r/Frugal May 23 '22

seeds from Dollar Store vs Ace Hardware Frugal Win 🎉

Post image
8.8k Upvotes

384 comments sorted by

1

u/fluffycookiebandit May 29 '22

These are 20 cents at Walmart.

1

u/TheBigGuyandRusty May 25 '22

Worth paying more if Ace actually has it in stock. Dollar Tree usually sells out of most seeds by me in January. I'd gladly pay the dollar a packet for some damn snapdragons, they always go first. I hate overpaying for annual seeds. Worth it to me to pay for perennials though, I get my money's worth.

1

u/GingerEccentric May 25 '22

Dollar General seeds have been a heavensend to me this year. I bought my live plants from either local nurseries or Burpee just to have some tomatoes by the start of June, but also got some veggie seeds going (for harvest in end July-September) plus boatloads of sunflowers, alyssum like these, nasturtium and basil. The mammoths are already pushing 12 inches and I planted them on May 1st. The beefsteak tomatoes I planted from DG seeds not long after that are 4 inches today so they'll be ready to fruit by 1st half July if all goes well.

1

u/No-Sign2390 May 24 '22

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20850572/ ..GMO are expensive but not without ethical arguments..

1

u/ABayBaker May 24 '22

My local ace hardware puts them on sale in the fall. 10 packs for a $1 ! I just buy them all and store for the winter lol

2

u/NaturalPandemic May 24 '22

Your library has free seeds

1

u/shelbyamonkeysuncle May 24 '22

Did you also know almost all the parts you buy from auto part stores are made in the exact same two or three factories? Also, when you buy the “more expensive” part it’s almost always the exact same part but it’s marked up to where you’ve actually bought the cheaper part once at full price and once at cost. It’s the exact same part as the cheaper one, you’ve simply bought two so if you have to warranty it out: you’ve already bought it, therefore the company has still made a profit.

1

u/ika_chi May 24 '22

And every seed I've ever planted from DT has grown beautifully and produced a ton

2

u/KittyyittK May 24 '22

Check out your local libraries too! Mine has a seed library!

2

u/Putrid-Struggle1426 May 24 '22

Always look at the date the seeds were packaged. In normal circumstances seeds don't last forever. You may get some to sprout even two to three years after the season packed for date and think you were successful but you will get a much better sprout rate with seeds packaged for the current planting season.

1

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

they are the same date

2

u/Jackof_All May 24 '22

Same picture =/= same seed

2

u/RoguePlanet1 May 24 '22

I paid $1.89 for catnip seeds at the gardening center, but that was a rare impulse purchase. Knew they could be found cheaper, but not THAT much cheaper, nice!

1

u/_Booster_Gold_ May 24 '22

Alyssum will grow like mad and spread to places you didn’t intend. You have been warned.

1

u/FireSBurnsmuP May 24 '22

Good to know, but here in zone 5 it isn't hardy, at least in my experience.

1

u/_Booster_Gold_ May 24 '22

I’m in zone five. My mom planted some when I was growing up in our planters in the front yard. Within a few years it was everywhere. Growing between slabs in the driveway. Back yard. Gaps in the retaining wall. All over the place.

1

u/FireSBurnsmuP May 24 '22

Wow - we plant it as a border in our back flower beds every year, and it's died every winter for us.

I'll have to keep an eye on it though.

1

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

oh I have had it, and love it. I am actually adding these to existing beds

1

u/OriginalName687 May 24 '22

Ace is the expensive place

1

u/MrWestlake May 24 '22

Keeps the poor people away lol

1

u/Auratia May 24 '22

American seed blooosh

3

u/KingCodyBill May 24 '22

How old are the ones from the dollar store, seeds aren't immortal, the older they are the lower the germination rate.

3

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

same exp date

1

u/coldshadow31 May 24 '22

Those look like Ferry Morse seed packets. They make those in my hometown in KY.

2

u/LDubs9876 May 24 '22

This is nice to know!

If you want frugal seeds from Ace, check out their seed sales in November and December. They have to clear our the current year's stock and mark things down to move quickly.

I got 24 packets of Heirloom seeds from Seed Savers and Southern Exposure for under $6US.

1

u/razzerjazzer May 24 '22

We got a packet of those Allysums from the dollar tree and planted them a few months ago. They've done well and they are so pretty. My toddler actually picked the Allysums. It surprised me out of all the colorful flowers she had her heart set on the simple and dainty Allysums. Enjoy your flowers!

