@Dovefromabove, my local Aldi have their plants outside. I can't remember whether there is a cover or not. You have to keep an eye on the date a particular plant is available and nab them at their freshest. Otherwise they sit there until they die. I bought 6 lavender plants yesterday which were made available from Wednesday which looked very healthy. By next week without any water, they won't be that great, and the week after that, forget it.
At our local Wrose the racks of plants are wheeled into the entrance lobby overnight … they’re also there during frosty or very windy weather … they drip. There isn’t much space to cone them off … it is an entrance after all … so when that happens the area is constantly monitored and mopped dry … but that does depend on sufficient reliable staff … I suspect that not all supermarkets have as many ‘middle aged keen gardeners’ on their staff as Wrose does in this rather leafy village suburb. We’re lucky.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I think Waitrose are one of the best for plants they also have some more unusual things. A shop in our village receives plants every Thursday afternoon , so the locals know when to shop!
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
One of the Morrisons that I use clears a big trolley shelter areas in spring/summer and puts outdoor plants in there. Tesco, Lidl and Aldi have them outside (I don't know what they do overnight - maybe wheel them into the lobby area). We are in a Waitrose black hole here so I can't comment on them.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Not every supermarket has an outside space right beside the entrances. Ours doesn't as it's part of a small shopping centre. It isn't a 'one size fits all' scenario. It's a few plants that might die. Not people. Bit of perspective....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think it's rather sad when the plants aren't looked after, but it's also an opportunity for a bargain if you catch them at the right time, and it's not the end of the world after all. I have occasionally wondered what the response would be if I asked if I could have the obviously dead ones for free, to compost. They'd probably think I was nuts.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
As has been said, someone in the supply chain is making enough profit to allow the waste. Like most commercial related problems which require change, it will depend on us, the customer, to do something about it. There is always the option to refuse to buy plants from SM's but that is expecting rather a lot I suspect given our desire for a bargain:D
And on this subject... I HAD to save this poor Waltz Time rose. It was outside, trussed up in miles of cling film, tap root bent double, covered in thick coat of green wax. It took 10 minutes to carefully unwrap the bent tap root, and get the thick layer of wax off the rose and cling film. The compost was powder that fell off leaving this. Hopefully it can be saved. P.S. It was The Range
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A shop in our village receives plants every Thursday afternoon , so the locals know when to shop!
It isn't a 'one size fits all' scenario.
It's a few plants that might die. Not people.
Bit of perspective....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Like most commercial related problems which require change, it will depend on us, the customer, to do something about it. There is always the option to refuse to buy plants from SM's but that is expecting rather a lot I suspect given our desire for a bargain:D
I HAD to save this poor Waltz Time rose.
It was outside, trussed up in miles of cling film, tap root bent double, covered in thick coat of green wax. It took 10 minutes to carefully unwrap the bent tap root, and get the thick layer of wax off the rose and cling film. The compost was powder that fell off leaving this.
Hopefully it can be saved.
P.S. It was The Range