Garden Centers
Publications:
The Garden Center Critique and Merchandising Guide was developed to help garden centers evaluate their own layout, displays and merchandising techniques. It includes a pull-out questionnaire for self-evaluation; or garden centers may request an Extension team to visit and critique their operation. Cost is $15.50 plus $2.50 shipping and handling.
The Home & Garden Information Fact Sheet Notebook for garden centers provides in-store reference material for customers who need information on gardening, lawns, ornamentals, and related questions, thus freeing up staff time for sales and other duties. The notebook contains more than 160 UNH Cooperative Extension fact sheets which can be photocopied or simply used for reference. Cost is $99 plus $7.75 shipping and handling.
The Best Plants for New Hampshire Gardens and Landscapes is a great reference for garden centers, landscapers, and their customers. Organized by plant habitat, each section highlights annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs that will thrive in New Hampshire . Cultural information and plant lists (for such things as autumn color, edges and hedges, wildlife attractants, and deer resistant plants) make it useful for every gardener. Cost is $12.95, including shipping and handling; wholesale discounts available.
To order any of the above publications, click on the title for an order form, or call the UNHCE Publications Center at 862-2346.
For many free gardening fact sheets useful to your customers, go to the Home Horticulture webpage.
Prepaid Homeowner Soil Test Kits: By selling homeowner soil test kits, retailers can promote responsible fertilizer use and can provide better customer service. These new soil test kits include directions, forms, sample bags, and prepaid mailers to make soil testing quick and easy. The homeowner will receive updated fertilizer recommendations from the University of New Hampshire, specific for their own garden/lawn and soil. Organic fertilizer recommendations will be sent to those submitting the organic test form; the standard test results in recommendations based on non-organic fertilizer sources. Suggested retail prices for the kits are $15.00 for standard and $20.00 for organic test.
