The best Garden Center within an hour's drive

Now that we're coming up on our second summer in our new house I'm looking to do some more landscaping. I've been to Blue Mount and "the other one" closer to Leesburg. Can't recall the name. Neither were terribly impressive.

Where is your favorite garden center? Thanks!

 

Merrifield Garden Center is by far the best...it's not around the corner, but well worth the drive...they have everything:

Merrifield Garden Center
12101 Lee Highway
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
703-968-9600

 

Merrifield is only about 30 minutes away, just down the Ffx County Parkway. They definitely have an impressive inventory and very knowledgeable staff. But their prices are higher than other places. Meadows Farms is OK but the one on Rt 7 is more of a seasonal place, check out one of their other locations in Fairfax. Also Betty's Azalea Ranch in Fairfax, just of the Ffx Pway (either 29 or 50, forget which) -- for lawn issues, talk to Stephen there.

I'm interested in hearing if anyone knows of any nurseries out west that may have lower prices than places closer in to the 'burbs.

 

I second Merrifield in Fairfax - Fair Oaks location. It's a great place with great selection and helpful/knowledgeable staff. I plan to head there this week!

Take Fairfax Co Pkwy to Route 29. Left off exit ramp onto Rte 29 North and it is down only about 1/2 mile on right side. 12101 Lee Highway

Website
http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com/

 

for less seen classic plants (if you like perennials) I like greenworks. They're not as big as merrifield, but can have some things that the big nurseries don't. Greenworks doesn't chase the latest fads like some of the big guys. they're on 50. They also have a lot of trees and shrubs.

 

Layngs is a fun place to take the kids and it's close by.
http://www.layngsflowerfarm.com/

 

Also try Marie's over by Costco in Sterling. I love her stories, and all her plants seem to really thrive.

 

Stopped into Laygns yesterday. Pretty empty. Am going to google greenworks and maybe find it today.

 

last frost safe date is around Mother's day here, maybe the first week of May for a little gamble. So lots of stuff isn't in yet.

 

I recommend Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, MD - It may be a bit more than an hour's drive, but it's well worth the trip! Also, it's easy to find and its just off of Route 50, a few miles west of Annapolis.

http://www.homesteadgardens.com/index.php

 

We also bought from Greenworks last year, if you go ask for Beth...they are near 606 and Route 50...great staff, pricing was a bit better than other
places. They do have a large selection of trees and shrubs (our landscaper purchased over 30 trees from them last year - they were the only place that had healthy looking crepe mrytles,over 20' tall).

 

Merrifield Garden center at either location (Fair Oaks is closer) probably is the biggest, and has the best selection. But they are not the cheapest. If you want ideas, go there.

If you know what you want, other places will probably be less expensive. I have found great deals at the John Deere Nursery in Round Hill. But they only sell, they do not do installs. They will give you referrals for install.