Garden center clearance season can feel like the gardening equivalent of finding a forgotten twenty-dollar bill in an old jacket. The big summer rush has passed, shelves start looking a little picked over, and suddenly useful garden supplies can become much easier to justify. The trick is knowing which bargains deserve space in the garage and which ones should stay on the clearance rack.
Late-season shopping works best when it focuses on supplies that remain useful long after summer ends. Some items can help with fall planting, others make next spring easier, and a few simply save money on things that gardeners will eventually need anyway. A bargain only counts as a bargain if the item actually earns its keep.
