Selling Backyard Topiary Plants as a Side Job?

noideaa on 22/01/2024 - 20:36
Last edited 22/01/2024 - 20:53

Hi guys,

I've been contemplating whether if I should sell topiary plants as a side job. That was an idea of a family member when he came over and said I would make money of it because topiarised trees are very expensive (i'm fully aware).

I have multiple ball, disc and cloud shaped ficus (weeping and microcarpa), standardized/miniature style/cylinder shaped bougainvilleas, thujas and gardenias, coned star jasmine/wisterias and some small shrubs that's shaped in small balls and were all trained by me. Some have expensive decorative pots.

My main concern is that those certain "style" plants are old school and the younger demographic are more into house plants because houses are getting smaller so no room to put those pots so i'm afraid to make that risk. On top of that, being put off at $100+ tag due to the high cost of living. Am I right? Is it worth a try?

Thanks

Home & Garden Plant

Comments

  • Hybroid on 22/01/2024 - 20:38
    +2

    It'll be a hobby not a side hustle. The return vs the amount of effort will hardly be worth it. Have a look at local area marketplaces to see an abundance of "home nurseries".

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/01/2024 - 20:43
    +2

    put off at $100

    $100 seems cheap?

    I took a look at Bunnings a few weeks ago as wanted to get some mulberry plants as my kids were after some - even the $40 ones looked pretty sad.

    • dust on 23/01/2024 - 09:15
      +1

      It's very easy to get many mulberry trees, just need about a year's lead time.

      Just find a local mulberry tree, take a few cuttings 1 month into spring, put them in soil and that's it!

  • elgrande on 22/01/2024 - 20:55

    Can we please have some photos?

  • brendanm on 22/01/2024 - 21:06
    +2

    Post some photos, $100 seems cheap.

  • AustriaBargain on 22/01/2024 - 21:16

    You could give it a go. Buying plants has been fashionable for years now.

  • owli on 22/01/2024 - 21:18
    +3

    You won't sell to young people. Young people don't buy plants, in fact, plants rarely cross a young persons mind.
    You will sell expensive topiary plants to people who are rich and who have the space and sensibility to buy topiary plants.
    They are handsome and beautiful like the plants. They are orderly, not chaotic like Epipremnum Aureum.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/01/2024 - 21:43
      +2

      Me: hey I’d be interested - im not old!

      Also me: oh no… NOOOOOOO

  • mskeggs on 22/01/2024 - 21:21

    If you like the hobby, and selling gives you some pocket money, why not?
    But if you hate parting with a bush you worked hours on, it’s not much compensation.

    As for pricing, if you can deliver a 5ft tall neatly formed topiary, I think you could probably be asking more like $300+, and add $75 for delivery in your city.

    EDIT: A search on Gumtree shows a few sellers where anything decent is costly.

  • dust on 23/01/2024 - 09:16

    I understand that young people's houses are getting smaller so they can't have big plants but I hate indoor plants.

  • GourmetFoodie on 25/01/2024 - 17:31

    Most people who have the funds to have gardens with topiary pay their expensive landscape designers to organise it all. You’ll just get a few cheapskate home gardeners trying to seek a bargain.

  • Euphemistic on 26/01/2024 - 07:47

    If you want it to make real money it’s probably not worth trying. If you want a little more cash to input into your hobby or might be worth it.

    How many hours did you put into something that might sell for $100? If it’s more than 4, it’s not worth it. Too many people underestimate the value of their time in pursuit of a few dollars.

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