Former Garden Center Manager Reveals 5 Plants You Should Always Buy on Clearance – and 3 Plants to Skip

As summer turns to fall, many garden centers move large amounts of their stock into the clearance section. That means now is a great time to look for deals on cheap plants that you were eyeing at the nursery earlier in the season. However, not all plants in the clearance section are good candidates for your garden.

That’s why I talked to Amy Draiss, our Digital Community Manager and in-house plant shopping expert. She’s a former garden center manager with 20 years experience, so she knows all the pro tricks about how to pick the best plants in the clearance section at the nursery.

This is the first article in our new series Garden Center Secrets, where we share insider tips only garden center employees know to help you shop smarter at the nursery. Here are the plants Amy says you should always pick up on sale at the end of summer and the ones you shouldn’t waste your money buying.

Best Plants to Buy on Clearance

The end of summer and beginning of fall are prime times to peruse the clearance section at the garden center. Amy says to look for these sought-after choices on your weekend visit to the nursery.

1. Any Hardy Perennial

Even if they’re out of bloom, the foliage is a little spotted, or they’re already starting to die back for the season, hardy perennial plants are an excellent choice to purchase from the clearance rack.

It is usually later in the year when plants go on sale at a significant discount, so you’re basically buying the root system and the plant’s future potential rather than what it looks like that day.

Many hardy perennials can be also planted well into late fall, giving their roots time to become established before winter. I’ve even planted perennials as late as November here in Ohio – including bee balm, veronica, and agastache – and they all came back beautifully the following spring.

Other plants that may not look their best at clearance time, such as daisies, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, and ornamental grasses, can also be fantastic bargains.

If you prefer to shop online, American Meadows has a huge selection of perennials on sale on their website.

2. Shade & Flowering Trees

Don’t be afraid to plant a tree in the fall! In fact, fall is a great time to plant trees, especially those larger shade and flowering trees that are often marked down to make room for new inventory the following spring.

The cooler temperatures and more consistent rainfall in the fall give trees a chance to establish their root systems without having to battle the heat and drought conditions that can come with summer. Then, when spring arrives, you’ll be rewarded with fresh growth and a tree that already has a head start in your landscape.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure the tree you choose is hardy enough for your area. It’s also a good idea to talk with a garden center associate about the location where you plan to plant it. Is the area wet or dry? Does it get full sun, partial shade, or mostly shade? How much room will the tree eventually need? Taking those factors into consideration will help you choose a tree that not only looks great, but will thrive for years to come.

Trees.com (formerly FastGrowingTrees.com) is another great online source for sale trees, shrubs, and other plants. Plus, they have a helpful and responsive customer service team that can aid in your online shopping.

3. Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are another plant I would always look for on the clearance rack. They can wilt and crisp up just from looking at them the wrong way, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the plant is unhealthy or not worth buying.

By the end of summer, hydrangeas can look pretty rough above the soil, while the root system is still healthy and intact. This is especially worth considering with larger potted shrubs, which can be pretty pricey at full price.

If the plant is simply stressed from the summer heat or lack of water, it can often recover beautifully once it’s planted in the ground and given consistent moisture. And when you can get a larger, established shrub for a fraction of the original price, those savings can really add up and mean you have room in the budget to buy even more plants!

Looking for a crowd-pleasing hydrangea that looks beautiful all summer? Try a 'Limelight' panicle hydrangea that's on sale now at the Home Depot.

4. Spring-Flowering Bulbs

Okay, I’ll admit it. I only buy spring-flowering bulbs when they’re at least 50% off. Unless there’s some hot new bulb that I absolutely have to have, like this 'Chandelier' tulip from Burpee that looks like a peony, I’d rather wait and see what’s left on the clearance rack and use the savings to boost my early-spring color. Daffodils, tulips, alliums, crocuses, and other spring-flowering bulbs can be fantastic clearance finds.

The nice thing about bulbs is that they generally stay pretty fresh in their packages, even late in the season. That said, you should always check the quality of the bulbs before heading to the checkout. Give them a gentle feel. If a bulb is soft or squishy, you can easily smoosh it or push a finger through it, or if you see mold or notice an unpleasant odor, choose another package.

You want firm, healthy bulbs because they’re much more likely to produce strong growth and an abundance of flowers in the spring. And don’t worry if the packages look a little less than perfect on the outside. As long as the bulbs themselves are firm, healthy, and free of mold or rot, you can often get a great deal on next year’s garden.

5. Houseplants

Garden centers are often looking to find new homes for houseplants that aren’t looking their best in the fall, especially as they make room for holiday plants and flowers. Looking at you, poinsettias!

Luckily, many houseplants can be surprisingly resilient. Even if a plant is a little brown, lethargic, or slightly wilted, a few weeks at home with the right care can be enough to help it bounce right back. The key is knowing the difference between a plant that is simply stressed and one that has a serious problem.

Before buying, check that it isn’t severely root bound and that there are no obvious signs of pests or disease. I also like to look underneath the leaves and around the stems, since that’s where some pests can hide.

Snake plants, pothos, spider plants, and fiddle-leaf figs can all be good candidates for the clearance rack. I’m a little more 50/50 on orchids because they can sometimes be challenging to get to rebloom, but if the plant is healthy and the price is right, it can still be worth taking a chance.

You can shop clearance houseplants online from the Home Depot or visit the store in person.

Clearance Plants You Can Skip

Not every plant in the clearance area is a good deal. Amy says to avoid these problem plants that will never thrive, even with lots of love and care.

1. Evergreens With Brown Spots

Evergreens, including trees and shrubs, especially dwarf Alberta spruce with significant brown or dead sections, should be left behind. Evergreens will often not push new growth in these areas, and browning is typically a sign of insect or disease infestation, winter injury, or stress.

Flowering evergreens, such as azaleas and rhododendrons, are a different matter. If only a small branch is brown, it can usually be trimmed out without affecting the health or appearance of the entire plant.

2. Tender Perennials & Annuals

Annuals and tender, non-hardy plants are quite tempting when they’re significantly marked down at the end of the season. But they’re often not worth buying, especially if you live in an area with cold winters.

As fall approaches and bargains are plentiful, these types of plants will have little time to recover and flourish before a hard freeze comes along and kills them off. Unless you tend to bring a tender plant indoors or plan to use it for cuttings in the future, it’s usually better to spend your money on hardy perennials instead.

3. Severely Root Bound Plants

Checking the root system of any plant you’re about to purchase, clearance-priced or not, is always a good habit. Simply slide the plant out of its container and take a look at the roots.

If they’re circling the outside of the root ball but aren’t excessively tangled or matted, the plant is likely only mildly root bound and can usually be corrected at planting time by making a few vertical cuts through the root ball to encourage the roots to grow outward.

However, if the roots are extremely tightly wound and have formed a dense, matted mass, the plant is severely root bound and may have a much harder time establishing after it’s planted. In that case, it’s best to leave it behind, even if it’s heavily discounted. A clearance price isn’t much of a bargain if the plant never recovers or thrives, leaving you to waste both your time and money.

Seasonal Gardening Shopping Inspiration

As we head into the colder months, now is a great time to create next year's perfect plot. This is what our team is shopping: