Save Fall Plants Instead of Buying New — A Cost Analysis for Balcony & Garden

Why overwintering can pay off

In fall, many balcony and garden owners face the decision: put in the effort for winter protection, or buy new plants in spring? With simple measures, many plants can be saved, or you can grow new plants from cuttings. This analysis uses fictional but realistic average values to show how costs compare between buying replacements versus simple overwintering—and how much you can potentially save.

Assumptions and categories

For the calculation, we distinguish two plant categories:

• Potted plants (balcony, containers): average replacement cost of 6 EUR per plant.
• Garden perennials / shrubs: average replacement cost of 18 EUR per plant (a bit more expensive because they are larger/more robust).

Three household types are considered (fictional averages):

• Students: 12 plants total, including 8 at-risk potted plants.
• Small household / couple: 30 plants total, including 15 at-risk potted plants.
• Family with a garden: 60 plants total, including 20 at-risk potted plants and 10 at-risk garden perennials.

Cost comparison: buying new vs. simple overwintering

For overwintering, we assume simple measures: mulch made from leaves/grass clippings (free for many households), insulating pots with cardboard and bubble wrap (one-time, inexpensive materials), propagation by cuttings/division (time investment, low material cost), community sharing (soil, pots, compost — partial savings).

How additional measures affect the numbers

The figures above assume overwintering succeeds using a simple method. Two levers increase savings:

• Cuttings & division: A healthy mother plant can produce several young plants. If only one-third of the lost plants are replaced this way, replacement costs drop further. Example (students): 3 cuttings replace 3 x 6 = 18 EUR in replacement costs.
• Community sharing: Swapping pots, soil, and compost can cut material costs in half. For the family with a garden, this could save 25 EUR if pots and soil don’t need to be bought entirely new.

Concrete sample calculations with the cutting effect

Seasonal money-saving tips with practical how-tos

• Mulch with leaves & grass clippings instead of expensive winter protection

  Collect leaves, layer them loosely or shred them briefly, and use them as mulch around plants. A 5–10 cm thick layer protects root balls and saves you from buying pricey wood chips. Tip: collect bags of leaves in fall, shred briefly (using a chipper via swap or neighborhood lending), and spread as needed.

• Cuttings & division instead of buying new

  During fall pruning, cut well-preserved, non-flowering shoots to 8–12 cm, remove lower leaves, and place them in water or small pots with light seed-starting mix. A mason jar of water is enough for many species for a few weeks; watch for root development and then pot up. Divide perennials in fall: dig up, split the root ball with a spade, and replant.

• Pot insulation & creating a microclimate

  Group pots together (place multiple pots tightly next to each other). Outer insulation with cardboard and bubble wrap (attach wrap inside the cardboard) reduces frost damage. Use sheltered locations: along a wall, in a house alcove, an unheated garage/stairwell. Often a thin insulation layer is enough to avoid expensive storage options.

• Organize community sharing of soil, pots & compost

  Organize neighborhood swap opportunities for used pots, excess soil, or compost. Once organized, meetups reduce purchasing costs and transport effort. Simple exchange lists via a notice board or messenger app are enough to share materials.

Practical checklist for a fall day

• Collect leaves and prepare a layer of mulch for beds and containers.
• Group sensitive potted plants and insulate with cardboard + wrap.
• Cut healthy shoots as cuttings and label them (date, species).
• Ask a neighbor if there’s space in a garage/shed for short-term storage.
• Gather info on swap materials (pots, soil) and offer them for community exchange.

Conclusion

Simple overwintering of balcony and garden plants is, in most cases, significantly cheaper than a full replacement purchase in spring. Even with small material expenses (cardboard boxes, a bit of bubble wrap, possibly purchased wood chips), students, couples, and families can easily save dozens of euros. Cuttings, divisions, and community sharing increase savings even further. If you invest a bit of time and use local resources, you can save money and preserve plant variety over the long term.