Three from every four container plants are purchased at a garden centre. You can wander around and look at the perennials, trees and shrubs, knowing that at almost any time of the year you can get a container-grown specimen and plant it within your own garden. Selecting a plant is easy but getting it home may be difficult - never bend or twist the stems to fit it into your vehicle. Also, do not forget that a plant could get roasted in the boot or wind burnt if left next to an open window in your moving vehicle. There is several rules to follow in order to ensure trouble-free shopping. Aim to go at the start of the planting season before shortages occur, and try to go midweek avoiding the weekend crowds.
Don't buy on impulse unless you actually know your plants - it is much better to make a list and buy the better specimens you can find. When you see an attractive plant which isn't on your list, make a note of its name and check its suitability in a text book or on theby using internet when you get to your house. You can always buy it on your next visit if it is suitable.
Advantages:
You can see what you are buying. When possible make your choice when a container-grown plant is at its maximum display stage - flowering shrubs in bloom, berrying shrubs in fruit, etc.
Container-grown stock can be planted straight away. If your first choice just isn't available, it is possible to instantly choose something different.
Apart from trees it is normally possible to take your plants home with you - no delays, no transport costs.
Advice will always be on hand. However, do check the advice in a specialist book when you get home.
Disadvantages:
The varieties on offer are frequently the more common ones - you can not expect a garden centre to stock a large quantity of varieties which may not be bought.
Garden centres are normally a long way from the centre of town, this means that the nearest one is probably inaccessible if you do not use a vehicle.
Numbers of each variety may be limited, so when you are scheduling for a massed planting or a long hedge you may need to order from a large mail order nursery.
The main stock-in-trade, the container-grown plant is generally more costly.
If something goes wrong:
If a number of the plants fail and you are convinced that it is not your mistake, return it to your garden centre and explain what has occurred. You will need proof of purchase so always keep the receipt when buying plants. If your garden centre is a member of the Garden Centre Association (you will see IGC symbol on display) then it guarantees to exchange any container-grown plant which has failed within 6 months of purchase, as long as reasonable care has been taken.
Author Resource:-
A fantastic quantity of my time is spent in my garden, but as I am getting older and things are becoming harder to do. I have decided to make use of a company called Local Tradespeople. So far they have given me all the help and advice that I have asked for. I still do a bit of pottering around my own garden.
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