[maistocars]

Lowe's on 466a and also on 441/27. However, July is not a good time to be getting plants as pickings are slim. Best time is mid to late March through April. We used to go KB Landscaping but have found their plants are no longer as good quality as they used to be.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by Dvorajk

Wondering where resident gardeners shop for their plants. I live in Mallory Square and like to tackle some of my own landscaping needs myself.

it depends, if you just like to do it or if you are a 'landscape snob' for the latter go spend the ridiculous bucks on the professional degreed guys around here. Otherwise high tail it to Lowes. We have found over the last almost 30 years here in different parts of Florida that if you can read and use common sense, Lowes is all you need, costs a lot less, and grows far far better.

Yes when we moved here I had it all done because she wanted to. We have redone everything in less than 4 years because it all pretty much sucked. Now it's far more satisfying and growing extremely well. and yes we tried the landscapng places to get plants, still a no go on that one also.

[Pwanderson]

Green Isle Gardens in Groveland is worth the drive. They have tons of native plants and very knowledge people to help you. You can order from their website before you go and they will hve your order ready. Their pricing is very good and the majority of their plants are grown locally!

[Aherzog]

I've used Fairfield Farms Nursery on Rt. 301 in Oxford just past 466 on left.
Large variety, several different sizes on some. Yes, a bit more expensive but worth it in my opinion.

[Gullwing]

Originally Posted by Dvorajk

Wondering where resident gardeners shop for their plants. I live in Mallory Square and like to tackle some of my own landscaping needs myself.

I think Naty’s nursery will fit your needs. Located on 468 before commerce road. Fruitland park.
Sod and plants we bought were about 1/2 the prices of box stores. They like cash

[Pondboy]

Shop them all. But be knowledgeable about what you’re buying.

You will definitely need to amend the soil and fertilize the plants at least 3 times a year ; March, June and Sept.

Even thought they say the soil is “well draining” it’s not always the case.

I’d recommend this web site to get some detailed information on plants. There not all in our zone, but most are. ;

Guide to Florida Landscape Plants for the southern half of the Sunshine State

[RWhitburn]

Since moving to The Villages 11 years ago, I’ve had so many plant failures from buying at the big box stores and local nurseries. Since then, I’ve replaced many with native plants which thrive here and attract pollinators. Green Isle Gardens in Groveland is worth the trip! They have a huge selection of native plants and can provide you with so much information. They’ve got everything from trees to shrubs to groundcovers.

Green Isle Gardens - Green Isle Gardens - Florida Native Plants for Sale

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by RWhitburn

Since moving to The Villages 11 years ago, I’ve had so many plant failures from buying at the big box stores and local nurseries. Since then, I’ve replaced many with native plants which thrive here and attract pollinators. Green Isle Gardens in Groveland is worth the trip! They have a huge selection of native plants and can provide you with so much information. They’ve got everything from trees to shrubs to groundcovers.

Green Isle Gardens - Green Isle Gardens - Florida Native Plants for Sale

I have bought many plants from Green Isle Nurseries such as Walter’s Viburnums, Firebush, Oakleaf Hydrangea, coral honeysuckle, Simpson Stoppers, Marlberry, native bluberries, etc. My favorite native ground covers also come from there. Excellent native plant nursery. Well worth a visit.

[Ozzello]

Lived here almost 60 years. I am a pro landscape designer and have worked in wholesale and retail nurseries since I was 13.
I don't "answer" questions by telling you to go ask someone else.

NO WAY would I use Home Depot or Lowes.

Your best bet is Goney's in Lady Lake. It is the ONLY retail nursery I will use. None of the other nurseries mentioned or not mentioned here are even close to the same class. They are still in the business of selling plants and will sell you what you like the looks of, and probably not give you a full rundown of "pros and cons".

You would benefit from a 30-minute phone call with me about soil and pest issues you will be dealing with and what plants you think you might want to use. Get a note pad and call 3523038610.

[Ozzello]

Originally Posted by midiwiz

it depends, if you just like to do it or if you are a 'landscape snob' for the latter go spend the ridiculous bucks on the professional degreed guys around here. Otherwise high tail it to Lowes. We have found over the last almost 30 years here in different parts of Florida that if you can read and use common sense, Lowes is all you need, costs a lot less, and grows far far better.

Yes when we moved here I had it all done because she wanted to. We have redone everything in less than 4 years because it all pretty much sucked. Now it's far more satisfying and growing extremely well. and yes we tried the landscapng places to get plants, still a no go on that one also.

LOL at thinking any of those guys actually have degrees. False claims and logical sounding half-truths are thicker than lovebugs around here with most of these landscape "designers" and nursery workers. And you won't find anything better at Lowes or Home Depot.
Big pretty nurseries just mean they make a lot of money.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Ozzello

Lived here almost 60 years. I am a pro landscape designer and have worked in wholesale and retail nurseries since I was 13.
I don't "answer" questions by telling you to go ask someone else.

NO WAY would I use Home Depot or Lowes.

Your best bet is Goney's in Lady Lake. It is the ONLY retail nursery I will use. None of the other nurseries mentioned or not mentioned here are even close to the same class. They are still in the business of selling plants and will sell you what you like the looks of, and probably not give you a full rundown of "pros and cons".

