrubs for £1 each that had been about £7 or more, I just cut them back and they seem to do ok. If the roots are pot bound, maybe just tease them out a little, a good watering and maybe some feed.

I love a bargain me!