[PECJ]

We are doing some research into moving to NZ and would like to hear the views of the people here.

What are the differences in the Garden Centers between UK and NZ. Are they popular? Is there a good range of flowers and plants, what about seeds? How do they compare price wise?

thanks

Peter J

[jubjub]

Cant comment on price, but the garden section of Mitre 10 (which is very like B & Q) is massive, three times the size of any B & Q one I saw.

There is also Palmers, and you get Plant Barn

http://www.palmers.co.nz/
http://www.kings.co.nz/index.html

Seeds seem to be available all over the place.

Just noticed on my web search that Palmers is actually part of Mitre 10 anyway!

Cant think of anywhere else off the top of my head, a pal of ours is a landscape gardener and has a wholesale place he goes to, so there are trade places too.

[sarahw]

Price-wise its cheaper here than in the UK, but don't forget you're earning less so it all evens out in the end.

We like Palmers - they have a nice one in Plimmerton with a cafe that we visit regularly. Very good selection. We particularly like the selection of fruiting & vegie plants - great fun bringing a lemon tree home & seeing it fruit all year round!! Or growing lemongrass & feijoas in your garden. You'll also find that things like roses etc. have such a longer flowering time - makes the plants you buy more worth the money!

You're going to obviously find different plants here but there is still a good selection. The native plants are lovely & there are plenty of native plant nurseries - usually cheaper than going to Palmers or Mitre 10/Bunnings. You can also find community nurseries & some schools that have plant sales & some schools have plant sales to raise funds. Also some of the plants you love from home you'll be shocked to find out are classified either as weeds or invasive species here.

Happy gardening!

[Questor]

We found the weed bit las week - we tried SO hard to get a buddleia to grow back in the UK, and it's a huge weed here!!

[Avalon]

Most ive seen are a waste of space (and money) imho. In fact - when I wanted a load of herbs - I actually went all to way to the one in Plimmerton - which I have to say is much more like a UK style garden center.

Thers also a not-so-bad one just north of Upper Hutt. But most ive seen are 1 man bands. Not that is is necessarily a bad thing - but you often dont get much choice, and the plants can be in bad nick.

I think its just the case that the age of the big hyper garden center hasnt hit most of NZ yet.

Our big problems was finding nice landscaping stuff - like gravel. But then here you can raid the river banks and beaches. Not sure its environmental wise - but I guess thats where the stuff comes from anyway - in this case - you do the grunt work and dont pay for it.

[sizzlingbadger]

Avalon

We've been told by friends to go to Wairarapa Aggregates for the gravel we need for the garden. Not really what I want but then it's cheap at $20 for a trailer load. They get it from the river anyway and do the grading and back breaking bit of getting it into the trailer for you :nice1

The garden centres here are no where near as good the UK ones, found a nice one in Johnsonville although quite pricey and there's one in Carterton that I like.

Is the one in Upper Hutt on Fergusson Street close to Firebox ?

[Avalon]

SB,

theres a beach down on the way to Palliser bay that has the most amzing small black pebbles (gravel sized). Its tough work becasue of the distance to the car - but its worth a look if you are after sonething a bit different. Ill let you know the name of beach as soon as i remember it.

Havent gone to WA yet - but have seen oldfields which does the same thing but also things like topsoil and bark.