5 Smart Ways to Save Money on Your Favorite Flower Bulbs for Fall Planting

If you're a gardener who's shopped for bulbs online or in person lately, you'll know what a joy it can be to add to your cart, dreaming of all the spring flowers ahead. But then comes the reckoning: The total cost. We turned to horticulturist and bulb expert Peggy Anne Montgomery for ways to save money as you shop for bulbs this season.

1. Look for Bulk Offers

If you have a large area you'd like to blanket with spring flowers, buying individual bulbs gets pricey. Montgomery says you'll save money if you buy in bulk instead. As you shop online, look for the words “landscape mixes” or “collections,” she advises.

2. Purchase Late in the Season

While ordering bulbs in late summer and early fall will ensure the best selection, "if you can wait until after Halloween, you may find discount bulbs at garden centers," says Montgomery.

She emphasizes that it's important to inspect before you buy, as the selection gets poorer as the season goes on: "Make sure they are healthy. They should be firm to the touch, not dried or shriveled, and there should be no mold on the bulb." She also suggests buying the largest size bulb possible, as it will "give you the most flower power."

3. Opt for Perennial Bulbs

The more years you get out of the bulbs you purchase, the better value they are. So Montgomery recommends investing in perennial bulbs that return year after year (naturalize), over annuals that you're going to rip out when the growing season is over.

"This is a terrific value because you only plant them once and the floral display gets better and better every year," she says. "After you’ve been doing that for a while, you’ll have bulbs to share with friends and family—and they might be able to share their bulbs with you!"

Some of Montgomery's favorite bulbs for naturalizing include daffodils, crocus, grape hyacinth, fritillaria, and winter aconite.

4. Shop from a Reliable Source

While big box stores may offer the best price on bulbs, "the old saying goes, 'You get what you pay for,'" says Montgomery. In other words, buying low-quality bulbs that fail to bloom is a waste of money, however little you spent on them. To be confident in the quality of the bulbs you're planting, she recommends shopping reliable online retailers or your local nursery.

5. Buy Only What You Love

It's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of bulb-shopping, but are you definitely a daffodil person? Do those crocus work with your existing garden scheme? Take time to think about how the bulbs you're thinking of buying will work with your landscape. "Don’t buy bulbs you’re not in love with just because they are on sale," says Montgomery.