Best Value in Buying Plants

We're in and now our thoughts turn to outside. An acre seemed like a good idea a year ago but now not so much its very daunting. We're getting a friend to do up a plan and are pretty green fingered ourselves so don't mind doing alot of the grunt work either. Going to just get back ploughed and sown by a local farmer. Front we'd like a bit more professional approach.

Any tips on where is good to get plants. I know the usual garden centres are possibly the last place to go as we need to get value for the budget of say E2k for trees and shrubs.

I think you should give your location or county, then you would get more local reccomendations.

I would say in general, the smaller garden centres with less overheads are much better value and would be able to give you a decent discount.

I go to lots of different garden centres and have found that the best value is to be had at a little place that has just the owner and one part time staff member.

Alternatively if you had a plant list you could check out any local nurseries. Or go to them and see what they have available and work from there.

good luck, i hope to be in your position some time this year (when we get the building/hard landscaping finished)

We're based in the sunny south east but anywhere in Leinster is fine.

look in B & Q Liffey valley they have lots of plants that look cheap to me

My folks always went to Glenealy or Van der Wels in Co. Wicklow. Van der Wels, in particular, is supposed to be very good. I don't know how they compare price-wise but they are a small outfit with a great selection - it sounds like the place where a deal could be done if you are spending a fair amount.

I've recommended Future Forests here countless times. They're great on advice and do good bulk discounts. They do mail order or you can collect (some of the very big trees they have are too big to post). No connection.

Sherman said:

I've recommended Future Forests here countless times. They're great on advice and do good bulk discounts. They do mail order or you can collect (some of the very big trees they have are too big to post). No connection.

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I second that. No connection with them - just got an order delivered last week.