13 Plants that Give You Bang for Your Buck

What makes a plant a good buy? It's not purchase price alone. Value is best measured by how a plant performs once it's in the ground. "A bargain doesn't need lots of attention, isn't prone to disease or insect problems, and spreads on its own," says Lexington, Kentucky-based landscape designer Jon Carloftis. And while there's no question that annuals deliver the most bang for the buck in a single season, perennials, shrubs, and trees provide long-lasting structure and color to the landscape. We polled our go-to garden experts for their hardy and inexpensive favorites in all four categories.

See more from
CountryLiving.com:

Our Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
Our Go-To Gardening Guide »
5 Fast-Growing Vines for Your Garden »

Become a fan of Country Living on Facebook and follow our pins on Pinterest!

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.