Where do you shop?

hi strongylodon

You are local to me .........lots of choice around here ..... ( well there was b4 Stewart's was taken over)

 

We have a mix of chains and independents round here, and tbh not a massive difference in stock between them, the plants have the same labels and prices - not a vast number of suppliers I guess? The only major difference seems to be that the independent place actually looks after their plants and keeps them watered, fed and healthy and the chains don't seem bothered if it's not flowering!
If I want anything that's a bit different I think something like a RHS show is good (particularly like Malvern) - a good day out and lots of plant shopping too (then the rest of the year figuring out where I'm going to put them all!)

 

That's a laugh @shiney you should see the state of some of the plants at our local B&Q

 

But they carried on selling impatiens with mildew problems, cannas with the canna virus the list goes on

 

The Wyevale group/s are typical of a capitalist culture. Not to be touched with a barge pole (unless, they have some reduced stock that is worthy of your pennies - but, that is rare!) far too "samey", far too "over priced" and way too "we're big, we're better: what? you actually *want* customer service?"

I'll take a smaller, independent "nursery" over and above a "garden centre (allegedly!)" This is definitely an area where money does not equal "brains" and certainly does not equate to "diversity"!

Hmm, go to "Wyevale/equivalent" and get what is deemed "fashionable".
Go to a local nursery and find things you never even imagined, but will thrive in your location because, hey, guess what?: they are LOCAL nurseries, specialising in what will grow in *your* location and they even have a few 'specialist' plants too (just to add to your shopping cart, of course )

Let me quantify that: I wanted a Garrya Elliptica, "James Roof". Sounded the ideal plant for my location/requirements. Searched the big boys and found nothing! Located a local place and just asked on the off chance. Not only did they have one, they had one at an astonishing price (considering maturity, size). Snapped it up!

The past few weeks it has died and the past few days, I've understood why! Totally our fault! (AKA Mr "M" was too heavy handed with is strimming and actually stripped the bark from the lowest level ) Yet, the quality was sound, the size fabulous and the price, extremely reasonable! The plant? Mainstream elusive .

Nah, the Wyevale/counterparts have been passed over since being a GC member/based on experience. Over rated, over priced Even their eatery is second rate

Independents get my vote

 

I try to grow most of my own plants from seed or cuttings. There are no 'chains' on the island and I don't count B&Q as a garden centre. In fact I don't think I've ever bought a plant there and have no desire too! The handful of nurseries here are independent and sell the more usual plants so if I want anything in particular I buy online.

 

Hi
I picked up on something you wrote about being a local garden centre
This was a " new " idea by the ex wyevale group to make their centres look more " local' name them after the town they are in..... Ie a garden centre with a Cardiff post code would be called ....Cardiff garden centre ......good idea eh ...... Well my local wyev .... I mean ex wyevale is in a village called stapehill ...... Stapehill is part of ferndown. It's almost next to ferndown industrial estate so what do they call it ? Ferndown garden centre ...... WRONG. Wimborne garden centre ........... So much for being local. Wimborne starts on the other side of canford bottom roundabout.................

 

i only really go to Woodies these days & only so i can have a nosy parker at what they have on the reduced/bargain part...i don't know if they're just a bit thick or what but an awful lot of the stuff on there just needs a bit of TLC...something im only too happy to give them

 

I am lucky to have a large agricultural college near-by. They have their own garden center, the plants are always healthy and well looked after, most of all they are often 50%+ cheaper than GCG.

 

Local Wyevale sells loads or Azaleas and Rhododendrons. There isn't any acid soil in half an hours drive ... not to mention plug plants of Sprouts and the like, for sale now. "Plant and die then you can re-buy" ...

 

Succinctly put!