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You are here: Home / Business / Backyard Nursery / How to Turn $50 into $1,000 Growing Ornamental Grasses.

How to Turn $50 into $1,000 Growing Ornamental Grasses.

Updated : July 16, 2021

40 Comments

Ornamental Grass Plugs.
Ornamental Grass Plugs.

A few days ago I purchased about 600 Ornamental Grasses wholesale.

I paid $1.50 each.  As I was unpacking these plants I thought to myself; “What a great business this is!”  I bought these for $1.50 each and I will be able to sell them next spring for $4.97.

But that’s just the beginning.

I will only sell half of them next spring.  The other half I will tear apart into multiple pieces multiplying my investment right before my eyes.   Not only can I watch my money immediately being multiplied, I won’t ever have to buy these plants again.  I will continue to sell half of what I have and multiply the other half.  Each time I sell off half of them and divide the other half my inventory will grow, not shrink.

What other business has that advantage?

The only thing that I have to buy is potting soil and pots, but if you grow in beds and ship bare root as many of my customers do, you don’t even have those expenses.  Just shake them out, pack them in a box and away they go.

Watch how this works.

Morning Light Ornamental Grass.
Morning Light Ornamental Grass.

You buy 33 plants at $1.50 each.   Your investment is $49.50

Sell half of them (16) for $4.97 each about 6 months later.  Your income would be $79.52 for a profit of $30.02 minus 25 cents for the pot and soil leaves you $26.02 net profit.

You Just Earned $26.02 on an investment of $49.50 in less than 12 months!

You ain’t gonna get that at the bank!

But that’s just the beginning.  You still have 17 plants that you can divide and divide again and again.

Next spring you divide those 17 plants and get 5 divisions from each plant.  You now have 85 plants.

12 months later you divide those 85 plants, 5 divisions per plant, you now have 425 plants.  Keep in mind, one growing season in a pot and they will sell all day long for $4.97 or more.  Most garden centers get upwards of $20.00 for many of their ornamental grasses.

Your Inventory Grows Exponentially.

Think about the investment that I just made.  I didn’t buy 33 plants.  I bought 600.  I know what the potential of this business is.  I should have bought 2,000 but I have so many other plants that I still want to buy this summer I have to be careful to not spend all of my money on one kind of plant.  It’s tempting!

You Can Sell the Plants that You Grow to Customers All Over the Country.

I have a customer that is 74 years old and she ships plants all over the country and has been doing so since she started with me many years ago.  All you have to do is pack them in a box and away they go.  Actually, I have a lot of customers that ship plants all over the country.   In my system, I show you how to find the customers that are willing to buy from you.

Are these results guaranteed?  Of course not.  This business is no different than any other, there are always risks.  But if you look around your town, think about all the business owners in your town, they took risks and today their lives are changed so much for the better because they did.  In this business, you’re taking a pretty small risk.  You only have to invest as much or as little money as you want.

You need to get started today.

Not next week or next year, today is the day.

Every day that you put off getting started is putting you behind.  The first thing I hear from my customers after they sell their first plants is;   “Mike, I should have started sooner!  I so wish I had bought your program the first day that I saw it.

Make today the day.
Take that first step, click here.

Take a gander at these posts...

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  • Messages like this Bring Tears to My Eyes.

Comments

  1. jim kincaid says

    September 22, 2016 at 2:56 am

    you got me interested many years ago.I still read each email you send Best part is I use your advice.Thx.Mike.

    Reply
  2. Bryan Kasper says

    September 6, 2016 at 2:54 pm

    Mike,

    I would like to grow ornamental grasses for profit. What do I need to buy/ join to learn the step by step process? From purchasing plugs to splitting and over wintering. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      September 6, 2016 at 4:48 pm

      Bryan,

      Best two things for you if you want to grow plant for profit, invest in our university product now, then on Oct. 10th take the test drive of the members area. More details here on both; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/10/backyard-nursery-tools-of-the-trade-things-to-turn-you-into-a-successful-grower/

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        September 8, 2016 at 2:48 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
      • Bryan Kasper says

        September 8, 2016 at 2:55 pm

        I see the Backyard Grower University is advertised as an upgrade for $97.00.
        Do I need to purchase another product first?

