Browsing seed and nursery catalogs is a great way for a gardener to spend a winter evening. Sure you can browse on line for plants and garden information but why not enjoy the experience to its fullest? Sitting in a comfortable chair with your favorite music on and a cup of hot chocolate or tea nearby you can dream and plan the best garden you’ll ever have.
Amazingly enough, many plant companies who used to require a fee for catalogs now offer them for free. Printing is easier and cheaper than it used to be and companies are doing all they can to compete with a proliferation of new plant companies. And sitting with several catalogs at hand is the best way to compare prices and varieties.
Print catalogs can give you tips and ideas and good cultural information on plants. Even if you buy most of your plants locally, studying the catalogs will give you an idea of what to look for and what it should sell for. If you are new to gardening reading the catalogs give you a lot of good cultural information and ideas for garden design. And for those who like the newest, rarest or most unusual plants catalog shopping is the way to go.
If you are searching for a gift for a gardener why not get them a gift certificate to one of these nurseries? Most offer gift certificates and some have delightful gifts you can order which they will ship right to the recipient.
Here’s a list of links to companies that offer free catalogs. Click on the links and go to “request a catalog” if necessary, from the link. Fill out the basic information and you will be mailed a catalog. Hey, it helps the post office stay in business too. Please remember that you may get mailings or emails in addition to the catalog. Sometimes there is a spot where you can remove the option for additional mailings/emails if you un-check the box.
Free Catalog list
http://rareseeds.com/requestcatalog (Bakers Creek Heirloom seeds)
http://parkseed.com/catalogrequestpopup.aspx - seeds, perennials
http://www.forestfarm.com/catalog.php trees, some perennials
springhillnursery.com/catalog_request_qas.asp flowers
https://www.plantdelights.com/inforequest.asp many unusual plants
http://www.waysidegardens.com/ perennials, some trees, shrubs
http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/cgi-local/cataloguerequest.pl flowers, some trees, shrubs
http://www.burpee.com/about/catalogrequest.jsp flower and vegetable seeds
http://www.richters.com/show.cgi?page=./requst2.html&cart_id=6454852.30086 herbs
http://www.millernurseries.com/signup.php fruit
http://www.egardenersplace.com/catalog/catalogrequest14j.asp At this location you can check boxes to receive catalogs from these companies; Edmunds roses, Vermont bean, McClure and Zimmerman, Jung, Shumways, Roots and Rhizomes, Totally Tomatoes
https://www.musserforests.com/catalogrequest.html trees
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/catalog_request.html - perennials
http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/PGCatalogRequest.aspx - vegetable and flower seed
http://www.botanicalinterests.com/heirloom-seeds-catalogs - heirloom seeds
https://www.tomatogrowers.com/inforequest.asp - tomatoes
http://www.territorialseed.com/catalog_request?gclid=CPf46Kmk7bMCFctcMgodFxkA6g vegetables
http://www.selectseeds.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/052563.1.066097902712049392 - bee flowers
http://www.willhiteseed.com/catalog_request.php - melons, vegetables
http://www.raintreenursery.com/Catalog_Requests.html trees, shrubs, rare fruit
http://www.starkbros.com fruit
http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/ roses, perennials
If you get catalog duplicates or more catalogs than you need pass them along to other gardeners. You can see if a local garden club has a catalog exchange and donate extra copies or start a catalog exchange of your own. Several gardeners may want to get together and take advantage of lower costs for larger sizes of seed packets or discounts for multiple purchases. Shipping costs may also be less if orders are combined.
Order early from garden catalogs to get the best selection. The companies will send the live plants to you when the weather is right in your area. Keep a list of what you order so that you will know what you ordered from what company. Don’t order more plants than you can afford or that you can plant. Even those little seed packets pile up and become an over whelming amount of things to plant.
Have fun dreaming and planning. Here are some additional garden articles you may want to read.
http://www.examiner.com/article/tips-for-garden-catalog-shopping
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-fascinating-history-of-poinsettias
http://www.examiner.com/article/planting-zones
If you want to contact the author email her at kimwillis151@gmail.com. You can use this address to sign up for a free weekly garden email newsletter from the author also.
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