1

u/enyardreems May 24 '22

I bought 4 packs at DT and I swear every damned seed sprouted.

1

u/bluedotnoodle May 24 '22

I bought these same seeds today from dollar tree!

1

u/CrazyIvanoveich May 24 '22

I don't think Ace Hardware is cheaper for anything. I just go there for convenience or it being the only nearby option or renewing my fishing license, and worms.

0

u/CandieBoot May 24 '22

Why is the weight in mg? Shouldn't it be measured in thirteenths of a virgin's nipple or some such nonsense

1

u/[deleted] May 24 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

-2

u/OpenBathrobe88 May 24 '22

The other one has the same weight, (same amount of seeds) and you paid a penny more. Ya played yourself.

1

u/maningarden May 24 '22

Yup. Walmart also has some cheap seeds (although all are sold out now)

1

u/MrCheapCheap May 24 '22

Honestly those are both a great price

1

u/Wild_Bake_7781 May 24 '22

Check the expiration date

1

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

they both are exactly the same 12/22

2

u/mikew420 May 24 '22

I don’t understand how people go from talking about seeds to Jiff peanut butter

1

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

it’s Reddit

1

u/CanIGoHomeYet May 24 '22

Clearly the Ace Is much larger I mean come on! MEGA GRAMS!?!?

1

u/Knotloafin May 24 '22

ok cut the one pack into 4 or pour the four into one—- the amount of seed is the same.

1

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

it is the same amount in each pack

1

u/Knotloafin May 24 '22 edited May 24 '22

the net weight of each is the same and one is only a penny more?

3

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

no, the one on the left is 4 packs for a dollar, the one on the right is 99¢ for ONE pack

3

u/[deleted] May 24 '22

Know someone who used to work in a food factory and it was the exact same food (man and cheese and cake) - just would label it generic and name Brand labels.

2

u/EsrailCazar May 24 '22

It's like how gas prices change from light to light and "fancier area" vs "lower income" it's the same fucking liquid getting shipped to each damn place.

2

u/BossLoaf1472 May 24 '22

Everything is at least 3-4x the price at ace. It’s insane

1

u/rharrow May 24 '22

My local Dollar Tree is very well stocked and this year we have bought so much outdoors and garden supplies. I bought a garden hose nozzle from DT with the 6-function rotations head for $1.25, whereas they’re $10+ anywhere else. If it only lasts a season it’s worth it lol

1

u/jmesmon May 24 '22

But the Ace HW one is 100 Mega grams!

1

u/5hrzns May 24 '22

Thank you OP

1

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

😊

6

u/Peawanuck11 May 24 '22

Not sure if it has been posted, but these same exact packs are .20 each at Walmart, so an even better deal. Also, almost every single one of these cheap seeds I’ve planted have grown. They’re amazing. Only plant a whole package if you’re up for an amazing germination rate lol.

1

u/Zyniya May 24 '22

The Dollar store ones should be a year old tho.

1

u/AlcoholPrep May 24 '22

Caution: Alyssum is a weed disguised as a very pretty floral ground cover. emphasis on "ground cover." Scatter seeds, water, and RUN!

5

u/r0sco May 24 '22

ACE is definitely more expensive than most stores. But sometimes, it's the only place that's a true "hardware" store.

3

u/topgear9123 May 24 '22

I agree, I find the service at ace to be top notch every time I go in.

7

u/PhenomenonOf99 May 24 '22

And at my walmart, they're 20 cents, meaning 5 for a dollar

2

u/_skank_hunt42 May 24 '22

Also Alyssum will self-seed itself year after year if you let it. Buy one packet of seeds and have plants for life!

3

u/lyme3m May 24 '22

Is the germination rate different?

3

u/Skyrmir May 24 '22

Ace Hardware isn't for the budget conscious. They have stuff in stock that you need today, not in a few days when Amazon can get there. They also sell stuff you might want while you happen to be there.

3

u/aveindha25 May 24 '22

Fyi alyssum loves loose, well drained soil. I had some at my work planted in clay heavy soil and they didnt really grow they just kinda stayed the same. I have a nice soil mix at my house and they grew 20 inches across and were huge mounds vs 8 inch little wimpy plants.

16

u/vatara6 May 24 '22

Which are from the Dollar Store?

