We have a garden centre close by, my OH works for another business on the site so gets a staff discount, so for general stuff we buy from there … for more ‘interesting’ plants we buy from known or recommended specialist nurseries either in person or online.
If I wanted a batch of bedding plugs/plants I’d probably go to Homebase or B&Q or similar.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Mostly online (Brookside, Ballyrobert, Millais, Burncoose, Twelve Nunns, Style Roses, and ebay vendors- usually good) but also the supermarket for stuff like clematis and bulbs, Wilko and seed vendors' sites for seeds and bedding, Homebase which sometimes has gorgeous things in among the millions of azalea and buxus plants.
No proper GC near me but two of the local allotments have shops I sometimes poke my nose into (not since they banned dogs though). Mostly veg, though sometimes there are dahlias and other pretty things.
Mostly I buy online as more often than not I'm looking for a specific plant that there's no guarantee I'll find in the local garden centre. I did go recently to buy some aubrietas as I needed to see the colours in real life and it was a pretty safe bet they'd have some in stock. Our favourite place to go call themselves a rural centre. As well as plants, they have some quirky little shops that are full of interesting things and a café that makes more or less everything from scratch using ingredients from the farm. To be truthful, most of the time we go there it's for the café 😂 Their prices for plants are really good and are frequently quite a bit cheaper than buying online.
For perennials its online for me - only way to get specific named varieties. Loads of great nurseries out there that do mail order - Hardy’s, Claire Austin and Crocus are my usual go-to‘s.
Bedding plants from my local independent GC - and all my garden sundries from there too.
Only time I have ever bought plants from a supermarket was in desperation in lockdown.
I've only once purchased plants on line and was pleased with the quality. Purchased on-line because I'd seen them at a garden show but they didn't have any stock remaining for sale. My preferred place to purchase is nurseries for bedding and smaller garden centres for herbaceous and shrubs. Many of the larger chain GCs only seem to stock stuff they can move in large quantities.
It depends on your degree of expertise. A raw rookie is better advised to go for "brandname".
First I would choose a specialist grower I can visit, see the plants and talk to an expert.
Second would be a specialist nursery that I couldn't visit. Millais might fit that bill, though not for me, I live less tha 30 minutes away.
Internet would be very last. Mail order even via a reputable newspaper can be pretty unreliable too.
As far as plant centres go, RHS gardens have plant centres attached, independent perhaps but some guarantee of quality, at a price. NT likewise. Gardens Open often ahve plant sales.
Supermarkets don't merit a mention, unless you have the skill to recognise a real bargain.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I think it depends so much on what you want, how deep your pockets are and what is available where you live.
I travel a fair distance to a GC for bulk purchases of compost, mulch, bark etc - simply because they have a drive through facility where a very nice chap takes your money and then loads your car with the bags of your choice. You just sit and watch. They have an excellent range of products at a decent price and you can check stock levels before travelling. They also have a good tool section. On the way back I pop into Beth Chatto's nursery and The Place For Plants - both excellent nurseries verging towards a garden centre but where a very good range of quality plants is the priority. It's a grand day out and one I am due to have very soon.
For bedding plants we have a couple of local nurseries that specialise so they are an easy choice when it's time for summer pots - cheaper than a GC and they have a better range.
Other plants and shrubs I usually buy online because I usually want a particular variety or species. I always use retailers with a very good reputation who I would visit if they were a whole lot nearer and / or open to the public. eg Ashwoods, Crown Nurseries, Burncoose, Woottens, David Austen, Dorset Perennials, Thorncrofts etc etc.
I've tried buying from ebay and the like and it's all a bit too hit and miss. If you want to try an unknown retailer it's always worth asking on here if any one has used them.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Depends upon what I’m buying. For roses Peter Beals or Austin’s every time . For plants I usually go on line and rootle through who’s got what . For short term bedding Tesco or Aldi supermarket as long as it says they’re licensed plants with import papers . Other than that just take cuttings and swap with neighbours in the village .So in short a bit of everything/ everywhere.
I have a list of the plants I require. I buy from local GC, larger GC and online.
Usual order is this: If the plants I want are in the local garden centre/DIY store I buy them, as I can check quality etc. If not I'll travel to a couple of larger quality but good value garden centres. If the garden centres dont have them or if they are specific I'll order online. Online value for me depends on pot size and trustpilot reviews. I find online can be pricey when you include delivery. I always check trustpilot for reviews though as some sites can be dodgy or plants take forever to arrive!
I dont buy from supermarkets as dont think quality is good.
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
No proper GC near me but two of the local allotments have shops I sometimes poke my nose into (not since they banned dogs though). Mostly veg, though sometimes there are dahlias and other pretty things.
Bedding plants from my local independent GC - and all my garden sundries from there too.
Only time I have ever bought plants from a supermarket was in desperation in lockdown.
Never bought anything green from Homebase or B&Q.
First I would choose a specialist grower I can visit, see the plants and talk to an expert.
Second would be a specialist nursery that I couldn't visit. Millais might fit that bill, though not for me, I live less tha 30 minutes away.
Internet would be very last. Mail order even via a reputable newspaper can be pretty unreliable too.
As far as plant centres go, RHS gardens have plant centres attached, independent perhaps but some guarantee of quality, at a price. NT likewise. Gardens Open often ahve plant sales.
Supermarkets don't merit a mention, unless you have the skill to recognise a real bargain.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I travel a fair distance to a GC for bulk purchases of compost, mulch, bark etc - simply because they have a drive through facility where a very nice chap takes your money and then loads your car with the bags of your choice. You just sit and watch. They have an excellent range of products at a decent price and you can check stock levels before travelling. They also have a good tool section. On the way back I pop into Beth Chatto's nursery and The Place For Plants - both excellent nurseries verging towards a garden centre but where a very good range of quality plants is the priority. It's a grand day out and one I am due to have very soon.
For bedding plants we have a couple of local nurseries that specialise so they are an easy choice when it's time for summer pots - cheaper than a GC and they have a better range.
Other plants and shrubs I usually buy online because I usually want a particular variety or species. I always use retailers with a very good reputation who I would visit if they were a whole lot nearer and / or open to the public. eg Ashwoods, Crown Nurseries, Burncoose, Woottens, David Austen, Dorset Perennials, Thorncrofts etc etc.
I've tried buying from ebay and the like and it's all a bit too hit and miss. If you want to try an unknown retailer it's always worth asking on here if any one has used them.
Usual order is this:
If the plants I want are in the local garden centre/DIY store I buy them, as I can check quality etc.
If not I'll travel to a couple of larger quality but good value garden centres.
If the garden centres dont have them or if they are specific I'll order online. Online value for me depends on pot size and trustpilot reviews. I find online can be pricey when you include delivery. I always check trustpilot for reviews though as some sites can be dodgy or plants take forever to arrive!
I dont buy from supermarkets as dont think quality is good.