        Reply
        • Mike says

          September 9, 2016 at 6:53 am

          Bryan,

          No, you can purchase the university out right. It’s a great product, 17 years worth of archived content. Details here, http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/10/backyard-nursery-tools-of-the-trade-things-to-turn-you-into-a-successful-grower/

          Reply
          • Bryan says

            September 9, 2016 at 11:25 am

            Thanks, I will be purchasing the University.

  3. Rick says

    June 30, 2015 at 11:11 am

    Would only make a profit if you harvest your rain water or access to free water.

    Reply
  4. Wendy says

    June 27, 2015 at 12:00 am

    Mike, it never gets old. I’m a member and I read stuff like this all the time, but just to open this today, and read it again, validates why I’m in this business. I currently have hundreds of cuttings rooting right now, but this just makes me want to go out right now and make more! Thanks for your constant shots in the arm and kicks in the ***.

    Reply
  5. Scott says

    April 9, 2015 at 9:15 am

    Let’s start with step #1. Where does one buy 33 plant for $1.50 each?

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      April 9, 2015 at 9:55 am

      I paid less than $1.50 each for my Maiden grass plugs. But then again, I am a member of the Backyard Growers Business Center 🙂
      I also got 25 eastern white pines for .90 each. They came rooted and are about 12-16 inches long. I can’t wait to get them growing!

      Reply
  6. joy says

    November 11, 2014 at 9:55 am

    Hi Mike,
    I’m a stay at home mom. Need to make some income and would love too try ornamental grasses. I’m in Trumbull, Ct. Have one acre of sloping yard and want to put ornamental grasses on the hills. That started my search for ornamental grasses. The grown plants are to expensive for my to buy for the amount of space I want to cover. So I was lookng for seeds to start my own. So to make a long story short. I have two questions. Now that I’ve been looking into it I was thinking of trying to sell ornamental grasses if I can grow them in my yard. Why are some grasses only sold as roots like zebra grass and where’s the best place to purchases seeds from. Also can you send me a link to your web site. Thanks for your help and advice. Joy

    Reply
  7. david dickey says

    September 15, 2014 at 9:26 pm

    hi mike have been away for a couple of years and have changed email addresses would you please resend me my links to the videos and tutorials I bought to [email protected]

    thanks
    david

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      September 16, 2014 at 9:08 am

      Hi David, I just updated your email info! Best Wishes,
      Sharon

      McGroarty Enterprises, Inc.
      http://mikesbackyardnursery.com

      Reply
  8. Owen says

    July 25, 2013 at 9:05 pm

    Why i have you is there a market for lemon tress

    Thanks,

    Owen

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 26, 2013 at 8:18 am

      Owen,

      I’d have to say that yes of course there is a market for lemon trees. Orange trees or other citrus might be a bigger market but I’m sure there is a market.

      Reply
  9. Owen says

    July 25, 2013 at 8:58 am

    Mike

    Thanks for info can you sell Lemon tress???

    Thanks,

    Mike

    Reply
  10. Owen says

    July 24, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    What kind of grass sells best?????

    Thanks,

    Mike

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 24, 2013 at 7:22 pm

      Owen,

      That really depends on what zone you are in. Grasses vary from warmer climates to colder climates.

      Reply
  11. Owen says

    July 24, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    I just bought some ground cover will be selling next year just started my nursery selling sone

    Thanks,

    Mike

    Reply
  12. Eileen says

    July 21, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    What is the best type of ornamental grass to divide and repot, in your opinion ?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 21, 2013 at 8:55 pm

      Eileen,

      That really depends on where you live, what zone etc.