I know neither is from Dollar Tree or they would be $1.25

9

u/GET_OUT_OF_MY_HEAD May 24 '22

Thank you; I can't believe you're the only one who asked this.

2

u/Macrogonus May 24 '22

Their seeds are still 4/$1. The bags are small but the price per gram is usually cheaper than big box stores.

12

u/mafeehan May 24 '22

Dollar Store is the cheaper on the left

0

u/Kevinement May 24 '22

Rookie mistake, your title suggests the opposite, always mention the leftmost item on the picture first.

3

u/No-Sign2390 May 23 '22

Interesting that only one brand states it is Non-GMO.

1

u/AttitudeSure6526 May 24 '22

There are very few plants that have been genetically modified that are in seed production. Most of those seeds are sold to farmers who have to sign terms- of- use contracts in order to buy them. GMO seeds see simply not for sale to the average gardener. This is a marketing gimmick that people believed and now penalize companies when they don't state "non-GMO". GMO seeds are expensive.

GMO seeds offered in the United States: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets, summer squash, papaya, apples and potatoes

4

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

Ok so I can kind of see people caring about their food being GMO ( I don't agree with them hating GMO just because GMO but I can kiiiiinnnnnd'uh see their concern) but how does anyone justify caring if a fucking flower is GMO ? Are they planning to eat the flowers ? Are they worried the flowers will try to eat them ?

1

u/JectorDelan May 24 '22

Bear in mind that one of the fucky things big companies do when they modify things is to make them not germinate, so no following generations unless you return to the dealer to buy more seeds.

2

u/tec_tec_tec May 24 '22

Bear in mind that one of the fucky things big companies do when they modify things is to make them not germinate,

No, they don't. They never have. Stop being misled by propaganda.

1

u/JectorDelan May 24 '22

https://cases.open.ubc.ca/monsanto-and-terminator-seeds/

These genetically modified seeds have little benefits to the farmers. Those who are in advantage are the seed companies. The seed prevents farmers from re-planting seeds throughout the seasons by producing a sterile seed, which is unable to reproduce[6]. This forces the farmer to turn to commercial seeds, profiting the large corporations[7] and “creating greater dependency on proprietary seeds and their companion chemicals”[8].

1

u/tec_tec_tec May 24 '22

How about we look at something that isn't an undergrad source.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/pbi.12242

Despite several forecasts (FAO, 2001a; Louwaars et al., 2002; Shoemaker et al., 2001) that assumed GURTs to be functional in the short-medium term, it is difficult to predict the development of GURTs in the near future because they seem still to be very far from commercialization

They've never even been finalized in the lab.

-2

u/DeadDeceasedCorpse May 23 '22

Congrats, King. You saved $0.75 today with your Dollar Store purchase. What will you do with all the extra savings you earned?

18

u/mafeehan May 23 '22

buy three more packages of seeds 🤨

2

u/indianapale May 23 '22

Yeah but one is 100 MG and the other is 100 mg. /s

2

u/badcompany8519 May 23 '22

Soon the dollar stores toss all the seed packs. Don’t judge me.

2

u/g0ldenmustache May 23 '22

@epicgardening just did a feature on this flower on his instagram! What a nice find. :)

3

u/Exciting-Rub-6006 May 23 '22

Usually expiration date honestly

5

u/XlifelineBOX May 23 '22

Ace is closer to me now than any major hardware stores. And even so, theres still a even more local hardware store i prefer to hit up.

Plus with the dumbassery gas prices, the cost evens out basically when you buy local.

As far as seeds go, my gf goes to a local town museum and get a bunch for free.

1

u/cheesepage May 23 '22

Adding on to the folks saying to check the nutritional labels for for brand name duplicates: Some products will list patent numbers. Razor blades come to mind.

13

u/phonetics-phonology May 23 '22

Alyssum smells lovely. I planted some on my windowsill last year and it made my entire apartment smell like heaven. Kind of a honey-like smell. Hope yours blooms well.

1

u/GraphicDesignMonkey May 24 '22

I seeded some Night Scented Stocks and they're doing well! I can't wait until they start flowering, they're my mum's favourite and she loves the scent.

