Buy & Plant Timing Heat Map
Background color = price level (green = cheap, red = expensive). A dot (●) means good planting window for your zone. A star (★) = best opportunity: low price and ideal planting time.
| Category | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azaleas Rhododendrons |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Blueberries |
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Avg
|
| Flowering Trees |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Fruit Trees |
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Grasses |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Groundcovers |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Houseplants |
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
| Hydrangeas |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Japanese Maples |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Perennials |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Privacy Trees |
Low
|
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Roses |
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
| Shade Trees |
Avg
|
High
|
High
|
High
|
Avg
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Low
|
Category Summary
Azaleas Rhododendrons
✓ Best buy: September-October
⚠ Most expensive: March-April
Encore Azaleas sell out early in spring. Buy in fall for best selection AND best price.
Blueberries
✓ Best buy: September-October
⚠ Most expensive: March-April
Buy 2-3 varieties for cross-pollination. Spring planting gives the best first-year fruit production.
Flowering Trees
✓ Best buy: October-November
⚠ Most expensive: March-April
If a specific cultivar matters, buy in March before sellout. If price matters more, wait for fall.
Fruit Trees
✓ Best buy: October-November
⚠ Most expensive: March
Order bare-root trees in January for best selection. If buying potted, wait for fall clearance.
Grasses
✓ Best buy: September-October
⚠ Most expensive: April-May
Buy in fall, plant in fall. Fall-planted grasses establish stronger root systems over winter and fill out faster the following spring.
Groundcovers
✓ Best buy: September-October
⚠ Most expensive: April-May
Buy in fall, plant in fall. Fall-planted groundcovers establish stronger root systems over winter and spread faster the following spring.
Houseplants
✓ Best buy: Year-round
⚠ Most expensive: None
Shop big-box stores for common sizes. Specialty nurseries charge more but offer larger, more established specimens.
Hydrangeas
✓ Best buy: September-October
⚠ Most expensive: April-May
Buy in fall, plant in fall. Fall-planted hydrangeas establish stronger root systems over winter and bloom the following spring.
Japanese Maples
✓ Best buy: October-November
⚠ Most expensive: March-April
Fall planting gives roots 4-5 months to establish before summer stress. Best value is bare-root in February.
Perennials
✓ Best buy: September-October
⚠ Most expensive: April-May
Buy in fall, plant in fall. Fall-planted perennials establish stronger root systems over winter and bloom the following spring.
Privacy Trees
✓ Best buy: October-November
⚠ Most expensive: April
Fall is actually ideal for planting evergreens. Buy in October for best price AND best planting conditions.
Roses
✓ Best buy: September-October
⚠ Most expensive: March-April
For Knock Out roses, fall planting works well in zones 6-9. Bare-root in late winter is cheapest.
Shade Trees
✓ Best buy: October-November
⚠ Most expensive: March
Order bare-root trees in January for best selection. If buying potted, wait for fall clearance.
Price seasonality based on industry planting calendars and nursery sale patterns. Planting windows from USDA hardiness zone guidelines. Actual prices tracked daily across 7+ nurseries — compare current prices →