I'm posting this in container gardening because so many of the EB/HEB folks are in here.
Uline is having a sale of their 5 gal buckets: $3.99 each minimum of 5 and multiple colors available http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_8150.asp?desc=Plastic+Pails
The calculated shipping charges (for my zone at least) show that you can get 14 buckets for just about the same shipping charges as 5 buckets. After S&H, an order of 14 would come out around $4.80 per: less than I saw them today at HD plus you get color choices.
For those that use 5 gal buckets...
tinabeana - i usually buy my containers from home depot and they cost about the same. sometimes our local walmart sells them for 1.80 at the end of the season.
Five gallon buckets reign at our house, we cut off the bottoms and put them about 1/2 way into the ground. Works great in the garden for tomatoes and peppers, easier watering, weeding and feeding. I also use them in the flower beds where the dogs rototil the flowers when chasing squirrels on the fence.
My husband is a paint contractor/paperhanger, so ours are free. Ours are mainly white, gray or green, but they can be painted or camaflouged. So, if you are looking for many, find a local paint contractor, paperhanger or drywaller. Most of them would be happy to get rid of their extras. The wallpaper paste buckets are the easiest ones to clean, though. I know we store them and have a big giveaway at the beginning of planting season.
Impatients at the beginning of the season, in a 5 gallon paint bucket.
Tractor Supply has the buckets for $2.99. Deanna
You're pretty lucky Herbie: my HD has their orange branded buckets (the neon ones w/ HD logos all over) for about the same price, but the regular buckets are almost $7 before sales tax. Though the WM price is great, I stopped shopping their 2 yrs ago.
Thanks for the Tractor Supply tip, Deanna! I didn't realize there was one the next town over, so I'll have to go check theirs out. Now it's just a matter of figuring out if my price per bucket will be higher after I pay for gas there and back =)
Merpeg, I envy you're free supply of buckets!
I'm growing tomatoes and peppers this year in 5 gal. HD buckets. Also 2 earth boxes for the first time. So far so good!
I'm new here (and sure it's probably been mentioned elsewhere) but it you know anyone with cats, see if they buy their cat litter in the plastic bucket containers. Our Publix brand is a heavy white 4-1/2 gallon - with two healthy bengal cats, we've acquired quite a collection! ;)
If you know someone who works at a resturant they have the white ones. Lots of extras at the pizza place near my house, they just give them to me (I take care of the flower beds), Wall Mart sells a spray paint that sticks to plastic.
I just need to find someone in my area with a bucket connection who wants a bunch of newspaper for mulch (DH works at the local newspaper and winds up taking pallet-loads to the recycle center).
Any takers? =)