Are costs going up everywhere?

Hi everybody,

This is my first time on this forum. I've noticed some folks are doing things differently, more winter sowing, more seed starting, more cuttings from existing plants because the cost of plants seems to have gone up. Some of my favorite online vendors have raised prices quite a bit, and my local garden centers have too. I'm just wondering what everbody is experiencing across the country. I'm not sure I can do the kinds of things I used to be able to do because my income has dropped over the last six months or so. What do you think about this where you are?

I think we are all having to be smarter with our money. I bought bird seed the other day. It is 5 lbs less and the price went up. I think this is happening with everything. My ice cream package got smaller but the price stayed the same. They were showing on the news that Tuna cans have gotten smaller. The bottem of peanut jars now curve up on the bottem so they can put less in the jar. I want my flower beds in the front to be much fuller so I am moving plants from the back beds to the front. I can't really see my plants in the back because of the pool privacy fence so from back to front makes sense and saves money. I have 9 vines growing in my kitchen that I started from seeds. I love plants that I can divide and ones that I can take cuttings and multiply what I have. I am in South Carolina zone 7b.

I am just getting to the nurseries and prices are a bit higher.
I have to plan carefully and buy locally to save the shipping.

I am starting to look for things that I can buy one of and break into a few. May not be as glorious first year - but worth it in the long run.

I am also more conscientious - like not buying things and then leave under a tree to 'get to' I take care of it then so as not to chance it dying before 'get to' is 'too late.'
And, I am planning on taking better care of the gloves and the tools and things that I didn't really value as I should

And the 'plan' is (but I hope I can stick to it) is no more impulse buying.

This message was edited Apr 14, 2009 3:27 PM

I forgot... no, I don't think that things are more expensive. I just think I am paying more attention to the prices.

I've noticed a definate increase in prices. All MG products seem to have gone up at least $.50 or more, and it's the stuff you have to buy on a regular basis. Plants are a little more too. I'm finding that I don't impulse buy much any more and I'm trying to really plan out what I'm going to buy so as not to buy something I don't need.

The rise in postage also affects the price of mail ordering plants too. I haven't reduced the amount of spending on plants and gardening stuff, but just trying to be at little more wiser with my buck.

Missingrosie, I am also buying plants that I can divite or take cuttings from. Thanks for spreading the word!

Today I went to the market to find, among other things, fresh thyme for dinner. They didn't have any in the little packages, but I did run into an herb counter outside and bought a PLANT! for less than the package of herbs would have cost. I hadn't thought of that before, but now I have the potential for a LOT of herbs for no more than what I paid for the plant. I did notice that they had cut their prices in half from last year. Hmmm...

Good idea to buy things you can multiply with cuttings. I'm definitely going to have to take cuttings from my coleus for the winter, and anything else I can divide or take cuttings from.