Best Plant Nurseries In Sacramento To Start Your Spring Garden

To plant a garden is to believe in the future. Some planning, preparation and a little dirt and sweat generally result in a very nice payoff when the garden begins to bloom. Starting with quality seeds and starter plants is crucial to the process. In an area as garden friendly as Sacramento and the surrounding foothill regions, where do you find the plants and advice that you need? 

Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery
4681 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
(916) 483-1830
www.fairoaksblvdnursery.com

Full spectrum is a good descriptor for this lush slice of gardening heaven in Fair Oaks. The staff is supplemented by Ming, the cat who actually rules the place. Take a good look around before you get into the business of loading up your cart. The wonderful assortment of plants, tools, seeds, gifts and general cool stuff begs to be explored. The staff consists of experts in what grows best in the region. There are beautiful trees, shrubberies, landscaping goodies and gifts. The garden that you want to plant now for tomatoes later may be why you come here. Find the right vegetable combinations to put in the ground and walk out with a few other goodies in your cart too.

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Green Acres Nursery & Supply
205 Serpa Way
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 358-9099

8501 Jackson Road
Sacramento,CA 95826
(916) 381-1625

901 Galleria Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95678
(916) 782-2273
www.idiggreenacres.com

Wherever you are in the greater Sacramento area, getting to Green Acres is pretty easy. The three locations make it a very convenient place to look for the gardening goodies that you must have for the upcoming season. Green Acres is a family owned and operated business. Starting in Roseville in 2003, the need to expand came with the excellent reputation it established. Offering easily accessible pathways to navigate through the very full rows of plants and gardening goodies, the mission here is simply to become your personal nursery. A very knowledgeable staff is on hand to help with any questions. Throw in the growing greenery and you come up a winner. Your garden will be happy that you made the short trip to Green Acres.

Talini's Nursery
5601 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 451-8150
www.talinisnursery.com

Talini's has been around since 1976. Pietro Talini, who founded the company, immigrated from Italy. Trained as a horticulturist, the nursery was a natural for him. It's all in the family here, as Lou, his son, now runs the place. The staff has a wealth of knowledge about gardening. Bring your questions about what to plant, when to plant it and where to plant, and you'll find the answers. If something isn't working so well in your garden, these are the people you want to speak with. Talini's offers a very complete line of tools, seeds, starter plants and garden supplements, along with a friendly and inviting group of people to help you.

Head up to the foothills and experience Front Yard Nursery. Started in 1992, Front Yard has been a staple in the gardening community. Here you will find experts in drought-tolerant plants and an amazing property full of a wide range of seeds, trees, shrubs and bushes. Front Yard has the knowledge to help with planting just about anything, from Sacramento up to the foothills and lower mountain areas. This nursery grows about 60 percent of the plants sold. What you'll find is that these plants are ready to go into the ground, having been started and grown at Front Yard.

Bushnell Landscape Industries
5255 Douglas Blvd.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
(916) 791-0756
www.bushnellgardens.com

Make the drive to Granite Bay and you may find that Bushnell offers more than you thought possible in a garden shop. Full landscape design, installation and maintenance are part of what you'll find here. This beautiful plant-filled spot is a joy just to walk around in. Plants, trees, tools, plans and garden art; it's all here. Take a class to learn about gardening tools and how to maintain them, how to prune a rose or a tree or the best stuff to layer on your garden for fantastic vegetables. Everyone here is capable of answering your gardening and landscaping questions. The plant stock is impressive and the expertise of the staff is top notch, making this a great place to visit if you are gearing up for your spring garden.

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Charles Ferris is a freelance writer who has lived in the Sierra, halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, for the last 37 years. He retired from teaching after 36 years in 2010. He and his wife hike, kayak, cross country ski, snow shoe, ride mountain bikes and road bikes, year round. His work can be found at Examiner.com.