Plant Sale Fever!

When springtime is in the air, I get excited for the local plant sales. Dreaming of a garden filled with color and variety, I excitedly head out to the spring plant sales and quickly fill my wagon. It’s easy to get overwhelmed at plant sales and come home with seedlings that may or may not work in your garden. Having a plan will help to ease anxiety and ensure that you purchase the perfect new plants that will thrive.

Before the Sale:

• Find local sales sponsored by local garden clubs and organizations. These sales usually feature plants that are best for the Memphis area and are often home-grown. A list of Memphis-area sales is included at the end of this article.
• Know your garden. Is your space full sun, shade, or partial shade? Are you looking for perennials that come back each year or annuals? Having a solid understanding of your garden space and needs will help you make good choices at the sales.
• Create a plant wish list before you go. This will keep you from being too spontaneous and ensure that you come home with what you need. Some plant sales post a plant list beforehand.
• Set a budget. This is a hard one, but can be helpful. Having a spending limit will force you to make good choices and purchase the plants you really want.

At the Sale:

• Ask for help! Master Gardeners and other gardening professionals are there to assist you.
• Bring a tarp for your car trunk to protect from accidental dirt spills.
• Check plants carefully before purchasing. If they are rootbound or seem leggy already, they may not grow well.
• Stick to your plan, but always allow for a surprise plant or two.
• Start small! What’s super tiny in the pot in April may be 4 feet tall or spread into a large clump come summer. You can always add more the following year.
• Check plant tags or an internet search engine for any special growing needs or considerations.

After the Sale:

• Label your plants as you put them in ground using the existing tags or make your own.
• Keep a garden journal to note which plants that worked, or didn’t, in your garden. This journal can become the basis of next year’s plant sale journey.

The Memphis Area Master Gardeners’ Spring Fling is usually the first sale of the season. Set for Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m with free admission and parking. This year’s event will be held indoors at the Agricenter International in Building C, ensuring a perfect gardening day regardless of the weather.

The Spring Fling is a family-friendly event featuring a plant sale, gardening demos, expert speakers, children’s activities, and a garden-themed sale, ensuring there’s something for everyone. All the plants in the sale were nurtured by Memphis Area Master Gardeners.

Additional Memphis Area Plant Sales:

Lichterman Nature Center Native Plant Sale, April 10-11
Dixon Garden Fair Plant Sale, April 17
Botanical Garden Plant Sale, April 16-18
Bartlett City Beautiful April 24-26

For updates and more sales, check the Master Gardeners Community Events calendar.