Frugal Family: Let’s Garden

For gardeners of both flowers and vegetables, great deals on seeds, plants and supplies are “popping up” everywhere. While stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s are the stores most people think of when they need gardening supplies, there are some surprisingly great deals in stores you wouldn’t ordinarily think of.

This week Frugal Family found great deals from five interesting resources: Big Lots, Aldi Foods, Marietta Feed and Seed, Dollar Tree and local thrift stores.

1) Big Lots: Remember when those Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planters kits came out a few years ago for $19.99? They can be found at Big Lots for $2.50. Those same kits for peppers and hummingbird-attracting plants are $1. You have to buy the soil and plants. These planters are ideal for homes and apartments that only have room for hanging baskets on the patio. While supplies last. 680 Powder Springs Rd., Marietta 30064. www.biglots.com  

2) Aldi Foods:

Weekly Ad beginning April 9:

• Gardenline 6-Piece Patio Set $99.99. Four three-position folding sling chairs. 38" round glass table with tempered glass. 7' umbrella with tilt function and crank. Umbrella stand sold separately.
• Gardenline Bird Feeding Station $9.99. Includes posts, bird dish, suet cage and added bottom support. Optional bird house mount included. 24" x 85". Bird food and suet cake not included.
• Gardenline Bird Bath $9.99. Includes stakes for anchoring. 28" tall.

1260 Powder Springs St., Marietta 30064. www.aldi.com

3) Marietta Feed & Feed Store: This is the place to go if you want your seeds by the scoop, have a particular type of vegetable that’s hard to find or want gardening tips from “old timers," experts in all things gardening. For example, you may want Silver Queen or Silver King corn—you’ll find it here for $3 per ¼ lb of seeds. In fact most of the “big” vegetable seeds, corn, cow peas, purple hulls, dwarf okra, etc., are $3 per 1/4 lb. Most of the "small" seeds, squash, cucumber, watermelon, etc., are just $1 per small scoop. This is a great place to get the tips that will help you create a successful garden—directly from people who have been creating them for a long time. 1400 Church Street Ext., Marietta 30060. 770-422-5501

4) Dollar Tree: Just a few gardening bargains found here for $1 include fruit and vegetable seeds (4 packages for $1), small hand tools (trowels and shovels), figurines, garden ornaments, decorative signs and stands, kneeling pads and stools. 180 Cobb Parkway South, Marietta 30060. www.dollartree.com

5) Thrift Stores: Planters, pedestals and pots—Marietta has a ton of thrift stores and you can find great buys on expensive planters and pots if you shop around. A nice planter can easily cost $25 or $30; you can find them for $3 to $10 at local thrift stores by keeping a watchful eye out and being a little bit lucky. Two of my favorites are:

• Goodwill Stores: 1355 Roswell Rd., Marietta 30062
• America’s Thrift Stores: 3344 Canton Rd., Marietta 30066

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