Are you planning on shopping for trees but not sure how you can save money while doing so? In this article, guest writer Lisa D. shares 6 practical tips!
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Tree planting is among the most sustainable activities anyone can participate in. Statistics from the United Nations Environmental Program show that humans plant about 1.9 billion trees annually. There’s also a target to plant at least 1 trillion trees by 2030.
Most people want to join this noble campaign, but no one talks about how costly trees are. Buying your desired tree species is more than possible without breaking the bank. Understanding the right tree-shopping tips will go a long way in drastically reducing your budget by more than 90%. Join us as we explore six practical tips to save money when shopping for trees.
Here’s What You’ll Discover:
#1 Make a Tree Wish List
Stepping into the tree market armed and prepared is a sure way to avoid confusion and guide your research to the best deals in your area. Because most people recommend garden trees, ensure you have an assortment of affordable ornamental trees, fruit trees, or conifers in your trees for sale near me wish list.
Impulse buys are a major reason for over-the-budget purchases; having a wish list can help you identify budget-friendly trees. With a list in hand, you can wait for major deals on the trees on your list at different seasons of the year.
#2 Explore Several State Tree Seedling Programs
State tree seedling programs offer cost-effective plant and tree seedlings to help the average landowner reduce erosion. The prices largely depend on whether the tree is a three-foot whip, six-inch seedling, containerized tree, or bare root seedling.
The good news is that the shipping fees for bare-root seedlings are amazingly low. Because small trees are easy to plant, having an early selection will grant you a wider variety. It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t need to live in the state you’re ordering from.
Numerous state forestry nurseries will allow you to buy 25 to 50 tree seedling bundles at a given time. Doing so may lower the cost to $2 each, making it an impassable bargain.
#3 Buy Small Bare Root Trees
Buying small root trees is a sure way to get the best quality at affordable prices. Trees like silver birch, black cherry plum, and Amelanchier are splendid options to buy small; they also grow a lot faster compared to the bigger alternatives. The latter grow slower for the first couple of years because they adapt slower to new environments.
Wholesale local nurseries are known for hosting bare root tree sales during the spring. Uncover these cost-saving deals by searching for ‘bare root tree sale’ followed by your county or city. Even though most wholesale nurseries mainly cater to trade customers, they occasionally make an exception for public sales events.
#4 Look Out for Spring Flowering Trees
Local nurseries tend to offer good discounts on spring flowering trees at the end of their blooming season. Magnolias, crab apples, and redbuds are some of the common flowering trees to get on offer.
Have a list of your preferred spring flowering species during the summer. From there, check your local nursery after the peak flowering season to secure the trees on your list at discounted prices. This savvy, cost-saving technique lets you get the most beautiful trees without breaking the bank.
#5 Join a Gardening Community
Meeting up with fellow tree enthusiasts grants you the rare opportunity to stay updated on the latest deals from different nurseries around your area. Gardening communities are sure to have plant collectors who might want to get rid of a tree for one reason or another.
If the tree in question is on your tree list, talk to them and convince them to sell it to you. More often than not, they might give it to you for free since you’re in the same gardening community. Most times, they’ll sell it at a throwaway price to get rid of it and get their desired tree species. Either way, it’s a win-win situation.
#6 Buy Trees During Fall
Fall is the perfect season to purchase certain tree species, considering most garden centers or local nurseries have a more extensive plant inventory. Most nursery centers offer excellent price cuts (25 to 50% off) to bring back customers for the season’s final sales. They also do this to make room for Christmas trees and the surplus stock they commissioned during spring.
Although price cuts vary from one nursery to the next, you’re bound to find affordable trees and shrubs at this time of the year. On top of the fantastic deals, you’ll also have the perfect opportunity to gain helpful advice on maintaining a steady growth pattern and several other tips for taking care of your tree.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it – the six most effective tips to save money when tree shopping. Please consider the average features of the site you’d want to plant your trees. Look into the site’s climate, drainage, wind, and sun exposure. Ensure your trees survive in your climate and have relevant adaptive features such as invasive root systems.
Also, the easier your tree maintains, the better for you. Look for good deals on low-maintenance trees such as jacaranda, sea grape, frangipani, Japanese maple, crepe myrtle, and purple-leaf plum. These are perfect for small yards and the best alternatives for landscaping.
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