I have observed several tricks of the Garden Centre trade and I am sure there are many more. I am only concerned with those that damage or discourage gardeners unnecessarily. To remain in business nurseries and garden centres need to work with gardening customers not against their best interests.

Dubious Habits and Tricks

• Putting stock out for sale at the wrong time. This is most prevalent in spring when plants ‘grown soft’ in a hot house environment are put out for sale and to die a premature death unless over cosseted by the buyer.
• Selling stock too late in the season for the gardener to get any value from the purchase. This often applies to exotics which have only a narrow flowering window and need an expert to get back to any form of glory.
• Dressing plants up cosmetically just to move the stock. e.g. Early pruning of diseased leaves without treating the cause.
• Selling bare root plants plonked in a pot with loose compost but no new root growth.

Good Habits and Tricks

• Keeping the tops of pots weed free and able to absorb appropriate watering.
• Selling timely plants that have been hardened off. I do not want a Dutch glasshouse plant straight off the lorry if it is not going to thrive.
• Specializing and growing their own stock that the garden centre fully understands and being willing to pass on the knowledge.
• Good trained staff, sensible opening hours and a tidy display of healthy products.

Help us Learn More Tricks

If you have fallen foul of a trick or dubious practice let us know.
If you have received excellent service let us know.
If you are a garden centre or nursery and want to raise a point similarly let us know.