The sun is out and those of us lucky enough to have a garden may be heading to the local nursery or garden centre this weekend.

But while it is tempting to pile high your trolley with posh planters, rose bushes, grab-and-go hanging baskets and all manner of plants and shrubs, it can add up to quite a shock at the till.

Savvy gardeners know that it is perfectly possible to garden on a budget. So who better to ask how to bag a bargain at the garden centre this weekend than the canny Scots.

advises heading to the bargain rack, where all the sad, wilting, browning, half-dead-looking plants are left.

Some might even be going free while others could be as little as a few pence. The secret, of course, is they are not really dead. Just like your garden, they just need a little TLC to spring back to life.

A Scotland Grows spokesperson said: "We are savvy gardeners, we garden on a budget, so on our garden centre visits we scour the bargain rack for cheap plants, which can often look dead, and have learned the tips and tricks to bring them back to life.

"Do not shy away from their scraggly leaves and drooping buds - there is plenty of life in these plants yet. The most important rule though is that they are not all worth your time and effort."

They advise to start by considering the overall condition of the plants. There are several reasons plants wind up on the clearance rack.

It could be the plants are healthy but not currently in bloom. Plenty of nurseries mark these down since customers want instant floral gratification when they plant.

If you can be a bit patient though, you often get a second or third flush of blooms during the growing season. Some can look amazing and others in your garden, the magazine suggests.

Leggy and overgrown plants are also often reduced, yet these can always be cut back to encourage new bushy growth.

However, when a plant is really brown and wilted, it can be a struggle to decide if it is worth the risk. Now is the time to ask (nicely) if you could possibly have these free of charge, especially if you are buying other plants.

Sometimes a good soaking can bring these back to life, but it is not guaranteed. If you have only parted with a few pence though it can be worth a go.

Plants at garden centres can be perfectly healthy and on sale just because stores need to clear shelf space for new stock, so they move older arrivals to the bargain rack.

Also consider whether the plants are annuals or perennials. Perennials are often a good bargain because you will have them for years to come.

Seedlings or packets of seeds are also obviously cheaper than ready-grown plants. A good gardener is patient!

When you get your bargain haul home the real hard work begins. Scotland Grows magazine advise to begin by removing any dead leaves or spent blooms, and check for any signs of disease or pests you may need to treat.

If the plants are leggy and overgrown, cut them back hard to about one-third of their original height. This will allow them to flush back out in strong, new growth.

With the plants still in their original pots, water them well and allow excess water to drain out the bottom. (Unless the plants seem to have been over-watered, in which case let the soil dry out before planting).

The usual planting rules apply. Overgrown plants may have pot-bound roots, so take the time to loosen them if necessary.

They said: "It takes a little time and TLC, but bargain plants from the clearance rack may soon become your favourite garden secret!"