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Sin bin ('dead' trolley) recent finds and past successes

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in The potting shed
The first place I visit in the garden centre is the sin bin, where I can indulge my pleasure in finding neglected plants at silly prices.
I would be interested to see what you've found this year and what has thrived in your garden in the past.
I'm off for my first gc visit of the year, today - maybe I'll get something to gloat over.
Happy hunting, chaps :p
In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    edited April 2018
    I've had so many treasures off the dead trolley I can hardly count. A Kaffir lily that really did die but that was the exception. My Geranium Giuseppe flowers happily in a really grotty spot. He's tiny but very fierce. I also had a thalictrum (which I'd never heard of) and it's lovely. Some heathers, some dwarf conifers, some grasses...all for nearly nuppence.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited April 2018
    Eight nearly dead primroses which are now lighting up my front garden and will for years, with luck. Ten hellebores for peanuts at the end of the season.

    Also wonderful stuff that has been slightly dented, like an outside storage box with a tiny ding in it - two thirds off, nearly free rain barrel and planters. Like with clothes, bargains are to be had, if you buy in the oppositely appropriate season.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited April 2018
    I've also got one or two nice planters for the cost of the 'dead' plants.
    Some inspiring pics would be nice.
    I'm hoping to have some to share :)
    Pp, I googled thalictrum. It's lovely. Why do beautiful plants have names that sound like afflictions?
    Fire,  primroses look dead when they go over, great pickings for the patient gardener ;)
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    edited April 2018
    A large Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade' for half price.Looked really scrappy.I took off all the old leaves and divided into 5 lovely plants.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • SussexsunSussexsun Posts: 1,444

    These 

    Pulmonaria were bought for pennies last year as dead twigs in a pot.


    these primroses again bought for pennies 
    I bought several different ones but these are the only photo I have taken this year.

    I have also bought sedums, budliea, creeping phlox, and a lovely perennial lobelia queen victoria. All of which are quite happy in the garden.

    So far this year all I have bought from the reduced tray have been a few plug plants. 20 Busy Lizzie at half price ( very small plugs all of which have been potted on and doing well) and some plug geranium again half price and doing well after a good water and potting on.

    i buy most of my plants from the sin bins as you can get some real bargains if you are willing to give them a bit of care and wait until the next season for them to come back again.

    if I am buying bedding plants from the sun bin I will go through the trays and select the best ones to make a tray worth buying. If any are dead and past recovery I just swap it out with another one from the sin bin.The GC don’t seem to care as they just want shot of the plants.
    To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.

  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    The end of autumn is good for pots of perennials which just need to be split, repotted and watered.
    SW Scotland
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Ss, I have to admit to a bit of  sleight of hand now and again :blush:
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • SussexsunSussexsun Posts: 1,444
    B3 I think they expect us to that’s why they stick the sin bin in and out of the way corner so we can havE a good rummage without drawing to much attention.

    Years and years ago my dear old mum used to think nothing of taking little cuttings from plants in the garden centre. I don’t think you would get away with that now😊

    To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.

  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I very rarely pay full price for my plants. I always head for the "hospital" corner. Went for my first visit this year and found a lovely very double, frilly deep purple hellebore. Had to restrain myself as there were several different varieties, all looking very much the worse for wear.
  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,291
    Oh I love a bargain bin success! I had some Rozannes a couple of years ago - for pence - and they are superb. You can often find a glut of Narcissus after the Easter Hols - as they have gone over, they are often 50p or less for a pot or bowl arrangement, so I let them die back and wait their return next year.  I bought a shrub honeysuckle last year (£15 reduced to £5) and it it just starting to green-up this year and will take centre place on the patio once it flowers. 
    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
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