Last Updated on May 11, 2023 by Georgie Smith
Most people with a home like me want a beautiful yard with lots of flowers and plants. The problem is where to go to find what will work in my yard and have help with choosing which are right for my climate? I do not have a green thumb by any means. As a matter of fact, I have killed a cactus before.
I envy those that have beautiful flower beds with live plants hanging from their porches. Many stores sell flowers and plants, but the staff never seems to know any more than I do on what to buy, when to plant, and how to nurture the ones I like.
Therefore, Finding the best plant nursery near me would be the answer. That sounds like a simple solution, right? As a homeowner, where do you buy your plants so that you know they are healthy and thriving?
Let’s take a detailed look at different types of gardens, the plants that do well in each, and how to find a good plant nursery and much more information.
I do believe that having a stunning landscaped yard and patio goes beyond being a hobby. Landscaping tends to be more of an art than a hobby. While many gardens are the result of a specific landscape or climate, most is a picture of the gardener’s passion and imagination.
I want to show you the unique gardening styles and types that will help you and me with finding what fits our taste and is what we like doable in our climate?
Specialty Gardens
Specialty gardens provide exquisite alternatives to the individual who wants to display a particular gardening passion or style regardless of the location. That means it could be either outdoors or in. It also says you can landscape your garden on a patio, rooftop, hilltop, or backyard.
Having a specialty garden lets the person display or pursue his or her unique interest in the most creative ways. That is an excellent reason why knowing where you can find a reputable plant nursery is a must.
You need to know the right flowers and plants to buy for your region. There are special ones for hot, dry areas as well as the ones that will only survive in cool, wet ones. If you do not know the difference between the two, it could lead to wasting a ton of money with no results.
Specialty gardens allow the individual gardener to pursue his or her unique interests in creative ways. Like any other “art,” the results are vital to the individual.
If you are unsure of what type plants and flowers you will need for your garden or deck, this article will help. However, you will learn so much more necessary information talking with the specialist at a plant nursery in your area.
Different Styles of Gardens
While most homeowners know what they want, and their passion is growing specific flowers and plants, others, like myself, have no idea what to plant and when. I just wish to have pretty flower beds and to improve the environment around my home. However, I am clueless about what I need. Therefore, I will most definitely need to lean on a plant nursery near me.
I see individuals who just enjoy their gardening style then I look at yards where the owner takes limited space and turn it into a masterpiece. A domestic garden, like mine, can have any identity if it fits with the climate, materials, and the cost. [1]
The size has the most say-so in what I can do and cannot do as well as how I plan to use it and the display I want. I only have two small flower beds next to my house, but they are a hot mess that I want to make pretty this year.
Woodland Gardens
If you are like me, you are a nature buff, which most gardeners tend to be. If so, you may want to consider a shade, wildflower, or woodland garden. These are specialty gardens that provide a grand, unique appeal and are very low maintenance (yay!) However; these are a great way to grow a diversity of native flowers and plants.
Woodland wildflowers and plants grow anywhere if you use native species or anything sharing similar traits. You just need to mimic the natural habitats.
Shade Gardens
Having a shade garden has its advantages over the traditional open sun gardens. That tree in your yard that blocks sunlight has a second job. It is also offering you a year-round focal point to complement and enhance your plantings.
Buildings and walls provide a perfect backdrop to your flower beds while restraining temperatures and protecting your display from harsh winds.
Reduced lit areas allow growth of flowers and plants that would otherwise die in direct sunlight. Basically, it is Just the opposite of your flowers that need all the sunshine they can get to survive.
Wildflowers
Who does not like a flower bed filled with wildflowers? I do believe the previous resident of my house simply tossed in a handful of seeds to see just what would grow. It is pretty but confusing as to what is a flower or plant and what is a weed.
Wildflowers can grow in either shade or the sun but still depends on the climate where you live. That is something you can get assistance with at the plant nursery of your choice. These types can be prairie gardens filled with different native grasses as well.
How to Find a Plant Nursery Near Me
Ok, now that we have a better understanding of the types of flowers we should pick and choose, let’s talk about Plant Nurseries. Even though I have lived here in my city a few years, I still have no clue of the best plant nurseries near me.
It is vital that you do your homework on the business where you plan to purchase your plants. Finding the right plant nursery for your taste may be challenging if you are in small towns. However, there are other options. To find the best option for you, you can ask neighbors, friends, and family that live in the area.
Also, there are some really great sites online that provide you with the best plant nurseries in your area. These sites are:
- Yelp
- Bing
- Yahoo!
- Angie’s list is an excellent resource. I would use her first.
