Best place to buy plants online?

[Minesril]

Sorry if this has been covered! I'm having some flowerbeds dug. There's lots of plants i want to buy, don't drive so can't get to a garden centre. What's the best online plant shop?

I got some things from Crocus over the pandemic. All the plants arrived looking good and are still going well, but there is a 3-4 week lead time at the mo. I finally went to my local (London) garden centre recently, I think they are about 30% cheaper on all things but I will wait to see how good they settle in.
I also braved buying a clematis through the Thompson and Morgan page on amazon and it arrived very quickly and much quicker than a direct purchase would have. It’s still alive too

I’m a novice gardener and the pandemic has allowed me to get into it much more. In your position I would ask your local garden centre if they deliver. But use the Crocus website for Detailed info about the plants.

Have just ordered from Bakker and already its being delivered today - will let you know how it looks.

I've had some lovely deliveries from Sarah Raven, and their communication is spot on. Equipment-wise I'd recommend Harrod Horticultural. Pricey but honestly worth it for the quality.

Avoid Primrose.co.uk. Pandemic or not, avoid avoid avoid.

Just had deliveries from Marshall’s. Arrived in good condition but too early to say how they’re getting on.

I think it depends what you’re after. There are lots of small and specialist nurseries really struggling during coronavirus, they would normally get a lot of their income through attending flower shows which are all cancelled, I think it’s really worth trying to buy direct online from them to support them if you can rather than mega sites like crocus etc. So whichever plant you’re after, search for a nursery that specialises in that type, or go on the RHS plant finder page it will link to nurseries that sell that plant.

Bakker delivery was excellent - protective packaging and the soil was still moist so would order from them again.

I ordered some strawberries and peppers from Brookside Nurseries and they were excellent. The plants came very quickly and they are now growing robustly.

Some local nurseries are delivering now, so worth checking those out to support local.

I got a number of plants from Suttons seeds, which arrived in good condition. But now that some of the more local places are starting to do deliveries, I plan to use them.

Thanks everyone! Interesting about specialist websites: I've had a look at Lavender World and The Heather Garden (I'd like a hedge of both going down either side of my path so need quite a lot!). We have a garden centre a bus ride away which apparantly deliver so we're going there tomorrow to see what they have. Has anyone ordered from Austin David?

Yes to david austin. Fantastic roses. A lot of places do sell out of stuff early in the year as this is the best time for planting And then stock up again for autumn which is the other best time for planting. David austin sell bare rooted roses for autumn planting too.

Ive also used sarah raven and crocus - both very good.

Yes to David Austin, they are really helpful. Avoid gardening express for now, they are not coping with demand. Glad you are checking out your local garden centre, hope you have a lovely day!

Sutton’s have been a night mare for me, and many others, dead plants arriving two months later and they don’t respond to emails and their phone lines down don’t touch them,

I’d recommend a local garden centre or nursery, but if you can’t do that then I’d strongly recomend the plant suppliers via amazon. Because you have a come back if it goes wrong. Where as if you make the mistake of buying direct and they send you dead plants and refuse to communicate with you there is sod all you can do.

I’ve ordered from gardening express and it took 9 weeks and the plans came very crushed (delivered by Hermes!)

I’ve also ordered from David Austin but it’s not arrived yet so fingers crossed all good

Sarah Raven have delivered hands down the best of the plants I've bought this year.

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I've had plants from Van Meuwen, and find them very good quality and
reasonable prices.

Be really careful! Lots of online garden centres have long backlogs & aren't responding to emails. Check them out on Trustpilot. If it's a local place that will deliver, then that's probably fine. That being said, if you have the option to pay by PayPal then you would be covered in the event of non-delivery/damaged/dead plants, even if garden centre/nursery isn't responding to you.

Gardeners dream was amazing delivered within 48hrs and my plant is looking wonderful

I went to the garden centre today! Was lovely to be doing something so normal - it's the first time I've taken my 13-week old on the bus. My flowers will be here on Friday!