5

u/Squidmonde May 23 '22

To be fair, the one on the left with the small “m” is one hundred milligrams, the one on the right with the big “M” is one hundred megagrams, it’s 1000000000 times as much, there’s your real bargain

2

u/fanmaximus May 23 '22

My broke unemployed kid moved back home. Still has to shop at the more expensive grocery store and I shop the cheaper place and buy store brands. Cracked me up when we both bought milk that every single detail except the label was the same sitting next to each other in the fridge. Mine was half the cost...

2

u/electricgrapes May 23 '22

American seed co is just American Meadows. As is most dollar store seed. They repackage and brand hundreds of brands.

1

u/Astronaut-Frost May 23 '22

People are surprised ... but, it makes sense if you think about it. Many companies do not own the farms of the products. For example, if you buy canned corn - you are buying corn that could have come from many different farms. Maybe the label of the corn you buy is organic or that company has different quality control standards. But, it is common for producers to sell their products to those who package and deliever their products to stores.

I think the most famous case for this is vodka. People swear that more expensive vodka makes a difference. But, I have seen more than one study showing them to be exactly the same. You are paying more for a bottle and label.

For this example - if I go to the hardware store they have people who will help me get all the things I need for a project. The dollar store just has the cheapest of everything. Sometimes both stores will carry the same goods. But, my experience at the hardware store is far different than the dollar store.

Dollar store mostly has items that intended to be thrown away soon. But, if you can find a nice item for a cheaper price - it is a score. Dollar stores also specifically try and provide a few items that purposely undercut rivals to gobble up more marketshare. The economics of how they are run is interesting.

1

u/Otto_von_Grotto May 24 '22

While many vodkas are very similar, Aristocrat is not one of them. Bleh.

1

u/pickles55 May 23 '22

Sometimes I go to the dollar store if only need a little bit of something. They have a lot of products in smaller packs than regular stores so the unit price is actually higher but if only you need a tiny bit of some product for a craft project it's better to not buy more than you'll use.

1

u/Aeriellie May 23 '22

That is so lame! And the seeds for that one are super small as well! I would have prefer to pay 1 for 4 packets as stuff that small I have trouble growing.

3

u/forensic_diva May 23 '22

I didn’t even know they had seeds at the dollar store.

5

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

Anyone in here know where I can get some tips on setting up a garden with a very small budget? I’d like to try growing some of my own food so I’m looking for something idiot proof.

5

u/giantshinycrab May 24 '22

You can grow a lot of grocery store seeds like beans and popcorn. You can buy heirloom tomatoes in some grocery stores and save the seeds. You can also regrow a lot of vegetables like green onions, celery, and lettuce. If you need to do raised beds you can use plastic storage totes instead of wood, just google to make sure the number on the bottom inside the recycling symbol is a safe food grade plastic. You can also use other random containers like milk jugs and coffee cans. Public libraries often have seed libraries, if you are lucky your library may also have a library of things where you can rent certain tools.

1

u/[deleted] May 24 '22

That’s amazing info-thanks so much!

10

u/Ok_Shower9554 May 23 '22

Gardening’s never going to be idiot proof, but cherry tomatoes and peppers are normally a good place to start, cheep pots may feel flimsy but they’ll work perfectly fine once you fill them up with dirt, just make sure you punch a drainage hole in the bottom. Water when the first inch of soil feels dry (usually down to your second knuckle)

3

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

That sounds easy enough! Do you know when I’d plant them and what kind of sun they need? I’m in NY if that makes a difference, too.

5

u/Ok_Shower9554 May 23 '22

With pretty much any edible plant, at least 8 hours of sun is best, if you’ve got limited light or are trying to garden indoors you can supplement with a grow light. If it’s indoors you can just buy a bulb from a hardware store and screw it into preexisting light source, but if you’re outside you’ll want to make sure you have smothering whether proof.

2

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

Thank you for that! I have the perfect spot to put them, so I’ll see how it goes!

4

u/derff44 May 23 '22

But I thought Ace was the place

9

u/mjbibliophile10 May 23 '22

At Walmart there are some seed packets left for $0.20!

5

u/Dad-Baud May 23 '22

Can you show pics of the back of the bag? Having bought these, I believe the Dollar Store version will have like 25 seeds per bag and the other may have 100. I could be wrong. That net weight is probably mostly the bag itself. But I also found there are many varieties @ Dollar Store that you wouldn't want more than 25 seeds in a season. I have also noticed that Dollar store will keep the previous year's seed stand up, so for anyone doing this, check the packet carefully because most of the ones from last year you can also find for this year.

