Talkback: Bargains galore

I love to hunt for bargains in the big DIY stores, you get some brilliant plants for next to nothing and they usually just need a bit of TLC to bring them back to life

Yes there are some very, very good bargains to be had on the past-their best shelves!! I still think plants are amazingly inexpensive when you consider what goes in to their production, and I have yet to meet a hugely wealthy plant grower/nurseryman, whatever some of the garden centres might add on...and they really do have an all-in dedication-needing job, can't go off on hols for even a day in the summer!I suggest you suggest clients visit garden centres themselves to get an idea of prices?

hiya im new to gardening ,well nearly my 1st annaversary ive turned my lawn at the front of my house to a veg patch can u all pitch in and give me some advise ive double dug were my potoatoes are going and worked in some organic matter and just single dug the rest added a bit of sand for drainage but i need tips on growing all your secrets please

I agree that there are some bargains in bedding and packs to be had, but generally, as a self employed gardener and planting designer I have been shocked at how much more plants are costing at Nurseries this year compared to the last few years. This is not really a reflection on any particular Nursery we use as it seems to be general but Shrubs especially have increased in price, some to £12 or more when for the last 3 or 4 years they have been around £8. I should think the weather and upkeep of Nurseries has caused this - they must have struggled with the climate this year. But it is hard to make clients understand the dramatic rise in costs.