      Reply
  13. Patsy Hinely says

    July 20, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    the reason for your unreadable posts from many: Your site with newsletter does not have link or ability for anyone to comment in blog or anything similar–you ask for comments or questions on something to be on blog- not newsletter- but we cannot make any on blog—sorry 🙁

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 21, 2013 at 10:53 am

      Patsy, just made a comment on my blog.

      Reply
  14. Melissa Henry says

    July 19, 2013 at 8:45 am

    Hi Mike
    What do you wrap the plants in to keep them alive while they are being shipped?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 19, 2013 at 7:42 pm

      Melissa,

      Plastic around the roots, but the tops should be dry. I’m going to post something about this soon. I recommend that nobody should be shipping plants to anybody else until they themselves have purchased from multiple sellers so you can first hand how it’s done, and what the plants look like when received.

      Reply
  15. jay says

    July 17, 2013 at 7:48 am

    how much are the pots? is that cost figured in to the profit?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 18, 2013 at 5:21 am

      Jay,

      We put most everything into small pots and usually pay between 15 cents and 20 cents for a pot.

      Reply
  16. Darren says

    July 17, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Hey Mike
    will this work in the UK

    Reply
    • Ruralgardener says

      July 19, 2013 at 1:37 pm

      It sure does Darren … But you need to watch for Plant Breeders Rights in the UK. You can’t simply propagate plants that are listed under PBR. Best to do your research first.

      Oh, and Mike’s system is the most comprehensive guide to getting your own plant nursery business started.

      Regards

      TRG

      Reply
      • Darren says

        July 22, 2013 at 7:42 am

        could you give me a bit more info on plant breeders rights I dont understand,
        would love to get started doing this but not sure its viable in UK
        thanks

        Reply
        • Ruralgardener says

          July 30, 2013 at 3:01 am

          This is the official position of the UK government.

          https://www.gov.uk/plant-breeders-rights

          Let me know if you need any more info.

          TRG

          Reply
          • Mike says

            July 30, 2013 at 8:12 pm

            Just like in the U.S. the plant breeders rights is like a patent and only applies to new introductions. There are so many varieties of plants that you are free to propagate you don’t even have to pay any attention to those that are protected. I certainly don’t. 99% of what I grow and sell is in public domain.

  17. phyllis says

    July 17, 2013 at 12:10 am

    hello mike I do so enjoy your webpage……..I recently bought a small acreage on the banks of a river. an on this parcel there is growing a small reed that I have been told is bamboo. it is the size of a straw and is hollow and has a black band on it. can you help me identify the plant and do you think I could sell it…..I have acres of it? thanks and I look forward to your reply……..Phyllis ps..I live in oklahoma

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 18, 2013 at 5:24 am

      Phyllis,

      I really don’t know what it is that you have. Bamboo gets very rigid by the end of the growing season and is not at all pliable.

      Reply
    • Mickey O'Neill says

      July 17, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      Phyllis–Consider getting the “Picture This” app for your phone. You’ll be able to snap a picture and the app will tell you what the plant is.

      Reply
  18. Kenneth Young says

    July 16, 2013 at 9:00 am

    These ornamental grasses that you are referring to in this article can they be purchased from now to fall and keep over the winter and start my selling of these grasses from there?.

    Kenneth C Young

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 16, 2013 at 3:34 pm

      Kenneth,

      That’s what I’m doing with them right now. I’m buying them, potting them up and we’ll sell some in the spring and divide the rest.

      Reply
  19. jane says

    July 15, 2013 at 10:50 pm

    Hi, selling plants is what I want to do. I have just finished a 1yr propagating course plus your ebook has been great l only wished I lived in your part of the world, anyway thanks always for your encouragement. Jane from down under New Zealand 🙂

    Reply
    • Mike says

      July 16, 2013 at 3:40 pm

      Jane,

      I have customers in New Zealand and Australia, all of this works well in your part of the world.

      Reply

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