1. Freecycle: Check out Freecycle.org to sign up for the local Freecycle group in your community. This is an online venue where folks can post an offer of a free item or post a wanted ad for something you are looking for. Freecycle has been my #1 place to give/get plants. A few years ago I picked up 10 shrubs someone was getting rid of. This spring I decided to plant veggies in that spot so pulled the shrubs and Freecycled them to a new owner the same day. Later that week I picked up 8 rose bushes someone had dug up and posted to give away on Freecycle. I have also put out “wanted” ads in the past for plants and was able to pick up a variety of other plants and even a small tree that way.

2. Craigslist Free ad: I regularly check the “Free” category on our local Craigslist and occasionally I find a posting for free plants. Last year I was able to pick up some native perennial flowers that someone was thinning from their garden and transplanted them into my flower garden so this year they are growing back heartier than they started last year.

3. Swap: I know several other flower and veggie gardeners in our community who I occasionally do plant swaps with. When I’m thinning some plants from my gardens, I let my gardening peeps know and see which plants they might want. They do the same with their gardens so we ended up swapping plants.

4. Shop the greenhouse clearance table: I will confess here that this is my summer addiction. Anytime I have a few extra dollars to spare or if I want to treat myself, I don’t go shoe shopping or treat myself to ice cream. I go to the 50% off table at my favorite greenhouse in town. I bide my time and watch the calendar every summer waiting for the day far enough into the growing season that the 50% table starts. The main things I purchase on the sale table are perennials since I know that with a little TLC for the rest of the growing season, the plants will come back heartier next season. I also occasionally purchase veggies, herbs and annual flowers on the sale table since I like the challenge of nursing them back to health for the rest of the growing season.

5. Wild Transplants: Growing up, I have fond memories of going on flower saving adventures with my mom. We dug up flowers on the roadside near our house when we knew it was going to be mowed soon or in the field by our house when it was going to be plowed. The trick to remember with transplants like this is to make sure you get enough of the roots and water, water, water. The great thing about transplants like this is typically they are hearty, native plants so once you can get them re-established in your garden they should be fairly low maintenance.

6. Grow from seeds: This can take extra planning and work, but it is definitely a cost saver. Starting seeds indoors or in a greenhouse early in the spring before it is warm enough to plant outside is a great way to save money and get a head start on your planting. Plus if you have extra plants you can always do some swapping like I mentioned in #3.

7. The giveaway Karma: I like to think that if I give something away, someone will eventually give me something. For example, I often took extra plants to the office I worked at in town and put them in the break room with a free sign. Folks were really appreciative and I enjoyed hearing from folks throughout the growing season about how the plants were growing. It always seems that after I give some plants away, I come across some opportunities to get free plants from someone else. It could just be coincidence but I like to think it is good giveaway karma!