Buying new plants is always an exciting time. Whether you’re replenishing the garden, starting an entirely new project or fixing the ravages of winter it's always a joy to plan for and to purchase new shrubs and trees.

In days gone by you’d make your list and head out to your local nursery. Now you have more options. You can even buy plants on your weekly supermarket shopping trip. But buying garden plants online is the easiest and best way to make sure you get the top-quality specimens you need for a beautiful and successful garden. Here's seven reasons why you should always buy your plants and trees online.

(1) You get the best choice when buying garden plants online

Well, we would say this wouldn’t we? But no-one can deny you’ll find the widest choice and the best value garden plants and shrubs on specialist websites. As good as they are, your local garden centre can’t offer the sheer variety you’ll find online.

Here at Direct Plants for example we always have at least 1,200 varieties in stock no matter the season. We’ll sell over 5,000 different types of plants, trees and shrubs throughout a typical year including many exotic and unusual specimens from around Europe.

(2) You’re shopping with specialists

Nowadays it seems every other high street shop or supermarket chain sells plants and shrubs. The issue here of course is you’re buying your roses or geraniums from the same people who sell you tins of beans. The staff have no specialist knowledge, can’t advise you on the suitability of the plants and will have little idea on how to look after the stock. Go to a specialist online horticulturist and you know you’re buying from someone who knows their onions (pun intended).

(3) Cheap doesn’t always mean good value

You can find cheap plants at supermarkets. In fact, you’ll often find some great bargains. But do carefully check the condition of the plant. As we mentioned above the staff at a supermarket can’t be expected to be experts in caring for the garden plants and shrubs they sell. A lot of supermarket stock will be in poor condition so no matter how cheap they are buying a plant from any large retail chain could be a false economy. That said if you’re lucky enough to be shopping when a fresh delivery of plants arrives grab them quick as (in theory) they should be fresh from the supplier and in rude health. Although we’ll readily admit you can find some very cheap plants and shrubs at supermarkets, you’ll find the real value online.

Online retailers like Direct Plants are able to provide the items you need at a far lower price than nurseries across a huge product range. And we provide far better value than supermarkets. We’re able to offer a larger choice of plants at a lower cost because of our streamlined overheads.

(4) Pre-planted and ready for the garden

Whatever your planting scheme you can find the size of plants you need online. Buy the plant at the maturity that suits you and of course at the price point you’re comfortable with. You just don’t get this flexibility anywhere else. For example, let’s assume you’ve decided to buy acer Japanese maples. Here at Direct Plants we can offer you:

• 2-foot specimen in a 2-litre pot. 
• 2-foot plant in a 5-litre pot. 
• 2 to 3-foot plant in a 7.5 litre pot. 
• 3 foot + in a 7.5 litre pot.

All those plants have been lovingly grown in our own nursery. But as they are at different stages of maturity the costs differ. This way you can choose the plant you need, at the height that suits you and at a cost which is affordable. And when the plant arrives it’s ready to be immediately transferred to your garden.

(5) Special offers and bulk buys

Ad hoc and very limited choice at supermarkets aside you’ll always find the best prices online. But the lower costs are made even more attractive by the fantastic bulk buy offers you’ll find on websites. Direct Plants offer multibuy discounts on our plants which can save you up to 20%. Or look at our ornamental trees and get 4 for 3 - saving 25%. These kinds of offers are only available from specialist online retailers which have the capacity to grow their own stock and the nationwide customer base to support multibuy deals.

(6) The unbeatable convenience of buying garden plants online

The internet has revolutionised shopping. And for gardeners it’s certainly a game changer. You no longer have to drive down to a garden centre and try to get a boot load of plants home in one piece and without clogging the car with soil. Now, you can relax at home and enjoy a coffee while you navigate a website choosing from thousands of plants. Then you just sit back and wait for your purchases to be delivered right to your door. It’s so easy and means anyone, with or without transport, has access to all the plants, fast growing garden hedging and trees they could possibly imagine. And because of the amazing packaging we’ve developed your plants will arrive in the best possible condition.

(7) Instant access to professionals

Here at Direct Plants we have well over five acres of nursery and polytunnels. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff spend their time growing and caring for thousands of plants, shrubs and trees. Among our staff are experts on every conceivable topic to do with gardening, growing plants or even building polytunnels. And all that expertise is freely and instantly available to you.

We welcome the opportunity to chat to you. No more hanging around a garden centre hoping to find the one member of staff who is actually trained in horticulture rather than retail. Just pick up the phone or drop us an email and we’ll be delighted to answer any questions you may have about buying garden plants online. You can contact us on 01485 601143 or drop us an email to sales@directplants.co.uk