CONSUMER TALK
“Consumer Talk” appears in each issue
of Lawn & Garden Retailer to examine
the issues facing today’s garden center
customers. Our panel of consumers will
provide you with insight into their gardening
and retail experiences to help you better
understand today’s customers’ needs.
Fresh Growth
As you continue preparations for the
quickly approaching spring season,
the consumer panel is doing a little
for 2010
growing of its own: We’re welcoming
a few more gardeners this year. Here are
a few quick introductions!
Amelia, 32 Liz, 31
Marshall, Ill. Aurora, Colo.
My husband and I own several busi- Moving from the Midwest to the
nesses, so our time is at a premium. Rocky Mountain region nine years ago
Ours is a sort of “cottage” garden with introduced me to a lot of gardening
many perennials, and we do quite a bit challenges. While I still experiment with
with herbs. many indoor plants, I’ve focused a lot of
During the growing seasons, we end time and energy on establishing a veg-
up at the garden center about every other etable garden in the back and plenty of
weekend. We rarely make it during the perennials in the front of the house.
week because of our schedules. When In the front yard this year, I planted
we do make it, we look for clearly marked some serviceberry bushes, along with a
locations for the things that interest us and staff that can answer our lilac bush and a rose bush. Lots of my different daisies came back,
questions or fi nd varieties that we request. We almost always use the and I fi lled in spaces with more dianthus, rosemary, lavender, sorrel
smaller local garden centers, as we fi nd the large, big box types both and mums. I planted irises for the fi rst time as well.
lacking in knowledge and congested. The prices may be cheaper, but I go to garden centers almost weekly. If I’m searching for a par-
we fi nd the experience is much worse at the more corporate garden ticular plant or product, I might even try several places in one day.
centers. I never really tire of looking at anything botanical, and I’m always
interested in new organic pest control products and items that help
with water conservation. Right now, I’m in search of an inexpensive
Hilary, 26
yet well-designed watering can for my indoor plants.
Memphis, Tenn.
I am a fi rst-time homeowner and a
novice when it comes to knowing what
to buy, where to put it, what to put it
Jayme, 34
with, how to plant it, how to feed it, etc.
I understand the basics of perennial and
Eugene, Ore.
annual plants, but other than that, I’m at I didn’t become a serious gardener
square one. until we bought our house seven years
This past year I planted a mixture ago. Over the years, my plant palette has
of plants; the ones I selected, I chose changed from wanting exotic perennials
mostly because of their colors. I didn’t pay any attention to how big to drought-tolerant and native plants. I
they would get or how long they would fl ower or bloom. Much to my now have a backyard of cold-hardy peren-
surprise, given my inexperience, this season turned out to be very nials and vegetables. I wouldn’t consider
successful based on trial and error. myself a professional, but I’m defi nitely
When I went to my local nursery this past spring, I had a lot of an expert in my own backyard.
questions. But I felt very intimidated by the fl ocks of veteran gar- I arrive at nurseries knowing what I’m looking for, but I struggled
deners in my midst and wasn’t sure exactly what questions to ask. I to understand the plant tags in my beginning years. I’d like more
just knew I wanted my yard to look as good as theirs. I would love it information about local growing requirements, design ideas, plant
if garden centers offered classes for novice gardeners or folks who combinations and more natives!
are new to their gardening climate. Over the past six months, I have Local nurseries can do a better job at answering some really
visted my local garden center about once a week. I think what gets simple questions. Sometimes I just want to shop without having to
me in the parking lot is the collage of bright colors from the artisan track down an employee who seems to care only about watering the
displays visible from blocks away. plants rather than help me buy the perfect garden. If garden center
employees were more like fashion retail employees, I’d be broke.
70 Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2010 www.lgrmag.com
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