Where to Buy
Buy Cheaper at These Local Sources
You don't have to pay full retail for plants, seeds, or flowers. Detroit and Southeast Michigan gardeners have some of the best bargain sources in the Midwest — you just need to know where to go, and when.
Detroit · Seasonal
Eastern Market Detroit
- Arrive after 11am Saturday for end-of-day flat discounts
- Full flats of impatiens, petunias, marigolds from $5–$12
- Vendor stalls sell wholesale to the public — no middleman
- Late May to early June: best selection and pricing of the year
- Bring cash — most vendors don't take cards
- Heirloom tomato starts and rare herb varieties hard to find elsewhere
Year-Round
Big Box Stores
- Home Depot & Lowe's mark down plants 50–75% in late summer clearance
- Check the "death rack" — wilted plants revive easily with water & repotting
- Bulk bags of soil, mulch & fertiliser are cheapest per cubic foot here
- Perennial clearance in August — plants that come back for free next year
- Buy bare-root roses and fruit trees in late fall at steep discounts
- Garden tool sales run Black Friday through February
Community · Local
Local & Ethnic Markets
- Mexican & Asian grocery stores carry herb starts at a fraction of nursery prices
- Buy live grocery-store herbs (basil, mint, cilantro) and pot them up
- Local Lebanese & Middle Eastern markets stock unusual seed varieties
- Ethnic markets often carry specialty peppers, bitter melons & daikon seeds
- Check produce sections for garlic, ginger & turmeric to propagate at home
- Community Facebook groups list free & discounted plant shares weekly
Spring & Summer
Roadside Plant Stands
- Home growers sell surplus seedlings for $1–$2 vs $5–$8 at nurseries
- Plants are often hardened off locally — better adapted to your climate
- Cash-only, honour-system stands offer the lowest prices of all
- Heirloom and unusual varieties not found in any store
- Ask to see the parent plants — you know exactly what you're buying
- Many sellers give seeds & cuttings for free if you ask nicely
Weekly · Seasonal
Farmers Markets
- Arrive at closing time (30–60 min before end) for deep discounts on unsold starts
- Growers prefer to sell cheap than haul plants back — ask for deals
- Build relationships with vendors for first pick & better prices each week
- Buy bunches of herbs to propagate by rooting in water at home
- Seed packets from small local growers are often $1–$2 vs $4–$6 in stores
- Fall markets sell garlic seed heads and perennial divisions cheaply