Plant and Nurseries.

Garden Centres as we know them today started to evolve in the UK  

in the 1960’s and 1970’s. The procedure of growing plants in pots 

originated in the USA and the idea made its way across the

Atlantic Ocean to our shores.

Once nurseries incorporated this technique into their growing

 procedures the flood-gates were open for the wide and varied proliferation

of plants that we see in the garden centres today.

NURSERIES

There are various types of nurseries.

Propagation

If we start at the beginning of the growing process you have

propagation nurseries where cuttings are propagated, e.g. shrubs,

 as liners (where you have plugs for bedding plants small shrubs are

called liners). In effect these nurseries are a bit like factories with their 

mass production.

Growers/Wholesalers

These liners are then bought by growers/wholesalers who grow the liners 

on from these young plants into saleable sized plants.

Wholesalers/Garden Centres

These plants are then ready for sale at either Wholesale Nurseries or

Garden Centres.

Wholesalers are generally only open to trade customers and some

wholesalers specify in their terms and conditions that multiples 

of 5 or 10 etc., need to be purchased of one variety to obtain

the trade discount.

In general Grower/Wholesale Nurseries do not take as much care 

with the appearance of their nursery because as a rule of thumb they

are not open to the public, they also tend to specialise in types or 

varieties of plants, e.g. Clematis, Roses. I have visited some wholesale nurseries and they have said bring some wellies with you for when you are walking around the nursery!

Garden Centres, however, need to take more care in the appearance 

of their nursery as the aesthetics and layout makes a-lot of difference 

when open to the public as regards sales. It is more of a case of ‘ship ‘em in and ship ‘em out ASAP’ as regards their plants, also 

Garden Centres tend not to grow on site rather they buy in.

I have found that dealing with smaller specialist nurseries you tend to

 get healthier, better-cared for plants and more knowledgeable staff.

 Don’t be put off by the rough and ready look of the buildings and lay-out, ultimately you aren’t purchasing the aesthetics of a nursery, 

you are purchasing their healthy, quality plants for your garden.

The internet is a fantastic facility for searching out specialist nurseries,

it may be worth your while spending a little time at your computer looking

 for what you require.

We have a list of nursery links which are constantly being added to, 

but I have only dealt with a couple of the companies so far and it is 

only those that I am able to comment upon.

Meadowvale Nursery was established in 1994 by Carl Terry. It is classed 

as a grower/wholesale nursery but trade and public enquiries are welcome.

They can supply a wide range of plants.

If the item you require is not in stock they will be able to source it for you.

If you wish to visit the nursery, details and a map are available to view, 

and print, on our Contact Us page.