Garden centers are retail operations that sell plants for the home garden as their primary business. They may also include a nursery or obtain their plant stock from local growers. Unlike large chain stores that are hands-off, small garden centers have a more hands-on approach to their product and provide expert advice. They also normally sell plants that are well-suited to their local climate.
Variety
Garden centers stock a variety of flowers, shrubs and trees that are adapted to your local climate. They can also supply you with seeds to grow your plants and perennials. They can even help you with your vegetable garden and suggest edible varieties that look attractive in the landscape. Many big box stores have a wide selection of garden plants but are more concerned with quantity than quality. They purchase wholesale and may put a lot of plants that have stopped blooming on the clearance rack. This is fine if you know what you’re doing, but it can be frustrating for new gardeners. A garden center is savvier about putting its best plants on the shelf for you. In addition, they typically offer a return or replacement policy for any plant that doesn’t thrive.
Value
In addition to a wide range of flowers and plants, garden centers also offer great value. Another way that garden centers provide a great deal is by selling plant divisions. This is when a single healthy clump of a perennial or flower is sold for the price of just one plant. This is a smart move for gardeners who want to add more color or texture to their yard but don’t want to spend a lot of money. Garden centers often sell these plant divisions in their sale or clearance section, filled with plants past their prime. Garden centers are trying to move their inventory quickly before cold weather arrives. These plants are viable if you’re an experienced gardener who can nurse them back to health. Diversifying their offerings, certain garden centers are enhancing customer convenience by expanding their services to include lawn mower repair, catering to the broader needs of homeowners maintaining their outdoor spaces. This strategic extension positions them as one-stop destinations for gardening supplies and addresses the practical demands of a clientele invested in the upkeep of their lawns and gardens.
Expert Advice
Filling your garden with flowers, trees, shrubs and perennials can quickly add up, so it’s important to buy wisely. Fortunately, garden centers offer expert tips to help you plan your plant purchases and grow them into gardens of beauty.
Unlike the big box stores with generic, unnamed plants, garden centers have knowledgeable staff that can give you specific information about each type of plant you are interested in and how they will thrive in your particular conditions. They also offer the best gardening supplies, tools and gifts to make your garden a true joy.
Customer Service
Most garden centers have a staff of horticulturists to answer questions about plant selection and maintenance. The store’s customer service also includes offering return policies on trees, shrubs and perennials that don’t thrive in the customer’s environment or are similar to what they expected. Some bigger stores with a garden department have more restrictive return policies, but many independent garden centers are more flexible. Some offer a full refund within a year of purchase.Since a garden center relies on a greenhouse for its plants, it is critical that the building be weather-resistant and airtight to maintain a stable environment. Prefabricated metal buildings are the best choice, as they resist pests and moisture and can be easily insulated to provide a climate-controlled interior. The layout of the sales area is also important for drawing customer attention. Demand items can be placed near the entrance to the sales area or on shelving and racks throughout the facility.