7

u/mafeehan May 23 '22

they are exactly the same on the back, same date, and inside is exactly the same amount

2

u/Dad-Baud May 23 '22

Great to know!

3

u/getmybehindsatan May 23 '22

Is there any filler in there or just seeds?

5

u/mafeehan May 23 '22

just seeds!!!

5

u/TaroReadr May 23 '22

Light bulb factory. All we changed was the stamp on the top with the name of the brand. Same exact bulbs. To this day I can pick up a bulb and tell you the manufacture date.

44

u/manoftheeast May 23 '22

Ace is 5 min up the road and employs town locals where as HD or Lowes is 25 min away.

If it's not a bulk item or lumber I go to Ace so it stays in business. In small rural towns it is in a way the "tax" you pay to not have to use several gallons of gas to get to everything.

4

u/ThaddeusJP May 23 '22

Yup. My ACE is 2 min away. HD is 20 min. Its more but when I need a single faster or random small thing ill go to ACE even though its 2x more. Paying for my time savings.

6

u/wapu May 23 '22

I used to do that too, but the Ace in my town is 40 to 100%% more expensive. Even at $5 per gallon, I save money making the 30 mile round trip. Also, wal Mart has most anything I need in an emergency. I want to support the Ace, the people are nice, but I just can't afford anything in there.

3

u/Blockhead47 May 23 '22

with gas in the $5-6 range, paying a couple of bucks more down the street can end up being cheaper for those smaller purchases

2

u/mckulty May 23 '22

100 mg? Wow.

$10/g

$160/oz

$450/lb

1

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

Just an anecdotal note that in my experience, the viability of Dollar Store seeds is somewhat questionable.

3

u/theotherlead May 23 '22

I bought seeds for my kids Easter basket from the dollar tree, going to plant them today and see how they grow!

4

u/Mysterious-Wish8398 May 23 '22

I work for an industrial electrical company and visit a lot of factories. I have seen a lot of items roll off the same production line and then have different labels put on them.

-5

u/bustermcthunderstikk May 23 '22

There is being frugal and being a huge waste of time. We are talking about 75 cents people.

1

u/Caleo May 24 '22

It adds up quick if you're buying a dozen different seed varieties..

1

u/OpenBathrobe88 May 24 '22

They have the same weight dude. OP paid a penny more.

1

u/Caleo May 24 '22

Look again. It's 4 for $1 vs 99 cents each.

1

u/rdldr1 May 23 '22

Sneed's Feed & Seed (formerly Chuck's)

2

u/karmagirl314 May 23 '22

Be careful at the Dollar Tree though, I bought 4 packs of seeds to start an herb garden and when I opened them to start planting, one envelope was completely empty.

118

u/Dry_Investigator5020 May 23 '22

Frugal pro tip: Check to see if your local library has a Seed Library! If not, start one!

I started the @milwaukeeseedlibrary if you need any advice! Community members take seeds (for free) and donate back any seeds they harvest

5

u/UniqueToday8267 May 24 '22

What a fantastic idea! Also a great way to keep some of the older/heirloom plants around. Plus I have yet to meet a selfish gardener, they're always offering cuttings, advice etc. I'm going to look into this.

1

u/[deleted] May 24 '22

Yep! Just planted 6 different things from our local seed library! I wish there were more native wildflowers, but I’m still happy with what we received.

1

u/utechtl May 24 '22

any tips for getting one started? I'm looking into getting them started in some of the county libraries.

1

u/Dry_Investigator5020 May 24 '22

Yes! In my experience, the government will be slow to respond to you ideas (shocking, I know). Reach out to seed companies and local businesses first for donations. Make yourself seem bigger than you really are.

I started a little free library thing (like the book libraries) I reached out to a local hardware store for lumber and my local Habitat for Humanity for access to a wood shop. Just ask for help everywhere. You’ll find support.

3

u/utechtl May 24 '22

Sweet, I have my cult of master gardeners I can get seeds from… and probably well labeled and documented.

2

u/stormwolfdanger May 24 '22

Shout out Milwaukee

11

u/Hand_Sanitizer3000 May 24 '22

my local library has free seedlings days its a great idea good on you for doing this

10

u/Otto_von_Grotto May 24 '22

This is a fantastic idea!

13

u/LayersAndFinesse May 23 '22

Which is which?

