Well, I guess it all depends on what plants you are looking for. For Thuja Green Giant I like the Botany Shop. They are in the midwest but have ordering through their web site. They have a very favorable rating from consumers as listed on Garden Watch Dog. They have a good selection of sizes of the Thujas to fit anyone's budget. And I thought their customer service was excellent when I dealt with them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Botany Shop

nullium prandium gratuitum.......................in other words........there are no free lunches in this world.

You have to be out there looking for bargains......and you'll be hard pressed finding 'bargains' out there as peak marketing season is approaching.

Good luck.

Seeds--Home Depot has a large selection of Burpee seeds at 40% off.

how about any privately owned shops?

Year after year, I keep plugging my favorite little family-
run operation in the State, called Popes Gardens, down in
Waterford. Check them out online (www.popesgardens.com) -
their perennial selection is surprising (hosta are great!),
all $5.00 each (when you buy 4-for-$20) - shrubs are $9.99,
all kind of herbs and starter plants for just $1.85, there
are greenhouses packed with annuals and loads of animals
to amuse the kids.

Online, it's pretty hard to beat the prices at Bluestone
Perennials, one of the Garden Watch Top 40 companies - plus
they are forvever having sale items, sending you coupons, etc. Excellent website with detailed plant listings and
those all-important color photos!
www.bluestoneperennials.com

Other than that, birdsong is quite right: bargains are
where you find them - personally, I tend to err on the side
of quality first, with bargains just a happy accident. . .

Pricey but Sickles Market in Little Silver. I don't spend much time in the shrub/tree section, but they have a wide selection of perennials and herbs and an excellent selection of roses.

For annuals, Gasko's in Englishtown, lots of 'em and pretty inexpensive. Go during the week.

Good selection, good quality:
Forest farms http://www.forestfarm.com/
Rare find nursery in Jackson http://www.rarefindnursery.com/
Camelia forest nursery http://www.camforest.com/
Plant delights nursery http://www.plantdelights.com/