Buying Plants

seanblackmetal6666

Good Evening. Once again I apologise for asking a question but this is new to me. I want to buy some Acers and Flowers for my back garden and have seen a Centre online where they are all available. I do not drive and as such it would be easier to order online however I have been told that it is better to see before buying! Thank you for any advice Sean 

Silver surfer

Acers can be expensive...especially if you buy a named one.
eg. Acer palmatum Crimson Queen..with red leaves
The older/bigger they are the more they will cost.
You really need to see them.
Choose the one with leaves you like.
Last week local Tesco were selling very healthy, small Acer. 
Very good value at £7.00/or there abouts.
These small Acers are normally good value and establish well.

Personally I would never order a mail order Acer.

Do make sure your garden is one that will suit your Acer.
They hate wind, are very happy in semi shade...sheltered.

Ericaheather

Morrison's have also got a great and v cheap selection this year, or do in my local store. If you can combine a shopping trip with your plant buying would be worth the taxi fare? Save you a few bob in the cost of the plants and delivery too. I also bought an Acer in Morrison's recently for £3. Just a small one but a bargain buy. The supermarkets seem to be ramping up their garden sections. Personally I don't buy plants online as I like to pick my own but lots on here do. 

Hazyb

I buy more plants online than I do from garden centres. I also buy a few from Lidl and even Poundland. 

I wish we had Morrison’s here as it sounds good for plants.  

I don’t drive either.  When I need compost etc.  one of my son’s will take me. 

Ceres

I buy quite a few plants online as that is often the only way I can get named varieties. I prefer small nurseries that specialise rather than the big commercial outfits and so far I have been pretty happy with the things I have bought. If you buy from one of the big plant sellers, the quality can be a bit questionable.....in other words if they produce a big, very colourful catalogue and the prices seem too good to be true, order from somebody else.

Loxley

Small plants and shrubs etc are fine online, I wouldn't want to buy an expensive specimen without seeing it first... before you order from an online retailer ask the forum for their opinion; some of the big companies are actually pretty shoddy but there are a few smaller companies with a good reputation... the main thing you want to know is how they will deal with you if there is a problem.

madpenguin

Ericaheather said:

Morrison's have also got a great and v cheap selection this year, or do in my local store. If you can combine a shopping trip with your plant buying would be worth the taxi fare? Save you a few bob in the cost of the plants and delivery too. I also bought an Acer in Morrison's recently for £3. Just a small one but a bargain buy. The supermarkets seem to be ramping up their garden sections. 

I bought a little Acer from Morrisons last year for £3 and it is doing really well now.
Also Clematis for about £1.75 ,small but they establish quickly.
Because they are cheap it is not such a financial loss if you do lose one!

Buttercupdays

My local B&Q seems to have stepped up its garden section, though folk in other places do not say the same, so it varies. Maybe worth a look.

I got a really nice, well shaped Acer 'Orange Dream' from mine for £25. It will be 3 or 4 years old.

I'd been hankering after one since failing to buy a slightly smaller one for that price at a plant fair 2 years ago!

AnniD

No need to apologise for asking a question Sean 
I am assuming that your garden is suitable for acers, because as others have said they like very specific conditions. You don't say which other flowers you are interested in buying, but if you are unable to get to a garden centre, then online is the only way to go. 
I just wondered if you have a friend or relative with a car who could help. Maybe you could offer to pay for fuel and some coffee and cake and make an outing of it. Just a thought! 
Nothing really beats seeing plants "in the flesh " so to speak. 
There are many online sites, some much better than others, so come back for more advice as many people on here have had experience of most of them and can give you feedback. 

Fairygirl

I'd agree with wanting to see something expensive first before buying, especially when there  could be a lot of variation, and also doing some research to make sure your plot is suitable.
There are loads of excellent specialist nurseries though, so as @AnniD says, ask on here for advice, as there are also some dubious places and we can usually recommend the better ones to use.
If you're inexperienced, it's better to buy a decent sized plant from a reputable outlet, rather than buy something that looks like a bargain from an unknown quantity online.

seanblackmetal6666

Good Morning. Thank you to everyone who has replied to my question and for all the advice it seems creating a garden is not as easy as it seems (smile). I want to create a wildlife garden although it is far to small for a pond and at the moment it is over 90% concrete with 2 small borders one of which is soil the other is sand. I watch Gardeners World every week and on Fridays episode Carol was planting Salvia's, Aster's, Scabious's and Eryngium's so these are what I am looking for. I also want an Insect Hotel and a couple of larger, potted, shrubs or trees. My garden gets full sunshine, is facing west with fences facing east, south and north. From what I have read Acer's may not be suitable so a couple of large pots to put in the corners one against the south facing fence and the other next to a wall (both will be in full sunshine). This is something I want to get right but am not in a rush. Once again any advice, tips etc will be very welcome as I am a total novice. Thank you Sean