Garden centres are sweet and simple, right? Not exactly. These retailers have been growing at double the pace of other specialty stores for the past decade. That’s because today’s garden centre isn’t your grandma’s gardening store. In fact, it’s not even a store—they’re a chain of franchise businesses. There are lots of small, independent garden centres dotted across North America that stock a variety of plants and accessories to help you bring nature inside your home in any climate. But there are also massive chains like Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart that sell everything from plants and seeds to pots, tools and fertilizers under one roof. The new generation of garden centres offer beauty services, food vendors and events like classes or lectures on horticulture as well as selling everything you need to create an indoor or outdoor paradise in about 10 minutes drive from your house. LowesIf you’re looking to scoop up a bargain, then you need to know about Lowe’s. The company has been running a special promotion since February offering 50% off all of its plants. And the best part is that it’s not an end-of-season sale that will only last a few weeks. It’s a permanent promotion. On top of its rock-bottom prices, Lowes also offers a selection of plants that are ideal for specific climates. If you live in a wet and humid area, for example, you can choose to grow plants like cacti or succulents, which don’t require a ton of water. Lowes has been steadily growing its garden centre business for years. In the past decade, the company has increased its number of stores across the country by about 40%. Home DepotThe first word of advice I would offer is when you are looking for garden supplies, don’t go to the ‘gardening department’ as it is a very small part of the store. Make sure you visit the appropriate aisle, which will be found in the building materials area. You will find all the tools you need, including a massive selection of pots and containers. Junior gardeners will find everything they need to get growing in the ‘Kids in the Dirt’ area. Home Depot is one of the biggest and best-known chains around. It’s also the only garden centre on this list that also sells building materials. Home Depot offers low prices on gardening supplies and seeds for every season, including a selection of organic plants and flowers. The company has been operating a strong ‘One Low Price’ policy for decades. It means that whatever goods you choose to buy, you can rest assured that you’re paying the same low price for everyone. garden centre chains WalmartIf you’re looking for the absolute lowest price, then you need to visit a Walmart. The company has been running a special on gardening supplies for almost a year. It means that in parts of the country where the weather is still warm, you can pick up a few pots and some seeds to get your garden off to a strong start. There are two big advantages to shopping at Walmart. The first is that you can buy all your gardening supplies at the same place you grab your groceries. There’s also another huge upside to shopping at Walmart: You can buy everything in one trip. If you were to visit a garden centre, a nursery and a home improvement store, you’d have to make three separate trips to load up your car. CostcoIf you’re looking to stock up on supplies, then Costco is the place to go. The retailer is selling everything from peat pots to seeds by the pallet. At the moment, the company is selling a pallet of organic seeds for about $40, which is about 25% less than the price you’d normally pay for them. Costco has also been offering a range of gardening supplies at a discount since the spring. At the moment, the company has a special deal on a quantity of organic potting soil. You can get five cubic yards of the stuff for $129. You may want to pick up a few extra items when you visit Costco. The company sells compost and fertilizer in bulk, which can help you save some cash. Orchard Supply Co.Orchard Supply Co. is a new garden centre that was created in partnership with Home Depot. The company is located in California and only stocks products that are designed for that specific climate. Orchard Supply Co. also has a very specific target audience—youth. The company is offering all kinds of deals for kids and teens. You can get a free t-shirt with a $50 purchase or a free gardening book with an $80 purchase. The garden centre is also offering free horticulture workshops. There are even Saturday morning gardening classes that are open to all ages. If you’re in California and want to get your hands dirty, then you should visit Orchard Supply Co.’s website. There are plenty of gardening tips and tutorials on the site to help you grow your own plants. ConclusionGarden centres are sweet and simple, right? Not exactly. These retailers have been growing at double the pace of other specialty stores for the past decade. That’s because today’s garden centre isn’t your grandma’s gardening store. In fact, it’s not even a store—they’re a chain of franchise businesses. There are lots of small, independent garden centres dotted across North America that stock a variety of plants and accessories to help you bring nature inside your home in any climate. But there are also massive chains like Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart that sell everything from plants and seeds to pots, tools and fertilizers under one roof. There are some things to consider before visiting any garden centre. You’ll probably have to park away from the building. If you have a disability, make sure you ask for a parking pass so you can park closer to the entrance. You’ll also need to bring some cash—some stores don’t accept credit or debit. And while the garden centre is a great place to buy plants and seeds, it’s also a great place to pick up gardening tips and advice. If you’re new to gardening, ask one of the staff members how to get the best results from your plants. They’ll be able to help you find the right variety to suit your climate and suggest a few other things you might need to get started. This article is provided by https://www.gardencentreguide.co.uk/chains |
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