Behind-the-scenes at a Nursery and Garden Shop

Garden centers all over the US are starting to burst into a frenzy of activity and Sundown Gardens (where I work) is no exception. Shipments of merchandise for the The Garden Shop have trickled in over winter, but now the plant material begins to arrive. The first balled & burlapped trees arrived on March 20th and it’s been non-stop ever since. To put it in perspective, we’ve already gone through 500 Liriope and just last week we ordered 1000 more. The kickoff of the growing season is very physical, very intense, and always exciting! 

Here’s an inside peak at the ‘goings on’ at Sundown Gardens in very early spring. 

March 20th. First shipment of balled & burlapped trees arrive. They are shipped on a tractor trailer and lowered to the ground one by one.

These large root balls require two guys to slide them on the Kubota forks. The trees lay on the ground until we heal them in. “Healing-in” is a term used to describe a temporary planting position.

This shipment was healed in right before the freaky 9” spring snow fell.

First shipment of shrubs arrives on a snowy day. This is boot/thermal underwear/Carhart jacket weather! The truck backs up to the loading dock.

The forklift or loader is driven into the trailer. We transfer the shipment onto our own pallets– one container at a time. That’s alot of lifting.

Some of the shrubs arrive on a rack. This makes unloading go much faster.

The next day another shipment of container trees and shrubs arrives. After a long grey winter, the green color is so refreshing!

There were some blooms on this truck. This is an Appalachian Redbud.

The Double Take™ Orange Storm Quince was in bloom. The vibrant color was so amazing. This is a new plant for us.

All the plants are being stored indoors until the temperatures stabalize. This is part of the season I don’t care for– the back and forth with the temps. It is not uncommon to move the entire nursery indoors when the threat of frost arises. It’s a pain.

And another shipment of b&b trees has arrived. Using the Kubota, each tree is carefully and slowly moved into a row. The goal is always to avoid damaging the tree.

Holes are dug and shaped. The final depth is adjusted according to the root ball size.

There’s always time for the camera!

The large trees are slowly lowered into position. Thank goodness for big orange toys! Getting these lifted onto the forks took many hands.

A perfect fit.

The trees are straighten up before we untie the branches. Note that the ball is not completely buried. This makes it easier to pop them out when they are sold. The top of each ball will be mulched.

Elsewhere, pottery is being unpacked and priced. It all comes to us on pallets so the forklift is an indespensable tool.

A shot of some of the new Campania container selections. There are three guys uncrating and positioning the concrete pottery outside the garden shop. Indoors are beautiful antique reproductions of benches and birdbaths, plus granite and jade pieces.

One of a pair, this pot weights over 300 lbs. They would look so cool with a tree planted in them.

And the hits keep coming! Pansies have arrived and it’s so exciting to see all the blooms. 50° and sunshine brought out many customers. These hardcores are buying dormant nursery stock and shurbs. I love that!

I designed an identity for our garden shop. I call it “The Garden Shop”. That shouldn’t be hard to remember! It’s beginning to appear on doors and signage. Kinda exciting.