- Better Business Bureau
- Merchants circuit
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online directories. Most sites provide you with a list of the leading businesses in your area. For example, these are the leaders for where I live when I type in “Plant Nursery near me” :
- Olney’s
- R. Jones
- Mitchells Produce
Tips for Selecting the Best Plants at a Nursery and Mistakes to Avoid
At a nursery, you can chit chat with the experts, which is really vital if you are going to be buying expensive shrubs and trees. Some nurseries display gardens to help you with getting ideas of what plants look like as they mature.
Nurseries are also the place you want to buy unusual perennials and annuals. I remember my mom always bought her favorite seeds from a nursery due to it having the best variety and selection in our climate back in Louisiana.
However, one crucial detail is that a nursery usually charges more than retailers, but, you also get what you pay for in plants and flowers. However, for plant variety, in-depth advice and service, nurseries earn the markup. [2]
Get to Know the Owners and Staff
Just like other businesses you frequent in your area; you need to get to know the owners and their employees. They will give you the scoop on what is growing well and what is not. You may even score hints on upcoming sales and get discounts. Keep in mind; you are paying for their services, so, therefore, use it.
Be Patient and Wait
This tip will not work if you are in a hurry to buy some flowers and plants. However, if you can, it will pay off to wait for sales. Many nurseries hold seasonal sales that can really save you much money. Be patient and watch their Facebook Page as well as outside advertisements.
Examine the Merchandise Before You Buy
Another perk of getting to know the staff is they will not mind you checking out their merchandise before you buy. You want to have a no-hassle, low-pressure relationship so you can take your time and find the best the business offers.
Know When the Delivery Truck Comes
This tip is the best way you can ensure you are getting a great selection of plants that are well-watered, well-tended, and fresh. Every business knows when the truck arrives and what goodies they will have. Ask an employee when that day is and be there.
If deliveries come after hours, be there when the doors open to get the first pick of the goods.
Do Weekday Shopping
Most of these nurseries are a nightmare on weekends. It is nothing for a typical weekend for the popular plant nurseries to sell every shrub and tree they have in stock. That is when they tend to sell a tractor-trailer full of supplies, as well. Therefore, shop on Thursday, or Friday.
If that is not possible, be there when the doors open on Saturday. You have to be decisive, however. If you find something you like, buy it then because it probably will not be there when you come back.
Leave the Leftovers
If the same plant is for sale several days after you were at the plant nursery, leave it there. Any merchandise that remains all alone in a corner or just sitting around, pass on it.
Believe it or not, some places use the motto, “turn and burn.” What that means is, it is much cheaper to toss the merchandise than it is to pay for employees to keep them watered and well-maintained.
Buying Online or From Catalogs
One of the good things about shopping online is if there is a flower, tree, or shrub you want, chances are you can find it online, or a catalog. Both usually provide convenience and a massive selection that plant nurseries just do not have space or workforce to offer.
It is most definitely the best option if you are in the market for some shrubs, fruit trees and especially rose bushes. The majority of home centers and local nurseries do not offer the variety of those as you can find online.
Moreover, online prices are usually comparable if not better than many nurseries. Especially if you live in a small area and with no other options. Those tend to get a little greedy and charge high prices. Annuals, however, tend to be ridiculously pricey online and in catalogs, and a bit dicey in quality.
However, there are fantastic deals out there; you just have to know what you want and be patient.
There are also discounts if you order in bulk. Even with shipping included, the cost turns out to be considerably cheaper. Amazon is a fantastic place to order flowers and plants. The best reason is they guarantee their merchandise.
That comes in handy due to shopping online being a bigger gamble than checking the product out first hand in a nursery. You usually get exactly what you ordered when you buy from Amazon as well. Other online dealers tend to enhance the photo to make the plants appear larger than what you actually get.
I just had this happen with furniture this week. I bought a table I was going to use as a desk. Upon setting it up, I found it only to be 4’ high. : Sigh: Works well for my kids to do homework, but me, not so much.
I am a die-hard Amazon shopper because I trust the company, they back their products, and the variety is astronomical. Keep in mind that plants usually sell by the size of the pot. However, a plant advertisement may show the plant growing in a 4-inch pot, but that plant could have been there long enough to sprout roots.
Moreover, it may have been transplanted and have no roots whatsoever. When you buy “sight-unseen” you really just cannot know what you are getting. Find a trusted online seller and stick with them. Again, ask around for recommendations.
You can also check a business by looking at its website content. Is it up-to-date? Do you see a comment section from previous customers? You will quickly know that company’s professionalism and reliability just by checking those details.
The following are details you should be able to find about the merchandise you are interested in buying:
- Complete botanical name
- Hardiness info
- Picture
- Will you receive the plant bare-rooted
- Will it come in a container?
