Andy Charles has started a post about buying online, so rather than clash, here is a question.
Would you, should you, buy your plants online?
Most Landscaping products are easy to buy online, it has a size and specification.
A plant is different.
Yes, most Nurseries have first quality plants, but what does that mean. We have seen plants from some very large Nurseries, with letters after their name, but comparing like for like, our plants are better, so what does it all mean? What is first quality?
We have noticed a trend in the last three years, for customers not to visit, inspect and select their plants, but to order by email, and just collect, or take delivery.
As Nursery owners, we are proud of our stock, and every plant is different, unlike most other Landscaping products.
The best way to buy plants is to see them, and we are sure that all plant suppliers would agree. For all of our starting stock, we inspect before ordering, hand selecting where possible.
So, where do you stand?
Would you, should you, have you, bought plants for your projects online?
Views: 23
Replies
I have a mental barrier to not seeing the plants before purchasing. Although I have ordered without viewing before from a very trusted source and the plants were good quality it just didn't feel right.
I think that's partly because although I have a plan in mind seeing the plants in the flesh can lead to further inspiration and tweeks to the final scheme.
Possibly the rise in ordering without viewing could be linked to the planting element of jobs not being put highly enough on the agenda. I've viewed some projects where the designs are good and the landscaping good but the planting seems to be lacking a wee bit, possibly also tied into more clients asking for low maintenance schemes - which I personally don't think should lead to a lack of imagination and effort.
Andy
Thanks for your reply.
May I take one bit from your post "I think that's partly because although I have a plan in mind seeing the plants in the flesh can lead to further inspiration and tweeks to the final scheme."
Cool, this sounds like a good plant buyer, switched onto selling more to his clients. Judging plants in front of him rather than online.
Buy, sell, great gardens, happy customers!
Andy Westacott said:
The first guy I worked for was mainly a plantsman, totally inspired me, he managed to gain lots of pure planting jobs, I think mainly because he was very talented and came across exceptionally well to the right sort of clients.
I'd love to get more planting work, lots more!
And if that meant more trips to nurseries - all the better.
Andy Westacott said:
My experience, and I used to buy massive amount of plants from bedding plants to mature trees. Ideally you better see the plants and even arrange the delivery yourself if possible.
it is the best to work with someone that you trust and that he can see the plants and describe well to the times that you just can not be there. It will never be the same as choosing the plants yourself as it is hard to describe a plant or to see all the options available at the nursery.But many times I had few trusty people that I could place an order over the phone.Than , I think it can be nearly anywhere, A good plants man that you trust can pallet it and send it elsewhere for an extra charge.
If you do buy online, with just bumping to a site, I can tell you from selling plants online few tips:
1. Ring and ask- do not just order as the image might be different than the real plant.
2. Ask how it packed, some plants can travel well . some are soft and will arrive broken.
if you pack a palm tree/ olive tree or hardy plants they can travel well. Youcka will travel well if packed well.
3. Do not order plants in the 60 days before Christmas or a bit after it on a courier service. It may take many days to be delivered and the plants may even die. I lost many plants that I sent to customers and had to refund them.
I do not do garden design anymore these days but if I would it worth working with steve and tina or other retailers in here that are happy to give you a good service.
I am, for the first time ever. Last week I spent £1,600 of a client's money on mature field grown Buxus balls from Earlstone Box and Topiary. I will admit to a number of sleepless nights worrying about whether I'd done the right thing when I hadn't actually seen the stock before buying. I couldn't spare or justify the time it would have taken to visit the nursery but it reasssured me a bit that they are members of the European Boxwood and Topiary Association and I was buying with a credit card so could reject the delivery if it wasn't up to scratch. I was also told the nursery owner would be hand selecting the plants himself. Nevertheless I was nervous! The plants looked good, we got them all planted the same day and now we just wait to see if they establish well.
At the same time I ordered from Knoll Gardens Nursery. I was after a particular ornamental grass usually available from my local nursery but not this season. Really excellent customer service - each and every email sent replied to promptly and always the same day, and great help and advice. The stock will be delivered on Thursday. I'll report back!
But I still prefer to select my own plants ... and I still think I should have made the time to visit Earlstone before going ahead.