Updated at: 10-06-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Creating a successful backyard plant nursery requires four key factors to be taken into account. Since many people are looking for ways to make money in a sustainable way, it’s not unexpected. There are also courses on how to make the greenhouse sector a viable business at some Canadian institutions.

You may be shocked at how much money you can make from a simple activity that improves your physical and emotional well-being. However, no company can exist without a plan and the desire to put money into it. The time and effort it takes to develop a business plan for a lucrative backyard nursery goes beyond simply investing money.

Ensure you have everything you need

Do a SWOT analysis

It’s possible to avoid unpleasant surprises by performing a simple SWOT analysis at the beginning of your trip to start a backyard nursery. As a result, here’s what you’ll need to consider:

Think about what you can bring to the table that would be of benefit to others. It’s possible that your strengths include running a business, having a deep knowledge of plants, or having worked at a nursery in the past.

How to Start a Profitable Backyard Plant Nursery: A Complete Guide

You may not have any prior experience in the field of lucrative plant cultivation. You may not have a lot of room to work with. Make a list of all of your potential problems and devise a strategy to address them.

The Possibilities – Your area may have an untapped market for plants. Do you know anyone who would be interested in purchasing your product? Do you know of any local wholesale nurseries where you may purchase plants?

Threats – Is your area’s plant industry saturated? Do you have organic garden soil that is free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals? Is your area at risk for flooding? Is there an overabundance of gardening supply stores nearby?

Consider the answers to these questions to see if a backyard plant nursery is a viable business idea.

See whether you have finances

The cost of seeds, soil, and pottery, among other things, should be taken into account before any other considerations. Obtaining a business license will cost between $250 and $1,000.

When launching a new firm, even if it is a tiny one, you may require the help of an employee for a few months.

You’ll also have to account for liability insurance, which is a need for every firm.

Preparing for these charges will help you have a clearer picture of the road ahead. When applying for a loan, it can also be useful.

Check to see if you can find an inexpensive wholesale nursery that will allow you to resell their products.

Apply for a business license

According to where you live, you may have to meet different requirements to get a business license or permit.

Inquire about what paperwork is required by the local government’s business department, and make sure that your backyard plant nursery is licensed as a home-based business.

See whether you have enough land

Whether or not you have a lot of land doesn’t affect the quality of your backyard garden. Nursery operations are also possible on small plots of land with enough space for a family to live on.

A smaller amount of room is required for unusual plants like bonsai, carnivorous plants, and orchids.

It’s a good idea to grow some ground cover crops. At $3 per plant, a 50 × 50 feet backyard plot is capable of holding 8000 plants that can be sold at retail prices ranging from $4 to $5.

Gather supplies

Take use of your local garden center or purchase goods online.

In order to grow plants, you’ll need a wide range of equipment and materials, including hand tools like knives and secateurs, as well as hoses, wheelbarrows and sprayers, as well as punnets and pots filled with seeds.

  • To guarantee that your plants have all the nutrients they require, make sure you have a new potting soil mix and look into purchasing some decent compost.
  • If you want to sell your plants, you’ll need a lot of little pots. By selling your plants in fashionable or appealing containers, you can usually make a lot of money.

All of this can be stored in a small garden shed or a small area with storage.

Choosing the Correct Plants for Your Backyard Plant Nursery

Ideally, the plants you select will yield a profit and be simple to grow. Unless they are, you won’t be able to get what you want out of your business.

To make money, you don’t need a huge number of plants, but you must be careful about the ones you sell.

Here are a few low-maintenance nursery plants that are also profitable.

1. Bamboo

Homeowners and landscapers are willing to pay up to $150 for a potted bamboo plant, which is in high demand (full-size, 7-12ft tall).

Because of its adaptability, bamboo can be utilized for a variety of purposes, including screens, specimen plants, and hedges.

daylesford plant nursery - Daylesford

As a bonus, bamboo can withstand temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit, making it an excellent choice for your backyard nursery.

Make sure you understand the different types of bamboo and their respective merits.

2. Flowers

Flowers have a year-round market demand, which makes them an evergreen commodity in the plant market.

In the first year of operation, flowers are an excellent investment. Flowers are in high demand all year round, and you can start a flower business with just a few bucks.

