For My Huge Garden Challenge, I Choose Stanley’s Greenhouse

I love driving the Dogwood Trails in April and seeing all the beautiful gardens. The picture you see above is one of those gardens. I come back from those explorations intending to make my yard look just as good as theirs does. So far, I’ve failed. But I’m working on it, and you may be too. So that’s why I wanted to share my favorite local garden center with you. For my huge garden challenge, I choose Stanley’s Greenhouse.

Now I know you can always go to Home Depot, Lowes or even Walmart and get your plants. And I understand that. They are close to home and convenient. You can shop after work.  And usually, the plants are cheaper.

 If plants are cheaper, and it’s more convenient to buy them at your favorite big box store, you may be wondering why I suggest you buy from a local nursery/garden center. Well, here goes.

Plants are only a portion of the profit margin for the big box stores. When customers walk into a big box store, they are as likely to be buying plants as they are to be buying something to repair a faucet, change a light, or paint a bathroom. So, the big box stores must be set up to take care of all these needs in addition to their plants.

However, when a customer walks into a local nursery or garden center, they are there for only one reason: to buy plants. While you might still be able to buy soil, pots and some other items from your local nursery, most of the products they sell are plants. This gives the local guy the incentive to take really good care of their plants. Their profit margin is dependent on keeping those plants alive and thriving so customers will want to buy them.

Now, I’m not saying the big box stores aren’t taking care of their plants. I’m simply saying that the small business owner has a bigger stake in making sure his plants look good and survive once purchased.

Your chances of finding someone who really knows plants and what they need are much higher at your local greenhouse or garden center than at the big box stores. Sure, you might luck out at the big box store and find an awesome gardener. Unfortunately, you might be just as likely to find someone who just started working there and doesn’t know a gardenia from a rose.

According to Forbes, shopping locally and supporting small businesses can stimulate the local economy, create more jobs, and give you better customer service, just to name a few reasons.

I’m not saying you should never buy from big box stores. In fact, when I go with Hubby to pick up something for the latest home project, you can usually find me in the gardening center. I’m looking to see what’s new while he searches through the hardware section.

But if you haven’t tried shopping at a local greenhouse/garden center, you might want to give it a try. Why knows? You might find you get better results from a local nursery or garden center. And I want to introduce you to my favorite local garden center.

Ask any veteran gardener where they got their plants and there’s a good chance they purchased some of them at Stanleys Garden Center in South Knoxville. Voted best greenhouse in Cityview’s 2024 “Best of the Best”, Stanley’s is a plant lover’s paradise.

If you haven’t trekked over the Henley Street Bridge to visit Stanley’s, you’re missing out on a gardener’s oasis—packed with expert advice and a plant selection that will knock your socks off. In addition, they have some really cool stuff in their gift cottage.

However, walking into Stanley’s can be a little overwhelming.  There are just so many plants to choose from. There is the main greenhouse area which holds their garden paraphernalia and tropical plants and annuals. Another section holds their perennials and vegetables and fruits. Finally, an outdoor section features their bushes and trees

Now here’s the reason you want to shop at Stanley’s. These people know plants. I mean they reallllly know plants. In fact, “they grow and propagate 60-70 percent of the plant material” they sell.  Ask them almost any question, and they’ve got an answer for you.

In fact, it’s been my experience that all I need to do is look around with a slightly puzzled look on my face, and someone is there to help me. Try that at the big box stores and let me know how it turns out. Now let me add that I am usually there during the week and not on the weekend, so your experience may be different.

On my latest visit to Stanley’s, I picked up several annuals that are brightening up my back deck and front porch. I also picked up some vegetable plants and herbs. According to Stanley’s website, their vegetables and herbs are free of pesticides which is why I want to grow my own veggies to begin with. 

But the main reason for a trip to Stanley’s was to begin to wrap my mind around an upcoming project that I have avoided for several years. It involves a large area in my backyard. It has been a project that just never seems to get off the ground. I thought about sharing a picture, but I’m just too ashamed to let you see how bad it looks. While there are a lot of challenges with my yard, this area in the back is my big challenge.

As always, Stanley’s had zillions of plants to consider for this area. As I contemplated which plants to buy, one of the employees walked up and we discussed my options. While I really wanted to buy some of the azaleas right now, I held off. I still need to get this area completely cleaned out, and looking at it, it might be the middle of summer when I finally accomplish that.

But once I am ready to begin putting in plants, I know I can take a picture of the area with me to Stanley’s and get some expert advice about what I should and shouldn’t plant in that area. You just can’t get that kind of service at a big box store.

While I love Stanley’s Greenhouse, there is one major drawback. Their plants seem to be more expensive than some of the other garden centers in town. I know I’m encouraging you to buy local and be prepared to pay more for plants that are probably better cared for than the local box stores. But I’m also a realist, and if there are more affordable options, with the same quality, I want to find them.

For the next two weeks, I’ll be weed whacking weeds and then covering the area with cardboard to try to kill what’s left. Then, over the next month while I’m waiting for those weeds to die out, I’ll be making my plan for my backyard garden.

I’m going to be going all over town to explore garden centers, talk to their employees, see who is most knowledgeable, and determine who has the best prices. And I’ll be sharing that with you. So, check back frequently to see what garden centers I’ve visited lately.

If you want to check out Stanley’s Greenhouse, they are located at 3029 Davenport Road. Their hours vary depending on the season. For more information, please click here. What about you? Do you have a favorite nursery/garden center? Is there somewhere you’d suggest I try?