B&Q

I have just come back from a quick trip to B&Q here in Derby. The new one by Sainsburys, the cinema, Pizza Hut etc. I always go outside to the garden centre bit just to have a look round and I have to say it was a disaster area!!! Loads of the poor plants were dead or dying and they ALL looked pretty pathetic. To be honest they pretty much looked like they just wanted going in the bin!!!! Funnily enough I didn't see and discount stickers or anything like that. I guess they expect us punters to pay full price for a DEAD canary island palm!!! There were about 4 or 5 staff all walking around out there doing pretty much nothing. Oh I know they don't pay much and probably hire just anyone but you'd think these people could at least WATER the stuff on a regular basis!! Wow !I can tell you I won't be buying any more plants from there this year!!!! Massive thumbs down!

 

pretty disgusting to see such an attitude in a garden section of a major chainstore

 

I've noticed the plants normally look a bit unloved at my B&Q. I prefer to buy online even if u can't see what you're getting till they get here

 

Same here, I can't imagine what they are thinking of. There is an enormous boom in growing your own, you really would think they would get their act together-I haven't been in mine for a while now-although I am on detox from garden centres in general, I can only trust myself in Wilkos.

B&Q are tossing away a lifeline for their business-what clowns!

 

Any plants I have bought at B&Q or Homebase never seem to do very well or die after a year. Must be something to do with how they are grown and subsequently looked after...before they get to the shop.

Our local GC have started a late night opening on Thursdays - only until 7pm but it's a big help.

 

I must admit - I went to B & Q at the weekend and have never seen their plants looking so awful!! The racks were almost bare too which is most odd for them!

I would though say that I have brought a fair few plants from B & Q and dont think anything has died. The only stuff I seem to loose in my garden are the plants the dog sits on and she doesnt care if they come from B & Q or the garden centre as long as she has her rear end on them !

Thursday nights at our B & Q is when they discount everything so I do every now and again manage to get OH to drive me over there. Have in the past picked up lillies at the end of the season for 50p a pot. Have had lovely displays off them the following year!

 

Same here in the York area. Has been for a number of years.
Looks like it common a "Dont Care" attitude from non gardening type employed by B &Q

 

I commented on this site last year I think it was about the state of plants at places like B&Q.Completely wilted and hardly any life in some of the plants.This year I popped in there a few weeks a ago and out the front on the car park there were metal racks piled high with Runner and French Beans,Cabbage and Cauliflower plants as well as Tomatoes and Pepper plants.It was a boiling hot day and all the plants were suffering from lack of water.

I have even seen rolls of turf stacked up outside the front door of the shop in much the same condition.I have felt like going in there many a time and having a good moan about the state of things,but somehow the zip across my mouth gets stuck in the shut position.:D

This is one raeson I prefer to grow all my own stuff from seed.At least that way if they don't produce anything I only have myself and the bugs to blame:DIt seems to me that profit in these places always come first in my mind.

Perhaps they ought to go back to selling the things they are good at selling like screw,instead of trying to screw Jo Blogs out of his/her hard earnt dosh:D

 

You want to start growing for me aswell then Kandy ? Maybe everyone could send you seeds to grow and then we can all blame you and your bugs lol

Seriously though, it does make you wonder at the cost of the plants they simply throw away! I mean if they can afford to sell something reduced to 50p from £5.99 then shows just how much profit they do make .... or mark up at least. Obviously to over compensentate on the stuff that dies!

 

We had a look in our Norwich B&Q a short while ago, admittedly it was before the heatwave,
and all the plants were well watered and looking good. The only reason we didn't buy
any was because they were rather pricey.

:(

 

Sam,I have enough trouble mollicoddeling my own veg and flower seedlings without worrying about growing them for any one else:D

I have to look the other way when I pass by the racks on the way out because I feel sad that these poor plants that are dying literally to give their new owners some food have to perish in this way.Perhaps I ought to go on a mission like Jamie Oliver to get all the places like B&Q and Homebase some ideas on how to look after their plants:hehe:

 

Could it be because B & Q pay so little for the plants it costs more to water them than to let them die. Don't forget B & Q is commercial and so pays for any water they use.
Or perhaps some one sued them for tripping on a hose? or wet floor.

 

I must admit I went to my local B&Q this week and the plants had actually been watered and weren't in bad condition. My friend bought a few cheap ones for her garden but a lot of it was overpriced.