Fall Is the Time to Decide Which Garden Plants Aren’t Worth the Money Next Year

Fall is the perfect time to evaluate garden plants based on their actual performance, maintenance demands and value before spending money on next year’s garden – Shutterstock

A garden can look wonderfully productive from a distance while quietly wasting money up close. Fall makes those disappointments much easier to spot because the growing season has finally handed over the receipts: Which plants produced plenty, which struggled all summer, and which seemed determined to occupy valuable space while contributing almost nothing?

That makes autumn an excellent time to decide which plants deserve another invitation next year and which ones can stay off the shopping list. A little honest garden bookkeeping now can prevent impulse purchases later, especially when a glossy seed packet or cheerful nursery display makes a mediocre performer suddenly look irresistible.