After three decades in business, garden supply retailer Smith & Hawken has called it quits. Or, rather, parent company Scotts Miracle-Gro pulled the rug out, deciding S&H was not a viable competitor in the current market. Around 700 employees are losing their jobs.

Smith & Hawken's reputation rested on its quality garden tools -- and its pricey accessories and decorative objects. It was the Pottery Barn of the gardening world, I guess. Bargain shoppers (myself included) enjoyed thumbing the catalogues or browsing the website ... but ultimately made their purchases elsewhere, at discount stores.

Gardeners looking for clearance deals should head over to their nearest Smith & Hawken store. (Alas, the online store is already closed.) The company is advertising 20-30% discounts, storewide. Doesn't sound like much of a clearance sale to this budget-minded gal, but I imagine prices might drop further as the weeks go by.