You would benefit from a 30-minute phone call with me about soil and pest issues you will be dealing with and what plants you think you might want to use. Get a note pad and call 3523038610.

Last Februrary, I replaced the builder installed half dead tree in my front yard with a 3 trunk Robelinii Palm.

The cheapest I could find was on 466, just east of the Golf Cart store and Lighthouse Fish Market. $250 + 200 to remove old tree and plant the new one.

I went to Lowes and the had the same size palm for $95.99. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit it in my wife's SUV, so I got the slightly smaller size for $56.99.

My neighbor across the street and I dug out the old tree and planted the new one.

Took us about an hour and all it cost me was a bottle of Bourbon as a thank you.

It's already grown by more then a foot and I couldn't be happier.

My neighbor was the one who recommended Lowes, as he had done the same thing in his front yard 6-7 years ago, when he bought his house. His looks great, tall and full. I expect mine to be close to the same in a few years. As it is, it's a 100% improvement over what I had.

[Ozzello]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Last Februrary, I replaced the builder installed half dead tree in my front yard with a 3 trunk Robelinii Palm.

The cheapest I could find was on 466, just east of the Golf Cart store and Lighthouse Fish Market. $250 + 200 to remove old tree and plant the new one.

I went to Lowes and the had the same size palm for $95.99. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit it in my wife's SUV, so I got the slightly smaller size for $56.99.

My neighbor across the street and I dug out the old tree and planted the new one.

Took us about an hour and all it cost me was a bottle of Bourbon as a thank you.

It's already grown by more than a foot and I couldn't be happier.

My neighbor was the one who recommended Lowes, as he had done the same thing in his front yard 6-7 years ago, when he bought his house. His looks great, tall and full. I expect mine to be close to the same in a few years. As it is, it's a 100% improvement over what I had.

That nursery you went to was as crooked and uneducated as they come, which is why they had to close up shop and move to the middle of nowhere.
The palm you saw for $95, most good landscapers buy for $50 and plant for $75 or $100 depending on context.
I will say, that when the job is very small, there has to be money in the job to actually make a profit. 2 men grabbing 1 plant, driving a truck that isn't leaking oil on the road in front of your house 20 minutes to your home, spending 30 minutes removing the tree, planting the new one and watering it in, checking the bubbler is there and properly adjusted...
Standard pricing:
1 hour with truck- $50
2 man hours- $100
+ price of plant.
The problem is there are no 2 men in the world that will be sent on this job and back at the nursery in 1 hour. But the process is how that nursery works. The EXPENSIVE nursery across the street sends out a truck and 2 men every Friday to do "small installs". But they have higher overhead and owners that expect to make more money. PLUS you got to shop at a cleaner prettier nursery. Pricing will be similar. Maybe higher.
Yes, doing ANY job yourself should save you money over hiring it done. But you didn't mention cutting up the old tree and dragging it to the curb and the mess you had to clean in your trunk.
What about warrantee from the nursery? That has value as well.

[Ozzello]

Originally Posted by Gullwing

I think Naty’s nursery will fit your needs. Located on 468 before commerce road. Fruitland park.
Sod and plants we bought were about 1/2 the prices of box stores. They like cash

"Likes cash"? So... cheating on taxes or stealing from the owner? Well as long as it SAVES ME MONEY!

[RobertScott]

K and B in Wildwood just off 301 by Darrell's Diner

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Ozzello

That nursery you went to was as crooked and uneducated as they come, which is why they had to close up shop and move to the middle of nowhere.
The palm you saw for $95, most good landscapers buy for $50 and plant for $75 or $100 depending on context.
I will say, that when the job is very small, there has to be money in the job to actually make a profit. 2 men grabbing 1 plant, driving a truck that isn't leaking oil on the road in front of your house 20 minutes to your home, spending 30 minutes removing the tree, planting the new one and watering it in, checking the bubbler is there and properly adjusted...
Standard pricing:
1 hour with truck- $50
2 man hours- $100
+ price of plant.
The problem is there are no 2 men in the world that will be sent on this job and back at the nursery in 1 hour. But the process is how that nursery works. The EXPENSIVE nursery across the street sends out a truck and 2 men every Friday to do "small installs". But they have higher overhead and owners that expect to make more money. PLUS you got to shop at a cleaner prettier nursery. Pricing will be similar. Maybe higher.
Yes, doing ANY job yourself should save you money over hiring it done. But you didn't mention cutting up the old tree and dragging it to the curb and the mess you had to clean in your trunk.
What about warrantee from the nursery? That has value as well.

That "crooked" nursery was actually cheaper than any of the other half dozen nurseries I had visited before settling on Lowes.

The "mess" in my wife's SUV was contained by an old blanket we keep in the back of the SUV for just such an occasion. I removed the Palm, pulled out the blanket, shook out the small amount of dirt and threw it in the washing machine. No muss, no fuss...

The old tree was easily cut up with heavy duty Fisker shears (that I bought at Costco), and most of it fit in one of the brown paper yard bags. The bag and the rest of the tree was left by the curb and taken by the trash guys the next day...

Warranty? It's been 6 months and the palm is thriving... If it died within the first few months, Lowes would have replaced it.

If it dies a year from now, I'll replace it myself and I'll still be way ahead of the game...