Cheap Plants

I have found that cheap plants don't make it too well in San Antonio summers. All the mass merchandisers who sell cheap plants don't have the staff that knows what they are selling, either.
I know we are all trying to save money these days, so I suggest: going to a good family run nursery (Shades of Green, Milbergers, and there is a huge place on Thousand Oaks) or someplace like that and spending a little more on perennials that will last years!

Ten years ago, I bought lantanas, salvia, butterfly bushes, Asian jasmine, and nandinas. I spent about $100 back then. All use little water. The lantanas and the salvia made it 10 yrs. and just gave up last fall. I will replace those.

All the other plants are still going strong! And the jasmine, nandinas and salvia reproduce and create many more plants that I transplant and move to other places in the yard!

I tried lots of flowers a couple years ago---they don't do well in the heat and they need a LOT of water.

Have fun making your home's outside beautiful!

Deets Trees on 181 toward Floresville is really cheap in my opinion - though we were only buying decorative grasses, which may be cheaper than flowering plants or shrubs.

My husband really likes Rainbow Gardens (that's the one on Thousand Oaks the last person mentioned). They take the time to help you pick out what is best for your land, your shading, your level of green thumb. I'm pretty new to this and they were helpful without making me feel stupid. I don't have much to compare it to but my husband assures me they are very reasonable. We have to use a crowbar to open our wallets so I take his word for it. Happy planting!

I'm not sure if they're still around, but the Garden Center on Bandera and Prue had a lot of good deals. Rainbow Gardens also has weekly sales - HUGE place out on Bandera Rd, I would buy from them almost exclusively. Also Hill Country African Violets out towards Boerne - don't let the name fool you, they're one of the biggest nurseries around and carry every type of plant imaginable. I get all my herbs from there. Milbergers on Bulverde Rd/1604 has weekly specials now and then. Finally, Schultz nursery is a good bet, out on FM 3009 by Cibolo. They're having 20% off all their plants this Saturday.

I would honestly avoid the big box stores. You may find plants a few cents cheaper, but you'll be lucky if they make it through the summer. If you stick with local nurseries, then you'll be getting good quality plants that are healthy and disease-free. And that will save you money right there.

S.

go to Arbolitos on Roosevelt & S.W. Military good plants and resonable prices and lots of help. Walmart is good too but if you need help on which plants to buy they are weak in that area. Good luck!

If you are looking for perennials (the kind that come up every year) try the Bexar County Ag Extension Program. Most extension programs know of programs locally that may offer free or small donations for plants, these programs are frequently offered by local Master Gardners. Master Gardners hate to toss perfectly healthy plants out but most perennials require thinning every few years to keep them healthy or from taking over the garden. This means they usually organize a couple of sales each year which helps them keep up the CEU's each year. The Bexar County Extension has an on line site and if you can't find the info their give them a call. Good luck.