Suggesation about good nursery around Burke (Alexandria, Fairfax: appointed, houses, buying)

[DCNY]

Can anyone suggest good nursery around Burke area?

Or is it cheaper to get plants and flowers from Home Depot or Walmart?

Thank You!

[buildinginva]

Burke Nursery, of course

[bmwguydc]

It is less expensive to get plants from Home Depot, Lowe's, and other big box stores, sometimes; however, you do not always get the same quality, nor the variety that you can find at a nursery.

Burke Nursery has some good things, I agree, but I'd also check Heather Hill Gardens in Fairfax Station for some good plants.

[weezycom]

If you have specific, perenniel specimen plants in mind (with an eye to mature size, shape, time of bloom, leaf color, etc.), it's often better to pick them out from a nursery.

If you just need typical spring and summer annuals, or basic greenscaping plants (pansies, or any green & white hosta with a medium leaf, for examples), then the big box stores are fine for that. Try to go on a Friday, b/c that's typically when they get a truck in so there are plenty of fresh plants for Saturday morning sales.

[DCNY]

Thank You All! for the postings. It will help a lot.

[movingtodcfromseattle]

I went to Burke Nursery for some help with trees the other day and they were GREAT! I went to Merrifield today for some help and was definitely unimpressed with the help.

[normie]

Originally Posted by movingtodcfromseattle

I went to Burke Nursery for some help with trees the other day and they were GREAT! I went to Merrifield today for some help and was definitely unimpressed with the help.

Yes, Merrifield is slipping right now. I'm shopping for crape myrtles these days, and was disappointed with Merrifield. Also Bluemont had disappointing stock--and they had ridiculously high prices, too.

Meadows Farms has me confused right now. In the past I have not been impressed. But for the sake of being thorough I stopped by the one on 7 & reston Parkway--and they had a decent assortment. The reason I'm hesitating is they're claiming they have some trees that just arrived from NC. I'm finding this a little hard to believe (of course, if it's true, then I'm buying 'em!).

The reason I think this is hard to believe is I went to the Great Falls Meadows Farms, which is about a half mile down the road, and they said they had not had a delivery and it's too early for deliveries. I can't believe one store got a delivery and the other didn't. Plus, I agree that it really is too early for deliveries of crape myrtles.

I got the name of the vendor in NC, and I'm contemplating giving them a call to see if the story adds up. The thing is, the trees look pretty good whether or not the story's true--but I don't feel comfortable buying trees from a vendor who's told me a bunch of BS. I'll have to see how this all sorts out in the next few days. Meanwhile, I'll continue to look... there are lots of tree vendors in VA.

[movingtodcfromseattle]

Normie - Burke Nursery said they are getting a shipment late this week from the Greenhouses. I was very impressed with their expertise, stock was of course low. I actually bought my Red Leafed Maple at Costco. It's a beautiful tree! I went to Merrifield out of convenience on the way home from work for leaf compost and had awful service. So much that I would probably go to Burke over Merrifield.

[slduvall]

Nalls on Beaulah in Alexandria..(kingstowne) always fun!

[normie]

Originally Posted by movingtodcfromseattle

Normie - Burke Nursery said they are getting a shipment late this week from the Greenhouses. I was very impressed with their expertise, stock was of course low. I actually bought my Red Leafed Maple at Costco. It's a beautiful tree! I went to Merrifield out of convenience on the way home from work for leaf compost and had awful service. So much that I would probably go to Burke over Merrifield.

What did you think of the prices at Burke? I've never been there (it's a bit of a drive for me) but might just check it out today if it's a good place.