I need to do some landscaping around my house and am looking to buy lots of new plants and shrubs. Do you get a better price at places like Lowes and Home Depot or at local greenhouses?
Depends really. The local greenhouses often work out deals for you if you buy a certain number of plants. The other stores generally have a set price and cannot provide you with any give on the cost of the plants.
I like local greenhouses the best. For one thing, they're often willing to give you a discount if you buy a lot at once. And for another, I've found that while the plants at big chain stores are sometimes cheaper, the quality is also sometimes "cheaper" if you will. I've had plants die that had to be replaced, so in the end it cost more to go with the big guys. Nothing I've ever purchased from a local greenhouse has ever died, and one place around here even replaces plants that die in the first month. Also, the local greenhouses have free seminars and workshops and I like supporting local businesses owned by people in my community. Keep the money in my community.
I've had some really good luck buying plants at Home Depot on their discount tables. They often put plants there that need a little loving care. I recently bought 10 plants for $1.00 a piece. I nursed all but one back to health and they are flourishing now. Even though only nine of them survived it was a great deal.
Local green houses will have more knowledge of local plants that may be suitable for your conditions. Chain stores just get a shipment of whatever they send to everyone. If your looking for basic everyday plants then a chain store will be fine, if you want more regional type foliage then a nursery may be the way to go.
Greenhouse, always. They know what they're doing and they keep their plants healthy. Big department stores have employees who don't really care about their jobs, they're just working for the paycheck. What do they know about plants or keeping them healthy before they're sold?
