Supermarket plants?

pambler

I'm in the same situation - garden to fill and not a lot of money. I've had loads of great plants from Aldi this year, plus some from Morrisons and other cheaper places. OK - they aren't as big as the £8 ones from the garden centre, but if you choose healthy ones, they will grow, so as long as you can wait a couple of years for them to fill out, then I would say go for it. Having said that, a lot of the £1.99 Aldi shrubs I got earlier this year have already grown really well.

My big bargain this year has been a Daphne - £6.99 in Aldi -I've always hankered after one, so decided to treat myself. I then saw one in the garden centre (smaller and didn't look as healthy) for £30!!

Don't dismiss plants just because they look like a bargain - sometimes they are.

Older_But_Not_Wiser

^ ^ ^ no Aldi nearby much to my disappointment but we do have a Lidl and some £ shops so I'll have a look there too. Also going to try Freecycle. Thanks for the tips!

A._Badger

The secret is to look at the plant - not which supermarket it's from. My local(ish) Morrison 's seems to have a good selection of climbers and fuchsias (I've bought several excellent fuchsias from them for a £1 a go) but the bedding plants on sale now are too small to do much in the time remaining.

Many supermarkets seem to lack any interest at all in looking after their plants (a local Aldi is the worst I know in that respect) leaving plants to die and wither for lack of water. But if you buy on delivery day, most of them seem to offer bargains - as long as you're selective.

cazziebo

I've managed to completely cover my back fence with three climbers from Morrison's which I bought for £1! Only planted them 3 years ago.

I've got a honeysuckle, a pyracantha and a clematis. I've just bought a passion flower and some more clematis for the side fence.

(Be careful, I've also managed to over run the neighbour's holly tree with clematis as well - sneaked in to it when I wasn't looking!)

I've also bought two Magnolia and a Lilac from B&M (£1.49 each). One Magnolia is definitely dead, the other looking a bit iffy, although that might be because I planted it too close to a now luxuriant hosta. The lilac is thriving.

Cheaper, smaller plants are good with a bit of patience. I've also, for the first year ever, grown all my bedding and container plants from seed.

Older_But_Not_Wiser

cazziebo wrote: »

(Be careful, I've also managed to over run the neighbour's holly tree with clematis as well - sneaked in to it when I wasn't looking!)

The reason I have empty borders to plant is that I've had to remove the last lot which got so overgrown they took over the gardens of both sets of neighbours ! Planted a couple of tiny plants 10 years ago and they became rampant, so this time I'm trying to be a bit more careful with what I plant and stick to ground cover stuff as much as possible. Problem is that I am full of good intentions but definitely don't have greenfingers

sobie

Simple answer: Supermarket plants are imported and travel miles to reach us.

This article says it all:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/today_in_your_garden/ethical_buyingplants.shtml

Go to your local nursery or garden centre, and ask where the plant is from then buy British grown plants.

A._Badger

sobie wrote: »

Simple answer: Supermarket plants are imported and travel miles to reach us.

This article says it all:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/today_in_your_garden/ethical_buyingplants.shtml

Go to your local nursery or garden centre, and ask where the plant is from then buy British grown plants.

You wouldn't happen to own a garden centre, would you?

madjackslam

I would be a little bit cautious about the honeysuckle, which tends to flower when it gets to the top of a structure, so can end up with bare legs. Maybe wait and look out for a nice clematis (not montana which will be too rampant).

Second what was said earlier about Aldi. Saw a lot plants outside at the weekend, but clearly no one had watered them, and they were already on their last legs.

pambler

It must depend on the Aldi branch - we have two near(ish) to me. The nearest one usually has fairly well watered plants that seem to last quite a while, the other always has sad dried out specimens. They must have to throw so many out - it seems such a waste, for what would take someone ten minutes a day!

Poppycat

I have bought plants for several local nurseries and some of them have come from abroad. Only on Saturday I bought a moral Cheery tree (that's what it says on the label) and it was from abroad. I believe quite a few plants come from abroad and just brought on a bit to sell later. I dont think it applies to annuals though

sobie wrote: »

Simple answer: Supermarket plants are imported and travel miles to reach us.

This article says it all:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/today_in_your_garden/ethical_buyingplants.shtml

Go to your local nursery or garden centre, and ask where the plant is from then buy British grown plants.