please help me find the best places to buy the plants I'd like

Nenen

I am in the process of planting the garden in our new home and building some raised beds. As we have lots of shady spots I've been researching suitable plants and have a list of the ones I'd like to buy. I've looked in local garden centres but they are incredibly expensive! :eek: I've looked online at Van Meuwen, Crocus, Thompson and Greenfingers.co.uk but none of them have all the plants I'd like and, as I've not used any online plant suppliers before, I'm a bit wary of buying from them. Can anyone recommend any online plant suppliers or anywhere local to Cambridge please? :beer:

Leif

Have a look at your local Homebase. They might not have anything, but I was surprised to see that their soft fruit and herb plants were good quality and cheaper than the garden centres, so you won't lose much by looking.

EpsomOldie

Good morning Nenen

I've bought from Crocus - pricey, but excellent plants and service.

I've bought from Homebase too - bedding plants mostly. I wouldn't buy herbaceous plants from them. The quality is hit and miss and variety is poor. They're not that cheap either.

Thompson and Morgan - have been there and never again, not with a bargepole (IMHO). T+M have excellent marketing and promise a lot. I've found that plants are iffy at best and at worst: dead. And be careful about ringing up to complain / enquire as their number is premium rate! Cute, eh?

T+M's seeds are okay-ish, but overpriced IMO. For seeds, I use Premier Seeds Direct http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Premier-Seeds-Direct

Note: T+M are behind many newspaper and magazine offers. They have also bought up some small independents who have traded for years with good reputations, e.g.Vernons Geraniums. They then trade under the 'old' name but it's good old T+M underneath.

Hope that helps

Funky_Bold_Ribena

I usually either get them cheaper from ebay - they soon bulk up- or knowing what I want, go to a few plant fairs and get them there. Plus you can pick up other interesting stuff that you never knew about in the first place.

I'd be wary about doing it all in one year. Gardens need to evolve.

Davesnave

Plants for shade? Mail order? Easy...

http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/?gclid=CKTB__rNurYCFRHMtAod5D4A3g

No relation, just a normal nursery person I have met & would trust.

sobie

Take your list to your local nursery or independant garden centre, pass it to the plant manager and ask - Whats your best price? (of course check the size of the plant too).

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

Plants for shade? Mail order? Easy...

http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/?gclid=CKTB__rNurYCFRHMtAod5D4A3g

No relation, just a normal nursery person I have met & would trust.

Seconding this. I used to live quite near this nursery and have on
Y ever heard good about them. I have heard their personal advice is superb but I use their website as information all the time too.

aggypanthus

Can you post your plant list?

torbrex

Have you asked on Freecyle?

On my local one there are regular donors of plants, I am one of them, that will be splitting clumps at this time of year to make space in their borders.

Nenen

Thanks for all the information and great suggestions from everyone.

aggypanthus wrote: »

Can you post your plant list?

So far my wish list (depending on price and availability) includes:
Pyracantha (Orange Charmer)
Astrantia Major (claret)
Hellebore (pink and plum)
Hydrangea macrophylla
Skimmia Japonica Reevesiana
Cyclamen hederifolium
Fatsia
Pheasant Grass
Lilyturf
Bleeding Heart
Astilbe
Shuttlecock Fern
Trillium
Angelica
Brunnera Macrophylla
Carex Evergold
Heucherella Gold Strike & Heucherella Cappuccino
Bamboo of various colour stems - not sure which yet and it's very expensive!

I am currently researching climbing plants that do well in shade and will also get some Violas to fill in any gaps.

If anyone has any other suggestions I'd be very interested. I'm particularly keen on creating a colourful display for as much of the year as possible.

Two beds are dry shade and one is damp shade.

Nenen

torbrex wrote: »

Have you asked on Freecyle?

On my local one there are regular donors of plants, I am one of them, that will be splitting clumps at this time of year to make space in their borders.

Good idea - many thanks. Funnily enough I have just offered some plants on Freecycle myself but didn't think to ask for anything! doh!