Few things in life are better than a leisurely Saturday morning trip to your local nursery, plant shop, or flower house. Coffee in hand, dreaming aloud about that landscape re-design you’ve been noodling on for months, it is truly scrumptious to wander among living things and have them beckon to you: “Your yard could look like this!”
Of course, the behind-the-scenes masters of just such an experience are the folks who work at those garden centers and nurseries, caring for the botanicals and fielding question after question from their freshly caffeinated and inspired patrons.
So what do those hardworking folks wish their customers knew? We asked our experts. Jen McDonald, co-founder of Garden Girls in Texas, and Mary Delia Poynter, owner of the flower-forward M Delia Designs in Atlanta, Georgia, to weigh in.
Key Takeaways
Arrive prepared with information on your garden.Shop at the right time and make sure your schedule allows you to browse. Ask questions and be kind to the associates.
Time Your Visit
Sometimes it really is just a leisurely pass through a shop, but other times, we go in meaning business: We’ve got things we want to accomplish and plants we plan to return home with. In those moments, choosing the best time to visit is crucial, since some days are busier than others.
“Understand that the busiest times will be on weekends during spring or right before (or after) a significant weather event. Pack your patience,” says McDonald. “In the same way that hairdressers become therapists, plant professionals often field questions about plant preferences and growing habits, and can double as unofficial landscape designers.”
Make sure you’re leaving lots of time and space for staff members to answer questions for other customers, as you’d certainly want the same courtesy extended to you.
Credit: Steve Bender
Trust The Pros
Whether it’s flowers or plants, the people who work in these shops are passionate about their product, and they love collaborating with customers to get the final result just right.
When it comes to flower arrangements ordered by phone or online, Poynter suggests giving creative license over to flower designers rather than getting too in the weeds (that’s a little botanical pun for you!). “We always get a big chuckle out of adjectives that are used for orders. ‘Make it beautiful,’ is one we see a lot. Don’t worry: We’ll always make our arrangements beautiful!” laughs Poynter.
Know (Roughly) What You Need And Where It Will Live
It’s helpful to come prepared if you have a specific project in mind. But the pros are there to help, even if you’re starting from scratch. “If you’re unsure of exactly what you’re looking for, take a few photos of the space you need to fill,” says McDonald.
What kinds of questions should you be able to answer?
“Whether the area receives little sun (less than two hours per day), partial sun (2-4 hours a day), or full sun (6-8 hours per day). Try to be as specific as possible when discussing your needs, for example: ‘I have 10 feet of space on the southern side of my home that I’d like to fill with evergreen shrubs.’ ” The more specificity you can offer, the better the chances you’ll go home with something that perfectly fits the bill.
Leave Dogs (And Kids!) At Home
For serious planning visits, McDonald says it’s much easier to focus without caring for other small creatures.
Dogs can create traffic jams, cause (or worse, have) accidents in narrow aisles, and disrupt delicate plants on display. “Dogs also love the smell of soil amendments like blood or bone meal and compost,” says McDonald, “and they’ll seek them out.”
As far as kids are concerned, while it’s every child’s dream scenario to play hide-and-seek in a plant store, it can cause trouble. “Flower and plant shops usually sell breakables like vases and planters,” says McDonald, and those things can be easily overturned.
More than anything, though, dogs and small children will distract from the precious time spent with your plant professional who wants to provide you the best experience they can. However, you’re the only one who lives in your home, and so you’ll be the person fielding specific questions about sun, placement, and preference. With your full attention, plant pros can do so much more.
Credit:
Southern Living Plant Collection
Source Healthy Plants
The best results start with the best ingredients.
“The first thing I look at is the color of the leaves,” says McDonald. “If they are turning yellow or have brown spots or holes, I keep walking. I look for the fullest transplant regardless of size—from 4-inch herb transplants to 100-gallon trees. Note the shape. Look for healthy stems and trunks that grow upright rather than sprawling.”
Similarly, the soil should feel moist but not sodden, and certainly not bone-dry. Plants that experience too much or too little moisture will likely be stressed and not survive the transplant you’re hoping to complete.
“Pay attention to the surrounding plants. If an entire section of tomato plants looks yellowish or brownish, it’s a good indication that the planting window has passed,” McDonald advises. So if a whole section of inventory is suddenly discounted? “There’s likely a good reason,” she says.
Take Good Care Of What You’ve Got
It’s so much easier to maintain than it is to start over.
“Flowers are expensive to grow, to raise, and to artfully arrange,” says Poynter, “and though they aren’t as much maintenance as plants, you do still have to take good care of them if you want to enjoy them. Change their water every other day or so, and never throw away the flower food!” Flower food helps keep bacteria out of the water and extend the lifespan of your cut blooms. “If you don’t have flower food, a dash of bleach will work. Don’t waste your vodka or your Sprite,” she says.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto; Design: Mark Thompson; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Above All, Be Kind
What seems like the simplest rule is often also the easiest to forget: Be kind.
“The golden rule of ‘do unto others’ is not lost on those in customer service, and a ‘Thank you for your help!’ goes a long way,” McDonald says.
Professionals in this industry chose it because they love what they do, and they’re deeply knowledgeable about it, which makes their time precious and valuable. “When you take the time to get to know the people behind the plants, you’ll build a valuable relationship, and their expertise will greatly benefit you,” says McDonald. Wouldn’t we all love to live the dream of having a plant or flower professional on call for our questions? That relationship is built, visit by visit, kind interaction after warm conversation.
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