finding yard material close to home

[Joe Dupre']

I haven't done this in a while but it's surprising how often it works. While at a friend's house, I noticed his wife was big into landscaping. She had all sizes and shapes of shrubs. I asked my friend if they had anything that they just didn't want anymore...........something that was a nuisance. Well, that led to me getting the OK to dig a 1 1/2" viburnum or two and MAYBE a 2 1/2" pyracantha this spring. Never hurts to ask. I've found people that have a yard full of trees and shrubs often have some they are tired of.

 

[leatherback]

I haven't done this in a while but it's surprising how often it works. While at a friend's house, I noticed his wife was big into landscaping. She had all sizes and shapes of shrubs. I asked my friend if they had anything that they just didn't want anymore...........something that was a nuisance. Well, that led to me getting the OK to dig a 1 1/2" viburnum or two and MAYBE a 2 1/2" pyracantha this spring. Never hurts to ask. I've found people that have a yard full of trees and shrubs often have some they are tired of.

A few years back someone here (?) posted about a similar strategy but then using Gregs' list. Posting "Free removal of shrubs" as advertisement, and then a list of plants he would remove from yards for free. Appearently got many responses.

 

[PonderingSage:]

Yeah, the Craig’s list strategy works well. The challenge is in contacting them and requesting photo with scale. They often don’t know the species.
I place an ad on craigs where l ask them to do this( soda can). Otherwise it can be a waste of time driving over for something too large or small.
Got lost of good practice material this way.
Good luck.

 

[Joe Dupre']

My thought was to just look in your neighbors' yards or drive around and look for yards with a lot of landscaping. Yards that are not so well kept up are prone to have plants that "took over" due to lack of maintenance. People may not tend to answer a craigslist ad, but may be a little more accomodating if you knock on their door. Could be risky nowadays, though.