How to buy large quantities of landscape plants

Hi. I'm brand new to this site and have done very little landscaping/gardening. We recently hired a landscape designer and obtained a plan w/a plant list for our backyard. My husband and I will be doing much of the installation ourselves. My question is, what is the best way to approach purchasing a substantial amount of shrubs/perrenials, etc.? Is it worth it to try and do on our own and if so, how? Or, should we just use a landscaper to obtain them and pay the markup?

Thanks,
Gina

I found a nursery that caters to the commerical populations (contractors, landscape architects, etc.) Usually you can go there with a truck or trailer and load up for a fraction of the cost. My problem with this (there are acres and acres and acres of plants) is that there are no tags!! So I bought a holly when I thought it was a camilia (I love the holly but still......) But if you know what you want and the folks running the nursery have the time to direct you - you can be directed to the correct area. Once there you have row upon row of the same plant to choose from.

Ask the person who designed for you if there are growers nearby of this sort.

Also Lowes/Home Depot has sales and you can look there for some of what you need.

Nothing to stop you from going to a local landscape nursery and asking for a discount for your large purchase.

Or, you can learn to propagate - purchase one of something and make some more of your own (this would be more work and more time waiting to get your landscape filled in ..plus the trial and error of it ...but you would learn alot.)

And last, ask around maybe a neighbor, family member etc. etc. has some to share.

More important than obtaining the plants you need is understanding how to plant and what you need -hole size, depth, amendments, watering, etc. etc. So you don't waste your money and your time. Although, a lot is learned from failure as well as success. Good Luck with your plan! I think it is a great idea to get the plan from someone trained and used to what your climate needs.

I’ll have to agree with missingrosie even though folks have to make a liven they don’t have to make it all of one person in one day and off me .LOL I know the times are ruff right now and they will get ruffer if you can do it your self them by all means do so if not try it any way you will have it hard but the reward will be worth the effort and the blessing of knowing you did it your self that is priceless and not to mention your friends will love it.


My Garden Blessed By God was Well Worth my time and effort.~;>)

The Sarg.

You might also find out from your landscape designer how much it would cost for them to get the plants for you. You will get charged a markup, but keep in mind that they can get plants at wholesale prices so even when you add the markup it's probably about the same as what you'd pay retail buying the plants yourself at a nursery. If you can find one of those wholesale type of places that also sells to the public that's probably your cheapest option but as missingrosie pointed out they don't always have things very well labeled and aren't necessarily staffed to help you out with your purchases so I'd only go there if you know what the plants are that you're looking for (or else see if your designer would go there with you and make sure you get the right things)

It's true, you'll pay more if the landscaper installs the plants for you, but remember, that price may include time and labor. Also your plantings are then guaranteed for a year. It's kind of a Catch 22. Do it yourself and take a chance, or have it professionally installed and have a 1 year guarantee. My DD is in the business and many times she had to go back a year later and replace plants, even when it's the customer's fault the plant's not doing well. It's usually because they didn't follow her after care instructions, like watering in the heat of summer. She's even had to replace trees because the customer didn't like the way it was growing and was sure it was dying. The customer is always right. I have several very nice trees in my yard because she saved some of the rejects and gave them to me. We have a good laugh when she's here, "look at that happy Fat Albert spruce that Mr. No-it-all said was dying." "It's growing like a weed." I also got a nice Weeping Larch from her that way.

Like missingrosie said, see if a local nursery/garden center will give you a discount for a large purchase. Maybe your designer can recommend one. The wholesale/retail nursery I go to with my DD has everything tagged very well. They are either in big pots or wooden boxes ready for cash n' carry customers with a truck or van. They even load it up for the customer. You wouldn't believe the amount of plant material that can be stuffed into an SUV.

Have fun and enjoy your soon-to-be, beautiful yard.

To quote myself “even though folks have to make a liven they don’t have to make it all of one person in one day and off me .LOL I know the times are ruff right now and they will get ruffer if you can do it your self them by all means do so if not try it any way you will have it hard but the reward will be worth the effort and the blessing of knowing you did it your self that is priceless and not to mention your friends will love it.”


NOW there is Also Lowes/Home Depot have design and sales teams that can help you .they also have sales and you can look there for some of what you need. and have a 1 year guarantee on their plants unconditionally guaranteed for a year. Simply keep your receipt or the credit card account that you purchased it on and with an account that size most folks will have it because it is a home improvement thing! So no problem ;>)


Here in Tennessee there are hundreds of local nurseries in one lil town and most are with one family and most folks know them so they have been around for generations and are not like most Anywhere else they are more like family that in it for the all mighty dollar they do sell to the public and contractors as well as shipping all over . not All Nurseries are bad but I would shop around as you can see there are good and bad that would be to you best intrest

The Sarg.

Have Fun Both of You.