When I have to restrict some plants from over-spreading I end up accumulating a lot of spare plants which I absolutely hate having to throw away. They charge so much for them at the nurseries etc. I have tried offering them to charity shops but they are not interested. This happened to be, Lily of the valley, Phlox, Sidalcia,Creeping Jenny, and Sysarinchium, all lovely and healthy. Not many neighbours have flowers in their gardens, just grass/flags/car stands! Would love to know somewhere that would have liked them, and what other flower lovers do.
Car boot sales are good for that sort of thing, plus anything else you have of course. You could set a price on them and if you make a profit buy more plants.
Our local Freecycle group regularly have offers of spare plants, they all seem to be taken. Alternatively, you could maybe approach a local school or playgroup to see if they would like them for their school gardens or to sell to raise funds at their summer fair or some even have a plant sale.
I am not in a position to do car-boot sale (no transport), , that is a good idea re-schools etc., I will have to look in local paper to see who has 'jumble sale or such like looming, I had forgotten how quickly they used to sell there. Thank-you both.
freecycle is brilliant...the only effort on my part is posting the offer and dealing with the responses, you meet nice people and are helping individuals and the environment. By freecycling i have supported charities, helped young people in their first homes, helped older people, rescued a barbecue with some spare charcoal and made a blokes day when I freecycled some biker boots because the cat had just peed in his.
Round here, we stick spares in a pot and leave them by the front gate saying "please take" - this goes for furniture and all sorts too! - someone always does.
As I had never heard of Freecycle, I have just looked it up and found out about it, and lo and behold there is a group in my town!. I shall be in contact with them straightaway. Thank you every-one