Forum home› The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

What would you do?

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in The potting shed
There have been several posts bemoaning the fate of independent garden centres. 
I will leave you to draw your own conclusions from your answer.

There is a plant that you wish to buy. A plant of similar quality is available from a retail chain (supermarket or GC) or online at half the price of the one available from the independent.

What would you do?
In London. Keen but lazy.

What would you do? 15 votes

Buy the cheaper one from the chain
33%
PerkiLG_Anna33SuesynValley Gardener 5 votes
Buy from your local independent
53%
Liz.S.FairygirlTopbird[Deleted User]raisingirlHampshire Hogju1i3Carly.S 8 votes
I don't think there's a third option unless you can think of one.
13%
LynJennyJ 2 votes
«1

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If the local independent has good quality plants and can tell you where they got their plants and that they're safe from imported diseases and pests because they have a quarantine protocol then locals every time.

    personally, I'm just a bit worried about stuff coming in from all over the place without proper checks.  The potential effects on native plants and thus all the insects and birds and critters higher up the food chain could make Dutch Elm disease look like a minor case or environmental measles.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • RubyRossRubyRoss Posts: 124
    There is a third option: buy independent when you can (afford it).
     
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Buy from your local independent
    I think that's already one of the options Ruby... ;)

    I think it depends on your circumstances, and how 'local' the local independant is. It also depends on whether the 'big chain' outlet has decent staff. I've got to say - my local B&Q usually has well looked after plants, often better quality, and better looked after than the most local G. Centre, although the other local G. Centre is much better.

    I also couldn't get to any of those three outlets without a car.... :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've just had to google B&Q to find the nearest one : 22.11 miles.
    I've got the dreaded Wyevale about 10 miles away   and an independent about 10 miles in the other direction. 
    I think none of those would , realistically , be classed as "local" .
    I'd have to say if I see a plant I want, wherever I am, that I like, I'd buy it otherwise the option is to spend a fortune on petrol driving all over the place.
    Devon.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    That's what I miss most about not having a car, I can no longer get to the nurseries.  
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Are you a member of the RHS Mary?  They have a seed distribution scheme for members and post happily to me in France so you'd be OK too.    There are other suggestions on the growing from seed thread - Garden organics, Hardy Plant Society etc.  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Hampshire HogHampshire Hog Posts: 330
    Buy from your local independent
    Sounds like I'm lucky there are a few local independent GC around here and a couple of commercial growers that open there gates to the public so I use a mix.

    We also have a few of the big boys GC and Stores I never buy plants from these other than very occasionally Lidl if something takes my fancy, the local store really do look after the plants they have.
    "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Is it possible the day of the GC is over? 50 years ago they were a novelty and a wonderful idea, 30 years ago they complemented the whole DIY concept, but now?

    One of the (many) positives of restricted Green Belt planning is that nurseries are able to use land sensibly and at agricultural prices. Here in the SE of England that is something!

    My fervent hope is that we are looking at a rise in the number of nurseries with an out front retail area. I just hope when it happens I can find someone with a big car  ;)
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    @Obelixx thanks, I will check those out
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think there's a third option unless you can think of one.
    If I'm looking for something specific, or deliberately shopping for plants, I'll go to the local independents first but if they haven't got what I want I'll look online.
    If I happen to be in the supermarket or DIY shed, I'll have a look at the plants and if they have something I like at a good price I'll buy it.  My latest supermarket bargain was two Nepeta "purrsian blue", perfectly healthy perennials, decent size (2l pots), lots of new flower buds, 25p each (turns out they have a sell-by date!).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Sign In or Register to comment.