When I ’m looking to buy plants and supplies for my garden or yard , I like to visit locally own garden center field . They tend to render the best table service and product , and I get to aid to support my local economy . The last few tenner , we ’ve witness an inflow of big - boxful stores , lumberyards and grocery chains sell plants and gardening supplies in an attempt to lure business organization away from neighborhood garden centers . While these new garden retailer sure enough provide convenience and lower price products , consumers often give a higher cost in term of poor - quality ware and overall shopping experience compare to dedicated nurseries and local garden centers .
1. Customer Service
Perhaps the greatest military strength of the local garden marrow is the stave . Garden centre employee are often better trained and more versed about the plants and products they ’re sell than big - box seat employee who may have been randomly assign to their flora sales area that daytime . Having a stave of horticulture expert on hand mean that your unmanageable inquiry about complex issues , such as fertilizing rates , specific works disease and dirt ball pests will be answered correctly . Additionally , many garden centre take consumer education seriously , hosting a variety of talks and workshops that teach horticulture skills and insert a compass of newfangled plants and tool selection .
2. Product Selection
Selection is another recognize factor . Local nurseries often pride themselves in offering unparalleled items or strange flora , like coloured heirloom veggie scratch line , that are n’t stock by the interior range , which all carry the exact same plants at each of their many locations .
While overall choice is a enceinte boon , grease one’s palms local also means that you ’re purchase plants that have the greatest chance to endure and thrive in your garden and yard . The plants sold by local nurseries are variety and cultivar that are well suited for your particular USDA hardiness zone . Additionally , these plant life also have been water and cared for properly — unlike many plants you see at large - box stores that are visibly in poor wellness , either wilted or afflicted by some disease or pest plague .
3. Local Economy
Finally , purchasing plant from local garden center also helps back the economic health of your townspeople or realm . Money spent at locally own merchandiser tend to be reinvested in your community . Various studies on local buying behavior have present that between $ 45 and $ 60 of every $ 100 spent at regional , non - chain stores will detain in your local saving compared to only $ 20 to $ 35 for every $ 100 spent at national big - box seat stores .
So next meter you are shopping for plants , take a detour and visit your local garden center — it will be deserving it . Leave me a comment and tell me about your favorite neighbourhood garden center !
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