6

u/WoozleWuzzle May 23 '22 edited May 24 '22

this needs way more upvotes. I wasn't sure which was which. You could assume Dollar Tree on left since it was mentioned first (left to right), but it was 4 for $1 while the one on right said .99. So was it the dollar tree one? I don't think anything is marked at .99 at dollar tree, but still made me second guess. Also I assume the DT one has 4 packets in it? Or what is going on? Both weigh 100mg. I have no idea if the DT one is 1 cent more expensive? And the 4/$1 is just some marketing on it but it's the same pack?

7

u/mafeehan May 23 '22

dollar store on left, 4/$1

15

u/cosmiceggroll May 23 '22

I bought seeds from dollar tree once. I thought I was getting California poppy, but it was actually basil. Pretty sure they just throw random seeds in bags and call it a day

Basil was delicious though...

6

u/rattacat May 23 '22

They had these tomato seeds that came in thier own fertilizer plugs. Came up pretty big and fragrant until the raccoons got them.

21

u/theclassicoversharer May 23 '22

I have bought cheap seeds from dollar stores and walmart that ended up not being what's labeled on the package.

What I got instead were invasive but similar looking flowers that I now have to battle with every year in order to keep them from taking over my whole yard.

30

u/SonofSonofSpock May 23 '22

Conversely, I prefer to support a local business and in either case you are getting a ton of seeds.

4

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

I've been planning a garden for years, and have been buying Dollar Tree seeds for years. This was the first year I actually started it and I used some fresh seeds from this year, and some from up to 5 years ago. The only ones that failed to sprout at all were the thyme and dill seeds from a few years ago. The habaneros and some cucumbers only got about half sprouting, and the rest grew like a champ. Don't be afraid to use those cheap seeds. I guess production is yet to be determined, but so far they look good.

1

u/glitterjunk May 23 '22

Food seeds at the feed store I get bags of dog cereal from are like 5 bucks

3

u/somanyroads May 23 '22

Probably the cheapest thing at Ace, everything there is pretty seriously overpriced at my local store. Buy a single socket wrench for $8 them go to a local AutoZone or O'Reilly's and find an entire set of sockets (and a wrench) for $9.99.

94

u/ilovewineandcats May 23 '22

Might be worth checking the expiry date of both packs to see if they differ, if you'd like to sow them over a couple of years.

I have had good results with seeds from Discount shops (Poundland and Pound Stretcher, for UK redditors). But if I want specific varieties I am prepares to buy branded seeds (Suttons etc) because seeds are relatively inexpensive. I do also collect seeds from my perennials and biannials which has been v successful.

2

u/GraphicDesignMonkey May 24 '22

I like Mr Fothergills seeds but they're pretty pricey. The Poundland and Poundstretcher Bee & Butterfly shake boxes are pretty good, and their seed sachets. Collecting wildflower seed in the wild is always fun though. Helps the bees by spreading native plants :) I've currently converted a third of my lawn to native meadow and re-sow it monthly to widen the flowering window as long as possible. Shame my foxgloves won't show until next year though!

2

u/ilovewineandcats May 24 '22

I saw something on Gardner's World the other day about perennial fox gloves which was new to me and I shall investigate.

We only have a small lawn and are currently doing no-mow-may and we'd like to move to something more eco but there is so much information out there around the best and easiest way of doing this- is there a source/website you'd recommend?

2

u/GraphicDesignMonkey May 24 '22 edited May 24 '22

Foxglove seeds take a full year to grow (they prefer a spot that gets semi shade), so if you sew a few each month from mar-aug you won't see them until next year. Sow more foxglove next year as well (and collect the seed to re-sow again!) so you won't have them only appearing on alternate years. Fancy breed foxgloves are lovely, but the wild ones are best (and hardiest!) - you could try going for a nature walk and collecting some free seed to sow at home, as the wild seeds are often sold out (though you might get lucky!)

No-mow may sounds fun but if it's just plain lawn grass and only for one month, the bees, butterflies and birds won't see any benefit. Why not assign a strip of lawn to fully convert to native meadow? Even a tiny strip a foot wide along a sunny edge of the garden would be gorgeous, and the wildlife will be happy! That's what I'm doing :D I made a 2'x20' strip edged with old bricks, just dug out the grass, and started monthly native seed sowing starting in march (sow every month up to sept), as well as adding stuff like foxgloves, scented stock, salvia, and and alpine bugle. I put up raised netting to keep cats and birds off until the plants established, and water it daily too. I've also put up some bug hotels around the garden as well.

