How to Shop Smarter at a Retail Garden Center

Shopping at a retail garden center in the spring can be fun & overwhelming.There is so much to see & you are eager to start those spring projects NOW! After 16 years working in horticulture, I am happy to share some of the "secrets" of smart shopping at a retail garden center.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Comfortable shoes
• Sunset Western Garden Book-for western folks
• A notebook & pen

1. Retail Garden Centers Create Planting Ideas for Your Yard In springtime, a retail garden center's job is to excite you with color in all the new annuals, perennials, and shrubs displayed. There is a "season & reason" for every plant in the garden center. Plants are purchased by garden centers based on the availability from their wholesale growing sources. Some plants are available on a limited basis each season. For example, flowering dogwood trees are best purchased when they first arrive at the garden center. Flowering Crepe Myrtles arrive later in northern climate garden centers.
   Always ask the retail personnel if they can get more of specific varieties for you EARLY in the season. Many garden centers have tried & true suppliers they depend on for their stock. Often,they can bring in more for you.
2. Climate Zones In Washington State Look at the trees and shrubs FIRST. They are freshly dug & ready to go to your yard. Many garden centers will give discounts if you are planting multiples. Ask their planting advice. Do you have sun/shade? What is your soil like? Are you landscaping a new home? The more you know, the better answers these folks will give you. Write down the plants you like & do some research to make sure they will grow well in your climate zone. Sunset Western Garden Guide is "the Bible" for the western gardeners.
3. Don't be Impatient For Your Impatiens- They Arrive Later to Avoid Frost Damage for You Annuals often come into the nursery early and may not be ready to go outside. Ask your garden center professional if the hanging basket will survive outside. A customer with a dead geranium is not going to come back again. If you are mass planting annuals, buy by the flat & request a discount.
4. Variegated Purple Cone Flower ?? OK... There are so many perennials & ornamental grasses available today. Many perennials are grown as repeat crops. Buy them as you need them. Ask your garden center folks about new varieties & their opinion of them. New varieties may have very high first season costs due to royalties & marketing fees. Sometimes, the tried and true variety works just as well for much less.

Tips & Warnings

• Most garden centers have a website with tons of information & ideas. Sign up for newsletters & "secret sales". Customer loyalty is rewarded!
• Many garden centers will deliver that huge tree you picked out. Some will also plant it for you (for a fee).
• Mother's Day is THE BUSIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR for retail gardeners. Choose another time for if you need 911 garden help. Better yet, make an appointment - you will have their full attention.
• This information generally applies for northern gardeners. However, there are certain "universal elements" to all garden centers.
• Happy Gardening!