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Please Don't Throw Away Excess Plants!!!

13 years ago

I know so many gar*deners that have pla*nts they don't want. They love them but they have no space for them anymore.

PLEASE don't throw away pla*nts(unless they are aegopodium or other horrid invasives!!)Even if there are just a few extra pla*nts--there are so many people who would LOVE to have your pla*nts- both those who are able to purchase them and those who would be thrilled to have them for free (if you just want to be rid of them and not have to get into the details of selling.) Do consider putting an ad in your local craigslist website.(ex.: the one here for boston/ ma. is found with www.boston.craigslist.org

and is divided into areas around the state.) You can post free pl*ant ads under "Free Stuff" or "Fa*rm and Gar*den". If you read through others' crlist ads, you will see examples of many different ways to handle this. If you don't want to have any dealings with people, you can just say in your ad "the pla*nts will be put out on my sid*ewalk at such and such address- on such and such date".You can leave them in the shade in unwanted containers or plastic grocery bags. Or, if you DO want to meet people, you can have them email you to work out pla*nt pickup (or have them come and dig them themselves, under your supervision.)I even know people who have made friends this way!

Another option is putting a notice in your local state forum of GW. I did this in the New England Forum for a friend with a ton of extra pla*nts she had no space for, and she really enjoyed meeting the people, who really enjoyed seeing her gar*dens, and were so grateful for the free pl*ants.

There always seem to be: parents' groups who need pla*nts to landscape the schoolyard with; volunteer garde*ners who need plan*ts for a local nursing hom*e,community display gar*dens, or traffic islands etc.

Here in Boston there is even an incorporated nonprofit group called "Boston Cares" that coordinates with corporations to provide willing workers (the employer pays their workers for 1/2 day to 1 day of volunteer labor) for needy urban projects. Some of the projects are landscaping; donated pla*nts are used to improve public housing , street plant*ings, etc.!

There will always be people in need, and with just a little effort, the extra materials generated by your skills and love of pla*nts- can be used to make the world a better place for so many others!

best,

mindy

www.cottonarboretum.com

a teaching website

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Comments (4)

gottagarden
13 years ago
That was kind of you to remind people.

I pot up a couple hundred every spring and give them to various plant sale fundraisers - Master Gardeners, local garden club, Grange, Library, school, etc. They always sell well and raise a lot of money for different causes. I also give them away to friends and family.

But it is a lot of work and I can see why it would be easier to just toss them on the compost pile. I sometimes do that for some common plants.
woodthrush
13 years ago
freecycle.org
Whenever I thin plants, I put them in a plastic bag and label them. Post on freecycle and someone will always come for free plants.
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I had been purchasing the "not so great" plants at a discounted price for several weeks and the cashier would list the item on the receipt as damaged - as is. Therefore, no warranty would apply. Then yesterday they were throwing away plants that were in better condition than the ones I had bought. Anyway, I was just surprised. This Lowe's store just doesn't care about their plants. I can tell you that the one in Alpharetta (Windward Parkway) is awesome. They REALLY care about what they do and are very helpful. There is someone always in the garden center willing to help you. I appreciate everyone's stories...it helps me to understand there are some that are compassionate about what they do and are willing to make a decision in the best interest of the plants and then there are some that can't.
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nettiesgarden- I've always thought it funny that something you really want tends to be so close to something you don't. Right now I have some beautiful lillies right next to a bush that I've been hoping to dig up, but low and behold the lilies spread in one direction and are now too close for me to get at the bush without damaging them. Hopefully this fall I'll be able to get them away so we can dig it up. I'll be happy to pass along a pine seedling... do you happen to want a crimson maple seedling as well? Those would be next on my list. :)
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Kellyeng, that's so funny that the neighbors would think you could do something about the landscaping! C9pilot, I agree that the sprinkler system map is a great thing to leave. When we sold a house we built we left a copy of the house plans. To give you an update, I haven't heard from the new owners in over two weeks, so I'm hoping I won't. I did talk to the man who did the inspection on their house, and they wrote him a letter asking for $4000 for repairs of things he didn't catch. I can't even imagine what they're talking about. The funniest (or saddest) part is that they never paid him for the inspection. The inspector said it's the most troubling thing that's ever happened in his 18 years of inspections.
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a2zmom_Z6_NJ
13 years ago
Those are great ideas!

This year I'm giving away my plants to fellow gardeners in my neighborhood and people at work. It's so gratifying to see my "babies" off to a good home.
mori1
13 years ago
Honey craigslist, list them there and they will be gone. I do freecycle first, then craigslist. What you might consider common is a treasure for them.

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