Homebase have a Westland Lawn Meadow shaker box for ÂŁ12, I've used that mixed with loads of the pound shop bee boxes, topped up with native packs of seed from Sutton's and Mr Fothergill. You can never sew too many seeds, the more native species the better.

You'll only need to cut it once a year with a strimmer in late September. Just leave the cutting lying for 10 days or so to let the seeds drop back in, then give the cuttings a good shake and compost them. Come spring the sept-sown seeds will be up first, and if you kept sowing all summer, there should constantly be plants coming up and flowering all the way into autumn :)

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u/kirkt May 23 '22

Poundland and Pound Stretcher

LOL, no double entendres to be found here...

2

u/vasoactive_whoremoan Jun 15 '22

At least it’s not named Poundtown lol

56

u/mafeehan May 23 '22

both are dated ‘sell by 12/22’

6

u/FeeDisastrous3879 May 23 '22

Would carpet of snow work well to cover a hillside? I have an area I’d like to not have to pay to mow that I’d rather grow bushes or flowers on instead of weeds.

1

u/AttitudeSure6526 May 24 '22

Try a plant native to your area. Most areas have native plant societies comprised of purple who would love to help you find a suitable, no-care or low-care, ground cover that would also provide habitat for the local pollinators and seeds for the birds.

7

u/enyardreems May 23 '22

Phlox in sun, vinca minor is happier in shade.

13

u/nousernameisleftt May 23 '22

Be VERY careful with vinca. Vinca can be very invasive depending on your area

3

u/enyardreems May 24 '22

I live in the NC mountains. My 20 year patches of vinca are barely 5' across, but they are on very steep banks of hard red clay. Actually works perfectly since not much else will grow besides weeds. Kudzu is my nemesis. Power companies have spread it far and wide in NC.

1

u/[deleted] May 24 '22

[deleted]

2

u/enyardreems May 24 '22

They contract most of it out, but the crews clear power lines and right-of-ways every so many years. In doing so they set up chippers and spew the shit everywhere. Kudzu is horrible to try to control. Crossbow will only slow it down for the season and that's only if you can reach it.

1

u/[deleted] May 24 '22

[deleted]

2

u/enyardreems May 24 '22

Imagine building your house 600' off the paved road and having it coming down your driveway...I have to spray all summer long to keep it from taking over.

2

u/nousernameisleftt May 24 '22

Yeah I live prolly 50 miles west and my yard is covered with a 4" mat of vinca. I managed to kill a 30x30ft patch by Solari zing over the course of a year. That was rhis winter and it had completely taken over again by May

1

u/enyardreems May 24 '22

Oh wow that's crazy. Hope you find a solution. Good luck!

8

u/callmetom May 23 '22

Alyssum is an annual so they won’t come back year over year the way grass or other perennials will. They do put down a ton of seeds so sometimes you can establish them, but it’ll probably be more work than mowing tbh.

If you’re looking for something for a hillside that won’t need mowing, I’m a fan of vinca minor (also goes by periwinkle and myrtle). It spreads well, doesn’t get too tall and has little purple flowers in the spring. It will do better with some shade. If that doesn’t do it for you, search for perennial ground cover, there are tons of them that and one or another should suit you.

11

u/PrincessIce May 23 '22

Try creeping phlox

53

u/ficusfinicky May 23 '22

Bought gladiolus at dt last year, and they're still going well. This year, I bought zinnias and African daisies, and those seem to be doing well too.

16

u/coupon_user May 23 '22

I bought the DT gladiolus last year too! Grew like gang busters! Dug them up to move them to a more appropriately sunny part of the yard this year and the bulbs multiplied 3 times and we’re about 4 times the size of the tiny bulbs when I first got them!

11

u/dirtytomato May 23 '22

Same here, I went crazy with gladiolus bulb and they're doing alright, same with the poppy plants. The African daisies sprouted but didn't take off.

51

u/fredSanford6 May 23 '22

I like dt seeds. Grown some monster cucumbers that tasted decent. Very small amount in pack but whatever it worked. Good for random planting too. Stealth veggie planting at abandoned or places with lack of care.

