Shopping may well be the all-American hobby and it makes sense shoppers would recognize a good plant store or plant nursery when they shop at one. So, “What Makes a Good Retail Nursery?” In the plant nursery or garden center business, here are points to look for and evaluate when deciding where to buy your flowers and other plants.
Clean and Organized Displays
A well run plant nursery should be clean and tidy with orderly, well stocked displays. Plants should be categorized into plants for sun and plants for shade and separated into categories such as annuals, perennials, herbs, and premium tropicals. Plants should be well watered and cared for so they stay healthy.
Signage
Signs should be easy to read and clearly identify each plant with common and botanical names as well as cultivar, where applicable. Plant descriptions should be thorough and include size, preference for sun or shade, wet or dry soil, and other cultural needs. Prices should be marked.
Well Stocked and Good Selection
Plants should be selected for sale based on suitability to local growing conditions. Whenever possible, the nursery should carry cultivars with notable qualities such as improved disease and pest resistance or increased hardiness. Plants should be available at the best planting time(s) and should not be forced to bloom at an unnatural time of year.
Healthy Plants
Plants should be pest, disease and weed free. They should have well developed root systems and be in appropriately sized containers. They should be guaranteed true to name. Plants should not be forced into bloom prior to their normal time.
Informed and Helpful Sales People
There should be an adequate number of sales people to consult with customers, and the sales people should be well informed about the plants they are selling. Ideally, they should be gardeners who actually garden locally so they are familiar with local gardening challenges and best practices.
Informative Hand Outs
Answer common customer questions with illustrated hand outs and fact sheets.
Classes and Workshops
Classes and workshops taught by friendly, knowledgeable experts can help build a loyal customer base; educated customers will be better gardeners and will appreciate better quality plants and better nursery practices.
Display Garden
A well tended display garden is educational for customers and can also be an effective sales tool. Display garden plantings should be labeled so customers can identify them on the sales floor. The display garden helps customers understand what to expect from the plant throughout the season.
Reasonable Price
Good quality plants, good help, and a pleasant facility do not come cheap. Expect to pay a fair price for your purchases.
The Shopping Experience – Note to Retailers and Nursery Owners
- Clearly marked parking slots.
- Shopping carts at a large garden center, or at a smaller shop, a handy cardboard box.
- Clean restroom!
- Food and Drinks available: a soda and water machine is fine, some might prefer decent coffee. Snacks: how about hand dipped ice cream – a treat for me and a bribe for my spouse or children. As a bonus, a quick service café with tasty food encourages friends to meet and shop together.
- Fast Check Out! Reasonably fast check out should be a given, even on the busiest spring weekends. It is intolerable to expect even the most understanding of shoppers to wait longer than 15 to 20 minutes in line. The customer’s time is valuable.
Overview of Quality Nursery Retail Operation
No plant nursery is perfect, but some are undoubtedly better run than others. I hope this gives you some guidelines or a check list to use in evaluating and selecting the best retail nursery for your flower and other plant purchases. If you manage a plant nursery, perhaps you will find some tips for improvement.
Happy Gardening!
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