If you’re planning to use flowers, do your homework. When starting a business, it’s critical to understand whether you’ll be working with annuals or perennials (or both).

3. Landscaping Trees and Shrubs

Landscaping trees and shrubs might be sold at a premium each year if you can find a niche that you’re passionate about. Between $100 and $1,000 are the price ranges for Japanese Maple specimen trees, as an example.

For small tree and shrub growers, shrub trees like Abutilon (Azalea), Camellia (Cercis), Hydrangeas, etc., are excellent options.

You’ll need to understand how to prune your diverse landscape plants if you’re keeping larger shrubs.

Check out our article on How to Prune Hydrangeas!

4. Microgreens

See our page on Hydrangea Pruning for more information.

The fact that microgreens can be grown indoors as well as outside makes them a more convenient plant to grow. They also require little upkeep and can be quite profitable if grown in large quantities.

5. Herbs

An excellent strategy for getting your feet wet is to use herbs like basil and chives in addition to herbs like cilantro and oregano, such as lavender.

Lavender is so profitable that some backyard nurseries specialize in cultivating it and make huge profits.

See our guide on the 5 Best Herbs to Grow in Your Backyard for some ideas.

6. Mushrooms

To avoid running out of room, mushrooms are the best option. Oyster mushrooms, for example, can produce 25 pounds of mushrooms per square foot in a year.

The price of a pound of these mushrooms is around $7. So, if you do the arithmetic, effectively producing mushrooms in a 10’x10′ space can make you around $17,000 per year.

7. Succulents

People adore buying succulents, which makes them a perfect choice for beginning a backyard plant business. Their care is simple and they don’t need a lot of attention.

With only a few plants, you can make a large number of clones for little or no additional cost.

Plants like this can be sold on Etsy or at your local farmer’s market for a profit because they are easy to grow. A terrarium filled with rocks and succulents is a hit with many people.

Customers will find it easier to buy with you if you offer a wider variety of succulents (such as snake plants) to choose from.

How to Maintain Your Backyard Plant Nursery

Starting a company that you’re enthusiastic about is only half of the battle.

To make money in the long run, you need to maintain your nursery, not just grow and sell plants.

So, here’s some advice on how to keep your backyard nursery’s worth high.

Cleaning

This isn’t your average company. How well you look after it determines the value of a backyard garden.

Remove the plants from time to time and clean the walls and floors of dirt and trash.

Prevent plant illnesses and pest infestations by cleaning your nursery before the winter.

Cleaning the nursery with a disinfectant often found in the home is a safe and effective method. Plant-friendly cleaning products are available.

Maintain Weeds and Pests

Herbicide application in non-crop areas is also required to keep your plants healthy. Plants can be killed by bug infestations, so be sure to use a pesticide if needed.

Concrete or Gravel Floors

It’s a bad idea to have a dirt floor. The most practical options are either concrete or gravel. Aside from that, you should be wary of using any nearby bodies of water since they may contain dangerous elements that can hurt your plants.

Proper Watering

Waterborne illnesses like Phytophthora and moisture-related diseases like powdery mildew might infect your plants if you water them from above.

The ideal way to irrigate plants is through the ground, as this delivers water directly to the roots.

How To Start A Profitable Backyard Plant Nursery: Read This First

Consideration #1. The secret that you must know

Let’s get started with the most important piece of information you need to know. Think about which plants you would like to focus on. Plant nurseries can be lucrative businesses, but many people become too excited about the prospect. It’s simple to want to grow as many different kinds of plants as possible when there are so many options available.

Permaculture Plant Nursery Paper Pots

If you want to discover which plants are most sought-after, it’s best to focus on a few select ones, whether edible or ornamental. The ability to service larger garden centers far afield might be possible if you learn the ins and outs of your plants.

Consideration #2. What to plant in the backyard nursery for profit?

What plants will be most profitable for you now that you’ve discovered the secret? First and foremost, the plants that sell best will be determined by your location and the need for them in the markets you serve. Make sure to look at the plants’ requirements and ideal circumstances whether your area is a good match.

To be on the safe side, start with plants that you are familiar with or use a greenhouse. Alternatively, you can pretend to be a customer to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Because of their low-maintenance requirements, succulents are a popular choice among college students.