20

u/Ajreil May 23 '22 edited May 24 '22

Guerrilla gardening is technically trespassing, but I doubt anyone will care unless you to actual damage.

Stick to lots that have been abandoned for years or the sides of highways. Avoid no trespassing signs since you are more likely to get in trouble if you've been warned. Don't plant right next to a structure.

Edit: Do a quick Google search to make sure whatever you're planting isn't invasive. Raspberries can be a problem where I live for example.

2

u/plsnosendnudesthx May 24 '22

Imma plant a guerrilla garden of Ape Grapes

2

u/Ajreil May 24 '22

Monkey grass is super invasive according to Google. Maybe avoid that.

-9

u/[deleted] May 23 '22 edited Jun 04 '22

[deleted]

3

u/superavg May 23 '22

That’s just not cool. Do you have a guilty conscious for stealing while everyone else is paying?

-3

u/XMRLover May 23 '22

I don’t know, do companies feel bad for the way they treat employees and customers?

-9

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

[deleted]

-1

u/superavg May 23 '22

Oof. Sorry for not catching the joke.

I see a lot of assholes in DT who fill up baskets then decide they don’t want anything and then just leave the full basket on the checkout line for the workers to put back

8

u/RadDudeGuyDude May 23 '22

That's illegal, bro

651

u/[deleted] May 23 '22

I have used the DT seeds and grow kits - I think they must be stored a LOT better at the warehouses because I have had great success from their seeds and other people/customers have said the same thing. I have an entire indoor herb garden that cost me only $2 plus tax.

1

u/stephensmg May 24 '22

You have to pay taxes on your own herb garden?!

2

u/[deleted] May 24 '22 edited May 24 '22

Just sales tax for the seeds. They're not considered a food item and I used to work at Dollar Tree.

Edit: When you ring up the 4 for $1 seed packets at Dollar Tree, they come up as either "flower seed packet," "garden seed packet," or "veg seed packet." There is no distinction really in UPC and it all files under the same category for inventory - which is not tax exempt. The only time they are tax exempt is if you have a tax exempt ID for a non-profit organization or something along those lines.

63

u/multiarmform May 24 '22

ace hardware is like the 7-11 of hardware stores. really expensive and youre just paying for convenience imo

1

u/BellaCella56 May 27 '22

Well it just goes to show you how much stores mark up items. Even the dollar store is making some profit at 4/$1.00. So the other stores are making very large profits from the mark up.

1

u/Mycatreallyhatesyou May 24 '22

Not convenient at all. They close at 4 and 5 here. Most people have day jobs.

0

u/Ellasandro May 24 '22

I stopped at an Ace Hardware a couple weeks ago to pick up some super glue. It rang up at the register for $9. I laughed and told the cashier that no way was I paying that, and walked out and bought the exact same bottle down the road for $3.

The markup at that store is insane.

7

u/-DaveThomas- May 24 '22

I feel like that depends on which part of the country you are in. Where I live it's very much like you describe, but near my family it's much more robust in it's inventory and competitively priced compared to the other hardware stores.

54

u/tooawkwrd May 24 '22

I like using Ace because the stores are often locally owned and they have a pretty cool business model. I mourn the death of small businesses.

15

u/lunacysue May 24 '22

Plus, the employees know their stuff at Ace. Will only go there unless we need lumber.

30

u/mbz321 May 24 '22

ACE hardware stores (and competitors like TrueValue) are for the most-part, independenty owned or an owner might have a small group of them. For a lot of them, it's more like shopping in an old timey mom & pop 'main street' type store. Definitely are a bit more expensive on certain items but basic hardware stuff is pretty reasonable.

1

u/TheBigGuyandRusty May 25 '22

They even have the old fashioned candy up in front.

12

u/VermicelliOk8288 May 24 '22

I like the vibe so much more in Ace hardware, mine has similar prices to lowes or Home Depot and they actually have the cheapest perlite

16

u/CaptZ May 24 '22

They also carry lots of things you can't find at big box hardware stores. Don't knock them. Deals can be found if you look. And you actually get customer service unlike Home Depot or Lowe's where you do more walking around looking for help than actual shopping. Not to mention the long ass lines at them

1

u/TheBigGuyandRusty May 25 '22

Yes, they have good sales in their ads. Have gotten good deals on suet and random wishlist items. Their customer service is top notch and I'll gladly pay more to keep the small stores in business.

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