Who goes to Garden Centres in January?

[Phyz]

Normally no-one but currently the destination of choice for a day out.

Admittedly the coffee shop is closed but you can still wander around the clothing franchise, the gifts, greeting cards, books, fancy fudge and other food. Browse the garden furniture and hot tubs.

All essential of course.
I wonder how many visitors actually buy a plant?
I had some sympathy with garden centres last March as Easter is their main selling season but not now.

I've been today for compost and bulbs. It was absolutely dead, I've never seen it so quiet.

Have you been into one today so that you could judge how many people were there and what parts of it were open.

They do a lot of seasonal business but I see no reason why they should be shut. Some contain farm shops including milk, meat and vegetables, so are also food outlets and allowed to open.

One of our local ones has temporarily closed. There is a natural slump in trade at this time of year and risk of covid among employees.

They've been closed in Scotland

I went in one this morning to get a dustbin

Car park was empty and didn’t see anyone else inside - although I only popped into the shop bit at the front, I didn’t go out where all the plants and stuff are

I buy stuff in January. Mulch for the borders. Bird food. Bare root roses. Summer bulbs. Seeds. Compost. Or I might buy a nest box and put it up before the nesting season begins.

I used to go there in winter because it was a quiet, contained, predictable place so it was manageable in terms of my PTSD as somewhere to get out of the house.

Haven't been to one since the pandemic started, but I'm not going to judge people who do.

@Phyz What was your essential reason for being there?

They are closed in Scotland. I’m currently ogling seed potatoes online wondering if I should buy them or not. Probably will (and pay stupid postage costs as the bastards are heavy)

Because my Brexit voting, Tory supporting, moaning about the second vaccinee, parents need somewhere to go.
I heard all about it last night after their trip to M&S, apparently they saw some teenagers walking down to the beach. Apparently all the secondary school pupils are passing it around. I honestly dispair, I don't want a race to the bottom, to shut down all minor form of support and joy but my parents and their friends are so awful as far as our local teens are concerned. The local kids have been amazing, so patient, so understanding, they are afraid to go out. Next time your out, count the teens,in our area, it is the elderly out and about in force.

I do to buy animal feed

I went in to buy seeds, compost and lime - we have an allotment.

Well, where else can you get a gnome in January - when you need one?

Got my seed potatoes. I'm getting my beds ready for another busy year. It was very quiet yesterday when I went and it's a nursery rather than garden centre, so maybe that's why it was quiet. My garden is the one thing in life that really lifts my spirits. And goodness knows they need lifting at the moment; it gives me the exercise and mental space I need. I know I'm very lucky to have my garden. I could buy on line, but I want to support local business. Maybe because it's a nursery it's mainly outside with a few sheds where tools etc are kept. Very well ventilated so less risk of Covid than the supermarkets.

Ours has a branch of Sainsbury's and a farm shop, as well as aquatic supplies and animal feed. I do wish people would think logically. It's been a long time since most garden centres only offer plants/gardening supplies

[quote hamsterchump]@Phyz What was your essential reason for being there?[/quote]
I haven't been out of the house but I live on the edge of a village near a huge garden centre and it's been packed.
I don't mean proper nurseries but those big garden centres that have gardening stuff almost as an afterthought.
I love gardening and my garden saved my sanity in the first lockdown but will be sending for my seeds from my usual suppliers.
I just don't think it's essential that they open and it encourages people to go out for unnecessarily.

I think they could be open for click/phone and collect but not for browsing.

@StylishMummy

Ours has a branch of Sainsbury's and a farm shop, as well as aquatic supplies and animal feed. I do wish people would think logically. It's been a long time since most garden centres only offer plants/gardening supplies

Well by your argument they would have all been open during the first lockdown, and they weren't.

fish food and accessories required to keep them healthy
rodent control
fencing and items to repair
other animal feed
rocksalt and sand and sandbags (out of stock from recent floods)
water pumps
winter fuel
spades for snow clearing
paving repair items
postcrete and fece posts
chicken wire
wellies
gas

thats just our garden centre

fish and pond items are hard to source in many places i'm told

oh, also paraffin

I understood why they opened them up in spring... Now I really don't see why they can't shut for Month

seeds and compost time.
possibly new tools, pots & gloves
and fur lined wellies.

maybe people want to grow their own food to keep themselves out of tesco topping up on fresh stuff?

I’ll be going at some point for seed potatoes and compost. Also our garden centre sells loads of fresh fruit and veg, milk, bread etc, pet supplies and basic home repair items and pest control items. If Poundland is able to open I don’t see why garden centres shouldn’t be?