Nurseries - Merrifield Garden Center is the BEST, pass on Betty's Azalea Ranch (Gainesville: coupons, to buy)

[Lawn Guru]

Was at Merrified Garden Center early this morning and they have a huge selection of Pansies. Unlike Betty's Azalea Ranch, the staff was very friendly and helpful.

[greeniebean]

Originally Posted by Lawn Guru

Was at Merrified Garden Center early this morning and they have a huge selection of Pansies. Unlike Betty's Azalea Ranch, the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Yeah, for $4 for a 6-cell pack. I go to Merrifield GC for lots of things, but common bedding plants is not one of them. I broke down and got one pack on Fri. while I was there picking up other items and have some buyers remorse (but they were so pretty! And I had time to kill before an appointment!). They better be the prettiest damn pansies I've ever seen at that price, lol.

Actually, for cheap, common beddings plants (impatients, vinca, geranium, etc), the KMart on Jermantown is quite good; $1.79 for a 6-pack. However, they only get one or two shipments in early in the season, so definitely purchase early for the best selection. Equivilant size is $2.99 at Betty's and $3.99 at Merrifield.

You can also score occasional deals at the Lowe's at Rts 28 and 50. They're awesome for hostas and ferns, and end of season can yield some good deals on perennials, but don't expect a huge selection.

[arabellava]

Costco is also great - plus if you're not satisfied at any time- you get your money back vs most nurseries giving you one season or at most a year..

[Lawn Guru]

Good posting!

I have even found some excellent hanging baskets at Walmart...all really comes down to timing. Too bad Betty's Azalea Ranch Betty's Azalea Ranch cannot overhaul their staff...I would suggest Steve in the Lawn section go to Merifield Garden Center for some training...the sad thing is I think he actually owns the place.

Originally Posted by greeniebean

Yeah, for $4 for a 6-cell pack. I go to Merrifield GC for lots of things, but common bedding plants is not one of them. I broke down and got one pack on Fri. while I was there picking up other items and have some buyers remorse (but they were so pretty! And I had time to kill before an appointment!). They better be the prettiest damn pansies I've ever seen at that price, lol.

Actually, for cheap, common beddings plants (impatients, vinca, geranium, etc), the KMart on Jermantown is quite good; $1.79 for a 6-pack. However, they only get one or two shipments in early in the season, so definitely purchase early for the best selection. Equivilant size is $2.99 at Betty's and $3.99 at Merrifield.

You can also score occasional deals at the Lowe's at Rts 28 and 50. They're awesome for hostas and ferns, and end of season can yield some good deals on perennials, but don't expect a huge selection.

[Ms. P]

I used Campbell and Ferrara--the worst of all worlds---poor customer service, staff who don't return phone calls, plants that died on me...a horrible experience.

[fdeitz]

The new Merrifield Garden Center in Gainesville is really great. It is a very large store and also there's a lot of outside property. In addition they've established a small dog park which is really great - up until now there was no dog park in Prince William County, since the county never bothered to set on up at any of their parks. Smart move on Merrifield's part, and it is probably attracting customers. They also sell some stuff for dogs inside the store.

[Ms. P]

Between MGC, Meadows Farms and Cravens who would you choose?

[Caladium]

I don't know the name of this place, but it's on Marie Road near where it intersects with Cascades Parkway. The nearest "big" intersection is Cascades and Nokes. You have to look carefully for it, it's down a gravel road and is easy to miss the first time you try to find it. It's a family owned nursery, so they grow everything locally. Wonderful place that's been here for decades.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by Ms. P

Between MGC, Meadows Farms and Cravens who would you choose?

Depends, each one is good at different things. For showpiece plants, go to MGC. They have the best quality. But if your buying plants that are hard to kill, you'll get better prices at Meadows or Wal Mart. Cravens is good for containers and things like that.

[Clem0369]

Originally Posted by Lawn Guru

Anyone new to the area or those just looking for a local nursery, I strongly recommend Merrifield Garden Center (MGC). Just moved here last year and no matter what your needs are, they have the biggest selection around. The staff is professional and I love the information desk they have a each of their locations. Friendly staff that is more than willing to provide suggestions or help you troubleshoot an insect problem, plant issue or just about anything. David at the Fair Oaks location is the BEST!

On the contrary, earlier this year before I learned about Merrifield Garden Center I made the mistake of going to Betty's Azalea Ranch. BIG mistake! Their products seemed like they had been on the shelf forever and the quality just couldn't compare to MGC. Above all, I found the staff to be rude and unable to see things from a customer's perspective. I mean really, who deserves to be treated poorly these days. Some guy named Steve Cockerham in the lawn care section was very unprofessional and was rude; kind of like a Mr. Knowitall who just you what to do, no questions asked.

That's odd because I found almost the complete opposite. I went to Mreeifields and was walking around the nursery for 30 minutes with no one to help me. The persons working there looked at me and walked by. The one that attempted to help me became visibly upset because I did not speak Spanish and tromped off. Did not realize that Spanish was a first language at Merrifields.

At Betty's Azalea Ranch they were nothing but polite and professional. Huge selection of plants, flowers, trees etc. After talking to them for half an hour I had a solid plan on what I wanted to do!
Thanks to Steve and his staff!