- Specific Shipping Info
How to Pick the Best Plant in the Bunch
Potted Perennials
- Check the roots first. You want to ensure the roots as not wrapped around one another. You do not want to buy a perennial that is in the exact pot over one season. Root-bound and crowded, they will not thrive once you plant them in your garden.
- Carefully check the top growth. There should be less brown and more green. If the plant is “woody,” it is an old plant. Be cautious of a flower or plant that died. That means the plant went too long before dividing.
- The same rules from below for “Vegetables Plants and Annuals” apply here as well.
Veggie Plants and Annuals
- You need to think small. Transplanting tall, lanky plants will not survive as well as short, stocky ones.
- It is best to choose plants that are a tad bit underfed
- Leave the ones in full bloom on the shelf
- Pick the plants that still put energy into root and leaf growth. These will thrive better after transplanting, and the flowers will be more significant.
- Same as with the Perennials, check the roots. Check via the drainage hole to see the coloring. There should never be a root mass bulky enough to fill the pack. Also, the roots should be light-colored.
- Check the plastic tray. If there is one of two missing from the tray, that could be because it has died, usually from inadequate care or disease.
Shrubs and Trees
- Spending a couple of bucks on a rose or two is one thing. However, when you pay $150.00 or even more on a bush or tree, you bet you will make sure it is in excellent shape.
- Check the branches and trunk. Search for cuts or nicks in the bark. Those are signs of holes from insects and disease or rough treatment. Whereas, weak, thin branches or black tips indicate possibly too much or too little water and inadequate
- If many of the leaves have streaks or spots, that is a sign of nutrient imbalance or disease.
- Scrutinize the roots. Have an employee remove the container for you. You should see a group of light-colored stringy roots in the soil. It these are wrapped around one another and are thick and brown, pass on it-it is root-bound.
- On the flip side, if you see the soil falling away from the roots, that is because it is recently potted. It may not have produced enough roots for transplanting and may die.
- Check the ball. There are no longer as many burlap-and-ball plants as there once were. However, they are still available. While you cannot open the bag in the store, check for tears or rips. If you find some, this could mean there could be damaged roots.
- Squeeze the ball very gently. Do you feel a firm root mass? If the burlap feels empty and soft, that means the roots are bare and recently packaged. Again, with little roots, it may not survive transplant shock, and you should pass.
Best Place to Buy Plants Online
Amazon:
Amazon is a leader for a reason. You can buy anything you can dream of on that site. It helps that the e-commerce giant opened its own garden shop where you can spend days shopping. You can buy live plants, stunning Rose seeds such as this purple climbing Rose, exotic flowers like this Hawaiin Sunset Hibiscus, exotic tree seeds such as this Dragons Blood Tree, and the list goes on and on.
There are tons of items on Amazon that through Prime you can get them super fast
Bloomscape:
Bloomscape does all the work for you. You receive pre-potted, fully-grown plants that all you have to do is open the box and start the bonding. Bloomscape is a fantastic service for large plants such as this Bird of Paradise.
The Sill:
This place may be for me. If you cannot keep the simplest plant like a succulent alive, just ship it back. The Sill lets you try it for one year, and you can return it if your thumb is the very light shade of green as mine and if so, we should be friends.
FAQs:
Q: Should I be cautious about planting a new plant where there are pesticides present?
A: Absolutely! Your best bet is to add fresh dirt where you have recently had a termite treatment due to your new plants having fragile roots.
Q: Are Plant Nurseries required to give you your money back if the merchandise does not prosper?
A: Few will give refunds. That is because there is no adequate measure of finding who was at fault, you, or the dealer.
Q: Should I try bargaining with the new Plant Nursery in my town?
A: Hmm. Not so sure a brand-new business can afford to bargain. However, follow the tips I provided on dealing with businesses. All they can do is say no, right?
Wrapping Up
See! I told you I would cover much info. Finding the best plant nursery near me is going to be easier than say a small rural town in the country. However, this is why online shopping exists. Either strategy you choose to buy your flowers and plants, educate yourself on the product and the place you plan to do business with in the future.
It can be the most well-respected plant nursery around, and you can still buy seeds, flowers, plants, and trees, that could be duds. Here is where the checklist I provided will come in handy. Be a smart shopper- Buy from reputable dealers, such as Amazon, where you know you are getting what you ordered. Moreover, if you do not, you get your money back – guaranteed.
I sure hope I provided you with the right ammunition to get those flower beds as pretty as you wish. Please share my article on your social media and leave me some comments. I love responding to my readers. We can never learn too much, right? Thanx for stopping by – Malissa
