Garden Centres tend to offer larger plant, in flower - you can see what you are getting but you pay the price for their nurturing. On the whole bigger plants are more likely to suffer root check after planting. They are also grown in a light compost and sometimes find it difficult to spread their roots out into your "real" garden soil. In specialist nurseries you get the advantage to talking to the person who has actually raised the plant and will know where it is likely to do well.
When you buy online you are usually getting plugs or small plants which settle into garden soil more happily. Also you are ready to offer TLC as you know they will have been a bit stressed while they travel to you.
I dug up some lavender that I got from a garden center years back, at least 8 years ago. I was amazed the roots were still in the potting soil just as it had been put in. So I think you are right there about root check and failing to establish in real garden soil.
I deal , in my capacity as a " gardening professional" with a nursery who supply crocus. Their mark-up is about 500% + and that's assuming they pay the same as i do there, which I doubt.
I have to say I'm lucky enough to have some great garden centres near here and have Crocus only 10 mins away so can go and pick up my items for free
What I do love about my local garden centre is it has a great number of different plants, they have also started displaying plants with what goes well with what, so it gives you some inspiration as to how it would work in your garden and of course you always come away with a few extra plants..
Another great thing is doing drive through compost so you don't have to struggle with a trolley full of bags of compost and of course you can buy a few more than you wouldn't have fitted on the trolley. Brilliant.
but where's the fun in that? I am always offered the services of a handsome young man to put heavy bags in the boot of my car.
Local "growing" nurseries are often more fun than a GC, but they also tend to specialise so you will get a wider range of varieties, but a smaller overall range of species.
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Garden Centres tend to offer larger plant, in flower - you can see what you are getting but you pay the price for their nurturing. On the whole bigger plants are more likely to suffer root check after planting. They are also grown in a light compost and sometimes find it difficult to spread their roots out into your "real" garden soil. In specialist nurseries you get the advantage to talking to the person who has actually raised the plant and will know where it is likely to do well.
When you buy online you are usually getting plugs or small plants which settle into garden soil more happily. Also you are ready to offer TLC as you know they will have been a bit stressed while they travel to you.
I dug up some lavender that I got from a garden center years back, at least 8 years ago. I was amazed the roots were still in the potting soil just as it had been put in. So I think you are right there about root check and failing to establish in real garden soil.
I deal , in my capacity as a " gardening professional" with a nursery who supply crocus. Their mark-up is about 500% + and that's assuming they pay the same as i do there, which I doubt.
My bread maker does a good pizza dough
In the sticks near Peterborough
Yes Edd, I have 2 dishwashers. Me and OH
In the sticks near Peterborough
Charlie November, sorry , strictly wholesale and you need to supply trade references.
I have to say I'm lucky enough to have some great garden centres near here and have Crocus only 10 mins away so can go and pick up my items for free
What I do love about my local garden centre is it has a great number of different plants, they have also started displaying plants with what goes well with what, so it gives you some inspiration as to how it would work in your garden and of course you always come away with a few extra plants..
Another great thing is doing drive through compost so you don't have to struggle with a trolley full of bags of compost and of course you can buy a few more than you wouldn't have fitted on the trolley. Brilliant.
but where's the fun in that? I am always offered the services of a handsome young man to put heavy bags in the boot of my car.
Local "growing" nurseries are often more fun than a GC, but they also tend to specialise so you will get a wider range of varieties, but a smaller overall range of species.
I'm not saying i put it in the boot of my car by myself gardening granny