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Don't they all come from Bonnies Plant Farm? I see the same huge trucks delivering plants to Walmart, Home Depot, Murdoch's and the local garden centers.
Yes, but each store prices them differently. My local Walmart carries virtually the same plants for $1-$1.50 cheaper than either HD or Lowes, but has much less selection. They're worth a look, though, because they sometimes have some real treats hidden around that you don't expect.
I, personally, find Bonnie's quality to be rather commendable for such mass production. Plants I've purchased have always been vigorous growers and bountiful producers.
All the plants sold by Home Depot are from a private contractor, who will make money or lose money according to the amount of plants sold, and the amount of plants returned. Their employees water and care for the plants. I assume Lowe's operates the same way, but I don't know.
All the plants sold by Home Depot are from a private contractor, who will make money or lose money according to the amount of plants sold, and the amount of plants returned. Their employees water and care for the plants. I assume Lowe's operates the same way, but I don't know.
No I know for sure. I asked one of the ppl in the HD garden center why they didn't have any plants on sale...you know like our BELOVED LOWES. They said they give the plants back to the grower...who eats the losses at the end of the season.
Apparently Lowes buys the plants. That's why they have end of season sales...and sometimes get good buys of some really cool plants at the end of the year, I'd guess. Lowes also was not taking very good care of their plants for a while. Occasionally I'll go in and water a plant or two because I know they're busy.
I don't know. I sincerely love the Lowes garden center. I think that the employees seem more invested in making sure the plants get to good homes. They also buy some of the plants themselves, and I really like when people can tell me that they have XYZ plant and it does so-and-so in our area.
No I know for sure. I asked one of the ppl in the HD garden center why they didn't have any plants on sale...you know like our BELOVED LOWES. They said they give the plants back to the grower...who eats the losses at the end of the season.
Apparently Lowes buys the plants. That's why they have end of season sales...and sometimes get good buys of some really cool plants at the end of the year, I'd guess. Lowes also was not taking very good care of their plants for a while. Occasionally I'll go in and water a plant or two because I know they're busy.
I don't know. I sincerely love the Lowes garden center. I think that the employees seem more invested in making sure the plants get to good homes. They also buy some of the plants themselves, and I really like when people can tell me that they have XYZ plant and it does so-and-so in our area.
Seriously? I think this would not be welcome in most garden centers I patronize. Now I have found an employee and shown them plants in distress and suggested they be watered ASAP but I would never take it upon myself to do it. Think what would happen if customers decided they were going to "take care" of things.
I've worked in a number of garden centers, both small and large.
Big chains (name your retailer) generally will throw away tender plants if unsold, within 14 days of delivery without marking them down. No discounts. Tossed into the trash and locked.
This is because of US tax code.
If they sell declining plants at a discount they lose money even if they sell the plants for more than the plants cost them. Big retailers throw away plants (believe me they are inventoried and counted) because they can then write them off as a loss on their books at full retail price.
Let's say they pay $0.25 per petunia for 5,000 billion petunias. They retail each petunia at $.99. If they throw away a faded crappy petunia they get to write off a loss of $.99 against their other retail profits. If they sell a half crappy petunia at a discount for $.50 that's a mere .25 cent profit which loses them money. They make more money in accounting losses throwing away the petunia for a dollar.
You can thank your government tax laws for stupid stuff like that.
Small local nursery businesses cannot survive playing that kind of volume loss game. They have to care for the plants and sell them at full retail to stay alive.
Most tender bedding plants are good from the grower for no more than 2 weeks. After that they outgrow their pots, get leggy and spindly and pale. Nobody will pay full price for them.
Good local nurseries usually do business with growers and greenhouses that that the big retailers do not. Small local nurseries and their suppliers will often stock plant types big retailers won't touch because they don't sell fast enough and there is not enough demand, and the big retailer has no means of keeping the plants alive and salable beyond two weeks time.
Here is the essential problem with certain sections of Home Depot.....they are dirty,dusty and the employees haven't any interest any recognition any concern for dirt or dust. Those people in my managemenent team would be given prototype tool boxes, bins and items and given a class on vision, and dusting.. Lowes is spotless both have paint that is overpriced ,but fits the clueless consumer needs of mostly women who God forbid are going to choose colors and paint.......please. Somebody help me! The Home Depot,Lowes. Sherwin Williams ol' paint scam coming to your neighborhood.
I've worked in a number of garden centers, both small and large.
Big chains (name your retailer) generally will throw away tender plants if unsold, within 14 days of delivery without marking them down. No discounts. Tossed into the trash and locked.
This is because of US tax code.
If they sell declining plants at a discount they lose money even if they sell the plants for more than the plants cost them. Big retailers throw away plants (believe me they are inventoried and counted) because they can then write them off as a loss on their books at full retail price.
Let's say they pay $0.25 per petunia for 5,000 billion petunias. They retail each petunia at $.99. If they throw away a faded crappy petunia they get to write off a loss of $.99 against their other retail profits. If they sell a half crappy petunia at a discount for $.50 that's a mere .25 cent profit which loses them money. They make more money in accounting losses throwing away the petunia for a dollar.
You can thank your government tax laws for stupid stuff like that.
Small local nursery businesses cannot survive playing that kind of volume loss game. They have to care for the plants and sell them at full retail to stay alive.
Most tender bedding plants are good from the grower for no more than 2 weeks. After that they outgrow their pots, get leggy and spindly and pale. Nobody will pay full price for them.
Good local nurseries usually do business with growers and greenhouses that that the big retailers do not. Small local nurseries and their suppliers will often stock plant types big retailers won't touch because they don't sell fast enough and there is not enough demand, and the big retailer has no means of keeping the plants alive and salable beyond two weeks time.
Which is exactly why I choose to shop at local small nurseries. I can get unusual plants without hzaving to have them shipped from 16 states away and I am helping a local family and employees earn a living, pay taxes back into my community and stay in business. It's win/win all the way around.
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