Your Guide to the Local Plant Sales and Giveaways in May 2025
Your guide to the local plant sales and giveaways happening in May. Plenty of opportunities to bag a bargain and pick up something new for your garden!
Your free monthly roundup of gardening events, plant sales and green community projects, happening in Prince Edward County and the surrounding areas.
Plant Sale season is here!
With the last frost in our area predicted for this week or next week (depending on your exact location), May is the month when gardening really kicks up a gear and there are plenty of opportunities to find exciting additions to your garden.
💡 8 Tips For Successful Plant Sale Shopping:
You’ll need containers.
Bring plant crates/carry trays if you have them, cardboard boxes if you don’t. If you’re going to a tree giveaway, take bags (plastic is better for keeping the roots moist) or pails.
Take a marker pen.
Trees from free giveaways won’t be labelled, so you’ll need to write the name on the bag. Labels on potted plants might fall off, or be unclear, so be ready to write on the pot (or bring stick labels if you have them).
Turn up early.
Tree giveaways are notorious for long lineups and running out quickly (some have even been known to open before the listed start time).
Donate plants to garden club plant sales.
You can usually drop off your donations before the sale opens, giving you a sneak peek at what’s available. Check beforehand if they have a list of excluded plants.
Go to plant sales just before the closing time.
There may be leftover plants that none of the volunteers want to take home. If you’re looking to fill up your garden on a budget, then offering to take all the leftovers for a reasonable price can help everyone. It’s a risky strategy as the popular sales may sell out early, or you could end up with 5 prize-winning irises and 20 cherry tomato plants. Still, it’s an option for those who like to live dangerously 😉
Learn what to avoid.
The free Grow Me Instead guide can help here. Invasive plants that will make you curse the club that sold it to you, include: goutweed, creeping jenny, lily of the valley, bugleweed and ditch lilies. (Hint: if you’re going to a native plant sale then you won’t need to worry about this).
Plan ahead.
If there are plants you love that are thriving in your garden, make a note of the name in case you find more at a bargain price. Most plants will be grouped by their growing conditions, so it can also help with finding similar plants.
Take cash.
Most plant sales are cash only, although some may accept e-transfers.
Most importantly: have fun! Don’t stress too much about where you’ll put things, or getting it all planted immediately after getting home:
Bare-root trees can wait a few days if you keep the roots moist and covered. Some, such as the White Pine, will put up with those conditions for even longer. (Tip: when planting, add mycorrhizal fungi - such as Root Rescue - to the roots to help them settle in)
Pretty much anything that’s potted can wait, if you just keep it watered. Even the best gardeners I know have kept plants waiting to get into the ground months (or even years) after purchasing.
Lastly, check out ‘Nursery Rhymes’ by Rocco Elliot if you want a catchy tune for your plant shopping trip.
🪷 Things To Tell Yourself (and others) This Month
Yes, I probably do need more plants.
I’m buying these for the pollinators (it’s not hoarding).
There’s always space for one more; I have too much lawn anyway.
📅 Plant Sales Happening This Month
Plant sales are happening everywhere this month, and there’s also a few free giveaways! If you’re looking for presentations and workshops, check out the previous email sent earlier today (or read it here).
Saturday, May 3
Tree Seedling Sale (and pre-order pickup): 9am-noon
Pre-order bundles of 5 seedlings for pickup at the sale, or buy individual seedlings.
Earth Day Composter Giveaway: 8am-4pm
at South Marysburgh Landfill, Sophiasburgh Waste Transfer Station, Picton Waste Transfer Station, and Ameliasburgh Landfill
PEC municipality is giving away a limited supply of composters that will be made available to the public on a first come first serve basis.
PEC Tree Giveaway: 9am-noon
at Lake Street Garage, Wellington and District Community Centre, Ameliasburgh Town Hall
PEC Residents (please bring proof of residency) can collect up to 10 free saplings per household. Trees will be available on a first come first serve basis and while supplies last. Partnership with Quinte Conservation.
Trenton Tree Giveaway: 9am-noon
Partnership with Quinte Conservation.
Belleville Tree Giveaway: 9am-noon
Get up to 5 free bare-root seedlings. There will be over 14 different native tree and shrub species to choose from. Partnership with Quinte Conservation.
Tweed Tree Giveaway: 9am
at Tweed Arena
Partnership with Quinte Conservation.
Greater Napanee Tree Giveaway: 9am
at the Banquet Hall at the Best & Bash Arena
Partnership with Quinte Conservation.
Saturday, May 10
Lennox & Addington Horticultural Society Plant Sale: 9am-2pm
Vegetables, herbs, perennials and advice
Belleville Garden Club Plant Sale: 9am-noon
Perennials, Bulbs, Hosta, Vegetables/Herbs, Garden Tools, Decor, Books, etc. Donations in advance are welcome!
Tuesday, May 13
Brighton Garden Club Plant Auction: 6.30 (viewing)
Great selection of hardy perennials, shrubs, indoor plants, tubers and corms. Auction starts at 7pm.
Saturday, May 17
Trenton Horticultural Society Plant Sale: 7.30am
Member-grown plants at great prices. Vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials and much more.
Tweed Horticultural Society Plant Sale: 8am
Proceeds help to plant the town's flower beds and pay for guest speakers
Quinte Field Naturalists Plant Sale: 8am
Perennials and annuals, wildflowers, winter hardy cacti, vegetables, native and ornamental plants, plus garden tools, art, and other items. 100% of proceeds will go towards planting trees.
Ameliasburgh Garden Club Plant Sale: 9am
Plants grown and donated by club members. One of our biggest fundraising events of the year.
Saturday, May 24
Stirling Horticultural Society Plant Sale: 9am
Drop off donated plants: May 22 5-7pm or May 23 9am-12
T/E GrassRoots Growers Plant Sale: 10am-1pm
Stock up on your favourite and affordable vegetable seedlings, flowers, annuals, perennials and houseplants. Cash only.
Saturday, May 31
County Garden Club Native Plant Sale: 10am-2pm
Great selection of nursery-grown native plants. We can accept credit/debit cards.
Thanks for reading!
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💎 made in Prince Edward County, ON