Rockin' What Ya Got

All week I have hinted at today’s post….How does my bargain grow?

I’m glad you asked.  Our big box stores thankfully are making that so easy on me. My best kept secret was found one day wandering around the outdoor gardening section of Lowes.

They have a clearance rack of plants! Things that are bloomed out, overwatered, needing a little love. That kind of stuff. Right up my alley.  I have bought shrubs, house plants, potted plants, annuals, perrenials—you name it.  And sometimes getting them for pennies.

The last time I was there, the associate was clearing the clearance area for the trash can…….yup!

Here are a couple of my bargains.

Other stores do this as well.  So, if you have thought I would love to have something beautiful in my home, but feel the budget is too stretched to incorporate that kind of stuff….raid the couch cushions, and look under the seats in your car and you’ll probably find enough spare change to score a little plant at least!  And little plants become big plants!

Now on to the party!  So excited for you all to link up anything planty.  Anything at all.  Even fake ones.  Have fun.

Linky Rules are simple if you’re new at this.  Serenity Now gives a great explanation on how to do it here.

Just be sure to include a link to this post in your blog post and I’ll be sure to consider you for a feature post sometime.  I love features (check back next week for a feature I am really excited about!).  This link will be open for a week.

Happy Linking and have a great weekend.

Sometimes, the basics are taken for granted.  You know, like Everyone knows how to do this or that.  But, that’s simply not always the case.  So, if you find yourself in that category more often than not, this post is for you!

I have found some really cool deals on plants this spring.  I’ll tell you about the deals later on this week, but for now, let’s pot us a plant!

First, thing is to have a container you plan on using.  I added dirt to mine and had it all ready–just a simple terracotta pot that had actually been stashed under the back deck since we moved in.  A tip for not wasting too much of your pricey potting soil, is to use plain old dirt in most of the pot and layer that potting soil on the top.

Next, check for this.  My plants were seriously root bound.  They had been sitting in these pots a little while and were going to town growing.  A trick my parents taught me was to squeeze the pot a little in the middle to loosen it up.  Then, gently begin pulling up ward.  You have to be careful not to damage the plant or the roots.

Once you have successfully loosened the plant from the pot, work the root area and the dirt around it with your hands.  Loosen that plant up a little.  Just kind of make sure it’s not all molded when you put it in your pot.  Then I dig out a little area with my hands that is just the size for my plant to fit in without cramping its roots.  Place the plant in and begin gathering the dirt around the plant.  Be sure to cover all the roots, but none of the leaves on the plant.  After I get the area covered in enough dirt, I gently take both hands, one on each side of the plant and press ever so gently, just to make sure it’s in there good and sturdy.  And that’s it friends!  Water and enjoy.

BHG has some great information on how to keep these babies alive here.

And this is a cool book I found on Amazon that is sure to give you some great “how-to” advice on potted plants.  And you can have a used copy for a penny.  A PENNY!

Have fun digging in the dirt!