When considering a nursery to shop at, personally, I shop at the garden departments of the local home improvement centers. I can do this because I am frugal (or stingy), and because I can recognize the various degrees of quality among plant material. I would not recommend this to anyone who might be tempted to purchase something simply because it is available, without considering the quality or the seasonable appropriateness. Such establishments often market items of inferior quality or that are out of season.

The next best option is the garden centers. These establishments typically market only what is appropriate to the season. Quality is also usually reliable. However, the expertise of the staff is often somewhat limited if available at all. The higher prices of material available from garden centers is justified by the quality and timeliness of the products.

Garden enthusiasts who want only the best products as well as reliable horticultural advice concerning these products shop at real nurseries. These establishments are usually staffed by actual horticulturists who are very familiar with the material that is marketed. Most clients consider the higher cost of plant material to be worth the horticultural expertise.

The most extreme of the nurseries are the specialty nurseries that limit their stock to, and consequently excel at specific plant material.

Most consumers know what the garden department of a home improvement warehouse store is. The more reputable nurseries and specialty nurseries are also easily identifiable. However, there may be some confusion in identifying garden centers because so many are now known as nurseries; just as Ladera Garden Center is known as a garden center rather than a nursery. I unfortunately don’t have a simple solution. Such distinctions can only be made from experience.