From a scrappy roadside lot to an expansive destination for gardeners, designers and casual plant lovers alike, Merrifield Garden Center has become a beloved piece of Northern Virginia’s landscape. The story reads like a local-lore success: two friends saw potential in a weedy parcel at Lee Highway and Gallows Road, opened a tiny red-barn shop on April 9, 1971, and slowly—patiently—built something much bigger than themselves. That modest beginning is still part of the company DNA: family run, plant-first, community oriented.1
A family business that grew up
Founders Bob Warhurst and Buddy Williams started with less than an acre of plants and a small store; through steady expansion and careful attention to quality, Merrifield transformed into a multi-location regional nursery and garden center. Today the group operates multiple full-service locations across Northern Virginia—Merrifield, Fair Oaks and Gainesville—each designed to inspire and to serve both weekend hobbyists and professional landscapers. The company highlights its roots in hands-on horticulture and customer service, and that heritage shows in the layouts and staff knowledge you encounter in store.2
What you’ll find when you visit
Step into any Merrifield location and the scale is immediately apparent: sweeping display beds, large greenhouses, a curated house-plant section, and aisles of garden accessories and seasonal décor. Beyond the plants themselves, Merrifield offers a broad array of services to turn ideas into reality—landscape design and installation, delivery and planting, custom potting, and a plant diagnostic clinic for when things don’t go according to plan. Whether you want a single statement tree, a full patio planting, or expert advice on pests and soil, there’s an in-store resource or horticulturist ready to help.3
Scale + expertise
What began on a tiny lot now encompasses dozens of acres of growing grounds and a workforce that supports retail, wholesale and landscape operations. Recent coverage notes Merrifield operates over many acres of plants and employs a large team—evidence of how the business scaled to serve both homeowners and commercial clients while preserving horticultural expertise in every layer of the operation. That size allows Merrifield to hand-select plant varieties from around the country while maintaining a deep inventory of regionally proven species.4
The people behind the plants
Although the business has expanded, Merrifield still leans on a tight community of horticulturists, designers and seasoned sales staff. The website highlights its team of plant-savvy employees and often points customers toward in-store specialists for landscape appointments, custom container work, and troubleshooting. Customers frequently note the difference experienced staff make—good tips at the right time of year can save months of progress and hundreds of dollars on plant replacements.5
Classes, clinics and community
Merrifield positions itself as more than a retail operation: it’s a learning hub. Regular classes, seasonal workshops and a plant diagnostic clinic help novices and experienced gardeners sharpen their skills. From seasonal container workshops to seminars on pruning and native plantings, the calendar is curated to match the rhythms of the growing season and the needs of local homeowners. These programs underscore the company’s role as an educator for the community.6
Testimonials — why locals keep coming back
Walk the aisles or scroll review sites and a few themes emerge: selection, expertise and service. Reviewers praise Merrifield’s depth of inventory—especially for shrubs, specimen trees and hard-to-find container plants—and they frequently call out staff willingness to troubleshoot pest or soil issues. Another common note: the company’s willingness to handle big jobs, from delivery logistics to full landscape installs, which local homeowners say makes renovation projects far less stressful.
See local reviews and social posts for a sample of customer voices.
Design and delivery — full-service convenience
If you’re after the magazine look without the DIY headache, Merrifield’s landscape design and installation team offers consultations that move from concept sketches to finished plantings. Delivery and professional planting services remove the heavy lifting—and the company’s custom potting and container design services are especially handy for renters or condo dwellers aiming for high-impact planters. The same teams can often advise on plant selection for specific microclimates—shade vs. sun, city-street exposure, or heavy clay soils common in parts of Fairfax County.7
Visiting tips
Plan your visit by season: spring brings a riot of annuals and patio plants, summer is when specimen trees and shrubs are easy to inspect, and fall is prime for planting trees and perennials. Bring a photo of your space (or even a soil sample) for the best in-store advice, and keep an eye on the events page for workshops that match your project timeline. Most locations are dog friendly and open long weekend hours—perfect for popping in after work or on an errand run.8
Final word — rooted in the neighborhood
Merrifield Garden Center’s arc—from red barn to regionally recognized garden destination—offers a reassuring lesson in slow growth done right. The company balances scale with horticultural know-how, retail with education, and convenience with craft. For Northern Virginians who love to garden, design a backyard refuge, or simply pick up a living accent for the porch, Merrifield remains a go-to stop where local history and hands-on plant care meet.9
Merrifield
8132 Route 29,
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-560-6222
Fair Oaks
12101 Route 29,
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-968-9600
Gainesville
6895 Wellington Road,
Gainesville, VA 20156
703-368-1919
This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.
Sources
Merrifield Garden Center
Merrifield Garden Center
Merrifield Garden Center
SAP News Center
Merrifield Garden Center
Merrifield Garden Center
Merrifield Garden Center
Merrifield Garden Center
Merrifield Garden Center
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