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Don’t be fooled by late-winter sunshine and warm breezes: Denver Botanic Gardens’ annual Spring Plant Sale (May 8 and 9) is the only reliable sign that it’s time to dig in your dirt. We asked curator and horticulturist Henry Basile to share his top tips for leaving the wildly popular event with everything on your list.
Read More: Visit These Local Plant Shops To Find Your Next Leafy Friend
1. Snag the first open time slot. “The earlier you can get into the sale, the more selection you’ll have to choose from,” Basile says. Reservations are free but required; they open in mid-April for members (from $80 per year) and about a week later for the general public, although only members can book the coveted 8 to 9 a.m. hour.
2. In late April each year, Denver Botanic Gardens releases a detailed list of available plants, from flowers to vegetable starts to fruit trees. Do your homework at home so you don’t waste time Googling sunlight and water needs in the crowded aisles.
3. Start by seeking out the hot-ticket items on your list. Culinary herbs like basil and cilantro, along with cherry tomatoes and peppers, are typically the first to sell out. Then spend time perusing the wide variety of native and adapted drought-tolerant plants chosen for their ability to grow in Colorado’s climate.
4. When choosing your specific bundle of stems, leaves, and dirt, remember that bigger isn’t always better. A smaller plant with healthy foliage, for example, will often establish better than a larger one. Not sure what to look for? Ask Basile or one of the other horticulturists wandering the sale for guidance.
5. A limited number of carts are available on-site, but you’re welcome to bring boxes, wagons, or wheelbarrows to transport your haul. Save room for a few surprises: “The plant sale is a really great opportunity to give some new plants a try,” Basile says.
Read More: 5280’s Spring Planting Guide
