Have you ever wondered what a plant nursery is or how one can be beneficial to you? Many of us don’t even know what a plant nursery is… do you? A plant nursery is designed for the propagation and care of young plants. Often a nursery contains one or larger greenhouses, which help protect new plants from frost or excessive heat. An operation like this may also include complex irrigation systems to reduce the labor of nursery workers. Most stores that exclusively sell plants are called nurseries, regardless of whether they actually start and grow their own plants or buy them elsewhere.

A nursery may sell products to the public at retail, or may exist to sell wholesale to other nurseries. In some cases, a plant nursery will specialize in one type of plant or tree, such as pond plants or ferns.

Even when a nursery has several different plants to offer, it may specialize in a few plants, such as fuchsias or roses. A nursery often stores plants that are likely to sell, as there is little guarantee that the plants will sell. Some plants have a short lifespan. Annual ones, for example, will generally only last one year before requiring replacement.

Towards the end of the planting season, you can often find deals on certain products. When sales are of perennials that will flower annually, they can represent real savings. However, buying annuals may not be a great deal if the plant is nearing the end of its blooming season.

Nursery workers often know especially which plants will do well in your garden. They can advise you on shade plants, hardy plants for your growing region, and general plant care. A nursery may also sell gardening tools, planting materials such as mulch or manure, and gardening books.

You can usually tell a good nursery from a bad one by examining the plants. If the plants look well-watered, relatively bug-free, and healthy, then the company is probably taking good care of them. If the plants are not looking good or seem to be low on water, they are probably not doing well in your garden. A nursery can guarantee the health of your plans if one has doubts.