garden centre are a rip off!!

I'm sure we all know or have an idea that garden centres rip us off at every chance. well this weekend I found out that they make a profit of at least 300% on plants that we buy.

remember I said recently that I sent away for the 'Symphony' series of Osteospermum? They cost me 34p/47c for rooted cuttings in 2 inch plugs. I saw these plants on sale in garden centres here at the weekend and the price was scandelous. for the same plug potted into a 4 inch pot they were charging £3/$4.20

I was thinking about complaining but held my tongue.

Mark

the attached photo is one of the Osteospermum 'Orange Symphony' that I bought.

I know what you mean Mark! But it is supply and demand. They supply and They demand high prices while we demand variety and get the same old things year after year :~P

Zany my wallflower is called E. 'Apricot Delight' not just Apricot. The good news is it can be rooted very easilt from non flowering stem tip cuttings. I will try this when the flowers are over.

Mark

I agree Mark.

I've been gardening for a friend this past week, they wanted a good portion of the garden rejigged. I offered to source the plants but they were so eager to get something green I was bundled into a car and taken to the GC. I was horrified at what they were prepared to pay but I couldn't persuade them otherwise.

Yesterday I went to my favourite nursery and could have saved my friend quite a bit of cash for better quality plants. Still I guess the GC has to pay far more in over heads than a nursery which is all outside bar the potting shed.

yes I agree but from 34p to £2.99 is some jump. I might consider selling my surplus plants to the people who keep asking me if I sell plants.

Mark

That's what I do for a couple of months a year. The money all goes back into the garden anyway, I find I get a lot of repeat business too.

Well, that'd be a start Mark, mail order as well i hope.
How much for your wallflower cuttings??
:*)

Thanks Mark. I 'll look for it by that name and see what I come up with. Good luck with the cuttings as well. I know the bowles mauve and yellows grow easily from cuttings so you should hopefully have great sucess.

Philomel no mail order :p just yet. B&Q has the new wallflower!! I suppose I could take cuttings for a select few to root themselves.

Mark

Hope i'm select enough then ;oP

GC's do charge higher prices because of their overheads but prices I am not willing to pay. I find the large stores here are incredibly inexpensive compared to the prices in England. I mean good shrubs in 1 gallon and 3 gallon pots that to me, cost next to nothing. There are always specials too where a really choice shrub can be bought for a couple of pounds - $3.50!! But I patronize local garden nurseries who maybe charge a little more than the stores but who deserve to be supported!! Back home my weekend jaunts would take me to Blooms of Bressingham. I enjoyed this GC very much not only for the plants but also for the tours around Alan and Adrian Bloom's private gardens. Back then a small perennial might cost about 70p!! I understand this business either changed hands or was closed down, can't remember which!!

Louisa they were bought over by someone and still promote plants.

Mark

Thanks Mark - I wonder if the same code of excellence is achieved!! Any idea if the old trains are still there?? I did notice Alan was doing some garden shows from the States and his plants made it here at the GCs!!

sorry,I dont know.

It's OK thanks - I can stop being lazy and research it :-)

Mark, Just vote with your feet, as they say. Too high, don't buy it. What's wrong with the guy making a profit? You never know what HE had to give for the stuff.

Oh yes and don't forget the tax on pots which was imposed not so long ago

c'mon the plants cost 34p (less if he buys more than me) and the pots 5p max so lets call it 40p. compost to fill a 4 inch pot (£4 for 80L = 5p litre) not very much but lets make it 60p. no heating required as it's been warm lately. so who rips who off? the wholesaler or the retailer?

Mark

Louisa

Blooms are now owned by R.A. Meredith & Son (Nurseries) Ltd

Mark

It's always the middle man who makes the money