In addition to the actual plants, wholesale nurseries may also be checked, and plant starts can be used for your garden. Using plant starts instead of seeds has the advantage of taking only a year to grow to a size that can be sold again and again. You can buy them at a discount and then resell them for a profit.

Once you’ve obtained the plants, you’ll need to become familiar with various propagation methods, such as dividing and cutting them to root. Even if you don’t buy any more plants, your nursery will have more plants. As a result, you don’t have to start from scratch or acquire more to resell in order to sell them in huge quantities.

Consideration #3. What are the initial investments for a profitable backyard nursery?

We’re all aware that the plants and supplies needed to develop and maintain them cost money. However, you’ll also have to pay for items like business licenses, permits, and staff in the beginning. If you keep these factors in mind, you can determine if you have enough money saved or if you need to take out a loan.

It’s certain that you’ll need to take some lessons to pick up more tips and tricks from the pros. Just like any business, you learn and improve as you go along in your career path. The best approach to keep a backyard nursery profitable is to be flexible and open to new ideas on a regular basis.

It will be much easier to set appropriate nursery prices if you have a good idea of your beginning costs and investments. For example, in some locations, obtaining a business license can cost you a lot of money, which could affect the pricing of your plants.

Consideration #4. How to advertise a backyard plant nursery?

Finally, in order to distinguish yourself from the competition, you must devise and implement promotional techniques. As simple as chatting with possible consumers and arranging the garden to pique their interest, advertising may begin. You may also take advantage of the internet and post advertisements on social media for your nursery.

As you learn more about your clients and their needs, you can change your marketing strategies. A hands-on approach to nursery design is essential in today’s ever changing industry. As an example, you can begin by focusing on plants that are in high demand, but you can also experiment with other species if you learn more about your target audience.

It’s possible to use plants that are cheap to buy wholesale and don’t require a lot of care. As a result, you’ll enjoy a healthy rate of return without taking on undue risk.

Now that you’ve decided what you want to cultivate, it’s time to go to work. Take a look at the merchandise in the local retail nurseries in your area.. Pay attention to the pot sizes they’re selling their plants in, as well as the variety of plants they have to choose from.

Now that you’ve selected a few potential plants, let’s move on. In order to get started, you will need some simple hand tools and a source of water. You’ll also need the following:

Using inexpensive plant pots is an excellent way to get started with container gardening. Landscapers may also be able to provide them for free. Take your pick of the sizes you want to try on.

2. Potting Soil Mix – A good soil mix is critical to the health and strength of your plants. Pre-mixed potting soil is available, but you can also make your own. Simple math tells us:

  • Sixty percent topsoil, compost, or mulch.
  • Peat moss, three portions
  • sand in two parts

There are three types of fertilizers: You can save time and effort by using controlled-release fertilizers, which are also referred to as slow-release or time-release. These fertilizers aren’t available at your neighborhood garden center. Instead, purchase them in 50-pound bags from a nursery supply wholesaler. On a per-plant basis, the cost is pretty affordable, as the plants will endure for several weeks.

In order to know exactly what kind of plant is in each container, plant labels are an excellent idea. Other details, such as the time it was planted, can also be included. Plant labels can be divided into two categories:

  • tamper-evident stake tags that are buried beside the plant
  • Slip-a-tags, which attach to the plant’s branch, are a convenient alternative.

Your backyard nursery is up and running as soon as you have all the supplies and permissions you need. Assembling these items shouldn’t take long and shouldn’t put you in debt. If you shop about, you should be able to purchase all of your necessities for under $400. In no time at all, the profits from your plants will make up for the initial investment in your backyard nursery.

Conclusion

Gardening and cultivating plants can be turned into a profitable enterprise. Learn how to build a lucrative backyard plant nursery, and you’ll have a business you’ll enjoy. As with any business, it’s important to take this suggestion seriously.

Create a framework and take into account four factors. The first step is to focus on the plants that you want to specialize in and acquire plant starters wholesale so that you can resell them quickly in the future. If you take into account the costs of permits, licenses, classes, and workers, you’ll have a better idea of how much your pricing will be.

Finally, devise a marketing plan that is tailored to your area. Always keep up with the latest trends and keep in touch with your customers.