Why You Should Do Your Major Garden Shopping In Winter

If you love tending to your backyard garden, chances are you regularly shop for new tools, bulbs, seeds, and other gardening essentials. After all, you don't want to use that rusted rake to pull out weeds or continue wearing those tattered gloves. You also don't want to miss the window for planting time-sensitive seeds or run out of potting mix. However, if you can't justify your garden center math despite your best efforts, avoid buying accessories during the busy season. Instead, do your major garden shopping in winter.

To understand why the cold months can help you bring down costs, we got in touch with Tiffany Selvey, House Digest's garden editor and in-house master gardener, for an exclusive interview. Detailing the areas where you can save money, she says, "When gardening season starts to pick up, it can be really difficult to find the most common tools, like long-handled shovels, rakes, and pruning shears. If you wait until you need it, you may get stuck paying a lot more for name-brand items rather than lower-priced, but good quality, products. Shopping before the growing season can give you a better selection for a lower price." Tools aren't the only thing that you can snag at a discount. "If you are lucky, you might even find some of last year's seeds super cheap." Since they remain usable for a year or two, just avoid common seed storage mistakes. She adds, "This can be a huge money-saver if you're buying large bags of wildflower blends or other types of ground covers, like white clover...[and] you could [even] find some discount bulbs or bare root plants (like roses) on clearance."

Sharing timelines for the garden products you should invest in during the off-season, Selvey recommends keeping an eye out for discounts around Christmas. Who knows?! You might just find the perfect gift for yourself and your loved ones. "Right around Christmas is a great time to buy gardening items that might be good gifts. Things like garden chairs, totes, aprons, and decorations often go on sale before Christmas for a great price," she mentions in her exclusive House Digest interview. In case you can't make it to the store before the holidays, Selvey has some good news for you. "... in January, you'll likely see these products on clearance."

The decor and the accessories aren't the only things you can score at a steep discount. "This can also be a good time to find a great deal on larger items, like raised garden bed kits and fencing. Manufacturers are clearing out last year's stock to make room for new designs just in time for spring." So, if you don't much care for up-and-coming gardening trends, she suggests this can be a great time to grab lucrative deals on gardening essentials from big box stores like Walmart and Lowes. But don't rely solely on them; your local garden center or farmer's co-op would be a better choice. This is because "...smaller hardware stores and Farmer's co-ops are a great source for affordable garden tools year-round. In fact, these are often the best place[s] to find off-brand products that are just as good as name-brand for a fraction of the price."

In her exclusive chat with House Digest, Selvey advises making a list of items you want to add or replace for the upcoming gardening season. This way, "you can get the best deal before everyone else is even thinking about planting." Wondering how to go about it? She shares her own strategy to help you nail your winter garden shopping routine. "I know that I want to add some raised beds this year, so I'll add those to the list of items to check frequently for sales." Basically, decide on a rough plan for the coming season (if possible) to figure out the items you'll need. And it's always a good idea to stock up on essentials you'll need throughout the year. "I will also be looking for deals on drip irrigation and anything else that might save me money and time next year."

She even intends on going through the tools in her shed to identify ones that are past their prime. "I noticed that my favorite D-handle shovel was loose the last time I used it. I will definitely make sure I replace it before the affordable ones are sold out and I'm stuck paying $40 for a shovel that doesn't hurt my back!" For maximum savings, she suggests dividing your attention between your local hardware stores and the big-box ones. You may even find some good deals online. "Raised bed kits at the local co-op may be four times as much as they are online, but the garden shears there are only about 5 bucks and they last forever," explains Selvey.