Garden centresWhat can a garden centre offer me?
Garden centres offer a range of services and products for your garden, including:
- Plants, bulbs and seeds for your garden—bedding plants, patio plants, climbers, wall plants, grasses, water plants, shrubs, hedging, roses, herbs, fruit, vegetables, conifers and trees;
- Garden tools and garden equipment—whether you're making a pond or water feature, or just mowing the lawn;
- Advice and information on planting and gardening;
- Garden furniture and barbecues;
- Many garden centres offer a range of homeware, books, cards and gifts;
- Larger garden centres may include a coffee shop, so you can refuel after shopping for your garden goods.
- When buying garden plants, consider the type of soil in your garden and whether the plants will be in sun or shade—check the labels on the plants to choose ones that are suitable.
- Make a list of what you need before you visit a garden centre, so that you won't be tempted to make impulse garden purchases that you don't really need.
- Most garden centres offer good end-of-season bargains—you may be able to pick up half price garden furniture or barbecues in August or September, or cheap bulbs towards the end of the planting season.
- Larger garden centres now offer loyalty cards, rewarding keen gardeners for continuing to shop at that garden centre.
- If you are buying heavy or large items for your garden, ask the garden centre whether they offer a home delivery service.
- Take the relevant measurements in your garden before your visit, and remember to check the height that plants will grow to and the space required between each plant.
- A good garden centre will have staff who can offer advice about the best products for your garden, and free leaflets to help you carry out your garden project.
- Choose plants that look like they have been tended well and have slow-release fertiliser beads in the pots.
- Garden centres get busy at weekends and in busy gardening times such as spring—avoid these times for a quieter visit.
To find a garden centre near you on Yell.com, use the search box below to enter any UK location, such as London, Birmingham or Manchester.
All guides on Yell.com are provided for general guidance only, do not constitute legal or professional advice and are not intended to be exhaustive.
