We have a job in a few weeks at a former show-home on a new build estate, which involves ripping out a lot of the garden that was installed by the builders and laying a new lawn in place.
With these show homes the landscape contractors try and really pack out the borders to give the illusion of a more mature developed garden. The consequence being there are usually far too many plants in place than is necessary. The garden has not been there very long and there must be at least 100 shrubs to remove of various sizes from small to more substantial. They probably won't be too established and easy to remove.
I have submitted the quote on the basis of just ripping it all out and disposing of the green 'waste' but it seems a shame to just get rid of so many nearly brand new plants - from a waste point of view, but also there must be at least £500 worth of shrubs in there, possibly a lot more. Even is sold off for a quarter of retail price they would significantly add to the profit for the job. The shrubs are nothing particularly special - aucuba, choisya, viburnum, skimmia - that sort of thing, but some of the larger ones would probably retail at around £30 each in a garden centre.
Just wondered if people had experience of salvaging large numbers of plants, what they did with them, was it worth it?
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In the past I've sold on extras left over from planting work that we've undertaken, similar to you mahonia, hornbeam, euonymus etc. I've kept them at home thinking I'll reuse them and in reality it can become more of a chore to keep looking after them (with them being potted up).
If you do have the space and time I would pot them up and sell them on however be sure to do it quickly, otherwise they become more of a PITA and it's not worth the money when you factor in the amount of time you end up handling them and caring for them. That said they probably would command a greater price in the spring when joe public start gardening again and in the mean time shouldn't need much attention.
Personally the majority of shrubs and plants in my garden have come from rip out jobs and left overs from planting.
maybe if you can flip them quickly as a job lot on ebay so that they don't spend too long hanging about, its a good time of year as not too hot so they will transplant well, the ones with smaller rootballs could be containerised if you have suitable empty pots, somebody out there wants them, just requires a bit of your own time cleaning them up and making them look like they are desirable nursery stock rather than someones cast offs...I have been paid to dig a shrub out of a garden before, then re-installed it round their next door neighbours as a specimen plant a week later, everybody's happy lol
I've salvages selected ones such as Box, yew and a few roses. Normally put them on offer for £5 in my monthly newsletter or mention in person to clients.Usually works well, If the plant feels to me like it will be in my greenhouse for more than amonth or two then i dont bother.
Instead I use the free section of gumtree a lot so things aren't wasted and reduces my waste costs/time. Usually I remove from the customers address first so doesn't look unprofessional and then leave out the front of my house with either a note/gumtree ad.
In last couple of weeks have got ride of couple of ton of soil, plants , gravel, lawn edging, wire netting, plant pots old fence posts.
One persons rubbish is another's gold! It great that these things don't go to waste and people are always really appreciative!! (Sometime even a bottle is left behind!)
Salvaging shrubs for profit? I suppose I have always done this. I have the space, so if they come up with enough root, without too much effort(you can't expect a client to pay for extra care!) and they are worth it, I like to give them a chance. I dont waste good potting compost, just pop them in a big enough pot with compost straight for our 'mini compost mountain' and leave them for a year or so. It's up to them then. I have just planted an 9ft high Photinia that has been quietly growing away in a 2ft dia pot for the last 6 years and most of the potted shrubs in our patio area, have been salvaged - the slight problem is that when I see they have got back in shape, I quietly pop the odd one in the van - forty quid for 'nothing'!
rip them out and ill give you £100 for the lot as I've got a garden that needs packing out