Information on Garden Centers

Some garden centers are stand alone stores that sell plants and gardening essentials.  Other centers are found in large retail stores, like hardware and grocery stores.  Depending upon your area, there are local gardening stores, plant outlets, and nurseries that specialize in particular types of plants.

Large Retailers

Many stores, like grocery stores and hardware stores offer gardening supplies at fair prices, but read the labels carefully.  Because the company purchases and distributes to stores around the country, they generally offer brands like Miracle Grow that can be toxic to some landscapes.  It is recommended to use their non-organic soil and fertilizers only for houseplants.  Opt for low phosphorus varieties of fertilizers and soil to avoid contaminating your local lakes, ground water, and rivers.

Combined Garden Center and Nursery

Some garden centers are combined as a nursery and a retail center.  Nurseries grow their own plants for sale to other companies and/or onsite.  Because the plants are grown onsite, the workers are knowledgeable their selection of plants care.  It is worthwhile to buy from a local garden nursery as they offer more specialized employees that know the answers to your questions.

Rural Garden Centers

There are rural garden centers located in farming areas sell plants that they grow themselves.  Many small shops offer great advice to the novice gardener because they are local and understand the climate and soil composition of the area. Most rural garden centers will replace or reimburse consumers for plants that do not survive after replanting, so you can buy from rural garden centers with confidence.