Did you know there’s a section of Lowe’s Garden Center that has discounted plants for up to 90% off?!?! I’ve built my entire city backspace for about $200, primarily sourcing from Lowe’s discount section, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

The section is usually located in the back or off to the side of the garden center on a bunch of rolling shelves. I’ve gotten almost every plant I’ve wanted this season for a few bucks each. I think the best way to maximize the discounts and success of the Lowe’s discount garden center, is to do your research research research. Some tips before you buy:

• What would you like your plant to do? Provide porch beauty? Provide shade? Provide privacy? Provide fragrance? Repel flies, mosquitoes or other bugs? Attract butterflies, bees, or dragonflies? Provide a relief area for your dog? Resist against dog urine? Evergreen?

• What does the plant require? Can it grow in a pot? How big a pot do you need? Can it grow in the ground? How much ground area is needed?

• How long will the plant last? Will it come back year over year (perennial)? or last this season (annual)?

• Confirm the plant can grow in your hardiness zone (I live in Pittsburgh, PA, with hardiness zone 4-5)

• Read about risks: irritations, dog and children safety, bugs (Lowe’s is practically giving away its Barberry shrub because it attracts ticks!)

• If you’re thinking about a tree, what’s the root system? Is it invasive? Will you be planting it near foundation or underground pipes? What’s the average height? Some big trees aren’t appropriate for all locations (i.e.: a 50ft or 60ft wouldn’t be practical for us here in Pittsburgh’s South Side.)

Once you have an idea of what plants will work in your area, you can start to make regular, frequent trips to Lowe’s. It’s important to know what you’re looking for so when plants get discounted you can act quickly rather than googling every discounted plant and spending time trying to figure out if this plant will work for your needs.

The nursery managers have the authority to relegate plants to the discount section. I’ve found at my Lowe’s in Pittsburgh’s Waterfront, that the NM sends plants to the discount section continually throughout the week. However, my one friend said her Lowe’s discounts plants on Friday mornings, to get prepped for the weekend traffic. Ask the staff members in the garden section when the majority of plants get discounted.

Also, it’s important to meet the nursery manager, you can often negotiate the discounted plants for a better price. I never knew you could do this until I overheard someone else discussing plant prices over the phone with the manager.

It’s important to note that a lot of these plants are discounted because of their health. Some of these plants are in need of some major TLC, so make sure you’re up for the challenge and have lots of fresh, healthy soil, plant food, and planters and pots.

Flower Statement Wall:  We were hosting family and a few friends and needed some flowers to add color to our backyard, and lavender to keep the bugs at bay. I popped into Lowe’s a few days before the event and was able to source on sale beautiful pink, purple and white petunia’s ($1), vining pink impatiens ($3), english ivy ($1), two dwarf pine trees ($8 full price), a sale display piece with creeping jenny, a white vine, and ornamental grass ($5), soil ($4 bag). For under $40, I was able to create a really beautiful flower statement area. My sister recently bought a home owned by a former gardenista and, thankfully, she let me *borrow* some pots and planters. Never pass up a pot or planter on the side of the road, or on sale at Lowe’s!

My love for the Lowe’s discount section has continued. I’ve sourced globulus topiary trees ($5/each), and a majestic palm ($8) for my indoor plants. I’ve always wanted a Blue Spruce and negotiated one down to $25. I’ve also always wanted spiraling evergreen trees for the front of my house. In the beginning of the season, I looked at spiraling trees and they were $130, I waited a few months and was able to get two trees for $45 each. I’ve created a statement flower wall for me and my neighbor with trumpet, honeysuckle and wysteria vines ($3/each). I’ve planted lilac bushes to provide a fragrant perfume in the backyard ($5/each). I bought 50 dying succulents for less than $1 each and have brought them back to life for my indoor succulent garden.

Because I knew exactly what I was looking for, it was easy to pop in and out of Lowe’s regularly and check to see if any of my favorites have made their way to the discount section. I go to Lowe’s fairly often, sometimes a few times a week.

At the end of the season, I think I’ve spent about $200 on our backyard (est. savings over $500, the majority of the cost has been in soil!)