Independent Nurseries vs. Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

What are your experiences of using local nurseries and garden centers for flowers, garden products etc.?

I am all about supporting the independent small business owner, but just returned from Blue Mount Nursery on Route 7 and was staggered at how expensive it is. $40 for hanging baskets, almost $10 for small annuals.

Home Depot does not have the range, but I resent paying double the price. So I'm in a quandary and may have to venture back to HD for the foreseeable future.

 

Blue Mount is a complete rip off. For annuals big box stores are ok, but if you are looking for perennials - go to an independent nursery, because the plant quality is better.

I am a HUGE fan of Greenworks and will sometimes go to Meadows Farms

 

Marie's Nursery on Marie Rd. (Sterling near Costco) absolutely the best in the area. Bring a check or cash, no credit cards. Old fashion quality, with some unbelievable deals.

 

I've heard really great things about Greenworks as well, and will be checking them out the next time we have major plantings to do. In the meantime for a plant here or there, we use a coupon at Meadows Farm or pick up plants at Costco.

I've been satisfied with the annuals we'll frequently get from HD. And if you can get them on sale, even better! I think I got 3 flats for under $20 about a month ago.

 

Does Marie's have a variety of plants, trees, flowers?

 

Marie's specializes in plants that they have grown in their own greenhouses. You shop right in the greenhouses that they use. All kinds of plants, to include vegetable plants, bedding plants, potted plants, ground cover etc. No trees or bushes. It's an experience nothing like it in the area.

 

We like Green Works. THe last few plants I bought from HD: two had tiny little whit bugs. the last had sat near posion Ivy at some point and I had a severe allergic reaction to it. I no longer buy plants from HD

 

Is Marie Rd on a map? Google Maps can't find it, and Google search for Marie's Nursery is coming up dry....
Thanks!

Edit: Nevermind, I found it... Maries Rd.

Thanks!

 

Williams Nursery, 45865 Maries Road. (I usually just call them Marie's Nursery, too.) They don't have a website, though. Was just there this morning; bought some heirloom tomato plants. They (and the house near the Best Buy shopping center) are the last holdouts to development in that area and have been there forever. They have a huge variety of 3 gal. perennials for 6.99 and the quality is excellent.

Also, Monroe Vo-Tech on Children's Road in Leesburg is clearing out the rest of their plant sale at 50% off until 4 p.m. tomorrow. They had beautiful hanging baskets for 20 bucks last week; would be 10 now, if they have any left. They have a mix of what their horticulture students have grown and plants ordered just for their sale - excellent quality and lots of variety, at least, last week - and trees and shrubs. Worth a trip, I think.

 

Charlotte, thank you for clarifying. We've known it like locals for years as Marie's Nursery (because of the dirt road name), but it is Williams Nursery. In fact, they take checks made out to Marie's.

BTW, they have an absolutely massive production of poinsettias during Christmas time.