Gardening Direct

I ordered a bag of seed potatoes and a box of onion sets, and the potatoes turned up on time but the onion sets were held back for nearly a week. When I rang the phone line it took a couple of days before anyone got back to me. The goods were fine once they came, but it was a bit of a faff for something I needed for planting.

We needed a proper soil improver because our clay beds drain like a brick, and I've used the bulk composted bark on allotments for years so I knew what to look for. The bag arrived with the bark properly broken down and not full of big stringy lumps, which was good. Delivery was a day later than the site said though, and the driver left it by the side gate without ringing first.

Compared to buying compost from the big supermarket, this was much cheaper for the bigger bags and the bags were actually full. Ordering was dead simple on my phone and it turned up two days later. First time using them and I'll be back for the seed trays.

I got a pack of plastic seed trays with the inserts, mainly to save money on the little plastic pots I was buying elsewhere. They do the job and the price was fair for the number you get. The lids don't sit flat though, so they wobble on the windowsill, and the first lot took about a week to turn up. Would order again if I needed more.

Our hostas were getting shredded by slugs, so I needed a wildlife friendly pellet that would actually work quickly. I bought a tub and had it on the doorstep the next working day. The pellets are pale blue, and they seem to be doing the job well. Good value for a big tub too.

I bought a packet of sweet pea seeds, the mixed colour ones, for the trellis along the fence. Germination was good and most came up within ten days. The only thing is the packet count is a bit lower than I expected for the money, and the delivery email didn't say it would come in a padded envelope so I nearly missed it on the doormat. I've ordered from them a few times now and will again.

I think this is a solid place to buy pots and trays for seed sowing. The bundle I got was good value and the trays are sturdy. The only niggle was that one of the drainage holes was not punched through, so I had to do it myself with a skewer. Otherwise fine.

Honestly the verdict is that these are good value for the plants you get, and the bare root roses were healthy and well packed. I didn't mind paying a bit more for the better stock. The order went through quickly and the planting guide was useful. Would definitely buy again.

I would say the site is the best place I have found for hardy perennials and I have tried several. The plants came packed well, roots moist and no damage to the foliage. I did have to telephone them once about a missing label, and they rang back the same afternoon and sorted it out. I've been buying from them since last spring and I expect I shall continue to do so.

I went for the dahlia tubers after comparing a few sellers, and the choice of named varieties was better than most. The tubers came firm and labelled, though one was a little dried out at the end so I'd have liked the team to check before posting. They replied to my email about it in a day and offered a replacement. The price was reasonable for what you get.

Bought the galvanised raised bed kit for the back patio. Took me a Saturday afternoon to put together with the instructions and it's rock solid now. Everything was in the box, no missing screws, and the price was what I expected.

Our old hose kept kinking every time I tried to pull it across the lawn, so I went looking for a proper reel. The one I got holds about thirty metres and rewinds smoothly, which was the main thing for me. The site could be a bit clearer about which fittings come with it, so I had to check that myself. Otherwise pretty happy with it.

I would say this is the best online garden supplier I have used for a good while. The rose food I ordered arrived well within the stated time and the instructions were printed clearly on the packet. The customer service team were helpful when I rang about a substitution, and they didn't keep me waiting. I am glad to have found them.

Compared with the garden centre down the road, the bags of bark were a good deal cheaper here even after postage. I wanted enough to mulch the whole border and the order went through without any fuss. Arrived in good time and nothing was damaged.

Compared with the big chain store, the compost here worked out a fair bit cheaper for the same volume, even with postage added. I looked at three other sites before deciding. The bags were full and the peat-free mix broke up nicely in the pots. Everything came when they said it would, so I've put a note in my diary to reorder in spring.

The hedging whips I ordered in winter were properly bare root, roots wrapped and kept damp, and they had leafed up nicely a few weeks later. Pricing was fair for the number of plants you get. Delivery was a day later than the estimate but they texted me about it.

Our old pond pump packed up over the summer and I needed a like for like replacement quickly to save the fish. I'd looked at a few other shops and this was the one that had the right spec in stock. The pump arrived quickly and worked straight away once I'd fitted it. Very relieved to get it sorted in time.

Compared with the place I used to order from, this site is much easier to use and the prices are a little lower on bulk orders. I've been a customer for a few years now and the order process has improved a lot. The one thing that let it down this time was a delivery that arrived a day late without any notice. Still, I'll keep using them.

I have been ordering my tomato feed from them for about six years now and it has never let me down. The bottles arrive quick and the feed is the same strength every time, which matters when you are following the instructions on the label. The site is easy enough to use on the laptop too, though I still phone them when I want to check something.

What struck me first was how many varieties of tulip and daffodil they stock, far more than the garden centre in town. I placed my order in the autumn and everything came packed carefully with the planting times clearly printed on the labels. The staff replied to my question about the chrysanthemums within a day, which I thought very civil of them. I shall certainly order again next year.