Bates Nursery & Garden Ctr

i've spent quite a bit of time and money at Bates, not to mention the gasoline driving way out there from Oak Hill. All was well until recently when I was shopping for a laurel. As I walked about, at every turn I was bombarded by 70's rock on the speaker system. I could hardly have a conversation with my wife to discuss this plant versus that plant. My wife approached the service counter and asked if they could turn it down a notch, and she was told that ""some people like it"". Incredible. It would seem that they would be concerned about the next person walking through the door with money in their hand, but nope, the blaring music was fine with them. It pretty much soured a high opinion I had for the place. I'm going to search around a bit and find another source for my planting needs. more

Tasteful and dependable more

My husband and I have been customers for years. We look forward to going and getting our plants,trees,mulch and garden pottery there. We have always received high quality products, nothing never dies or gets diseased. We always enjoy talking with the staff when we are there. If you want the best in selection, good quality and a friendly know-all staff visit Bates. Sign up for their ""Bates Rewards"" when you visit for weekly emails and great discount notices. If you are lucky you may catch a ""Container Pot"" class by Beth and have some of Renee's homemade chicken salad. Pros: Knowledgeable staff-Quality nursey products Cons: None, now that David Bates is back more

Fortunately, Bates Nursery returned to its original family ownership in 2008, after a few years under different (and I'd say, lesser) management. Bates is back to again to featuring quality and helpful staff and wonderful plants. Don't even think of going to Home Depot or Lowe's when you have this resource in town! Pros: great selection; helpful staff more

My husband and I are very new to the world of gardening, so we have tons of questions. Every time we go to Bates, they are always so friendly and helpful. I hate shopping at places where they give poor customer service, and many of the nurseries I have been to act like I'm bothering them by shopping there! I always feel welcome at Bates, and the free bottled water is amazing! Bates has excellent sales that are constantly rotating, but their full priced items can be high so we try and buy what we need when it's on sale. If we DO have to pay full price, it's not sooo bad, because they carry really good quality plants and trees. Get on their mailing list for gardening tips and info on when the sales are! Pros: Great service, quality plants Cons: Non Sale prices can be high more

It's always a pleasure to shop at Bates. Everyone is helpful and friendly, and they have the best mulch and growing medium I've found, and the price is great! This is by far my top choice for all my gardening needs. Pros: Freindly knowledgeable staff, great selection. more

I've been to Bates Nursery several times. I actually drive from Hendersonville to get there and I do know that there are nurseries alot closer. A couple of years ago when I was looking for the ""Double Pink Knock Out Rose"" when it first came out, that Bates had several of the plants in stock while some local nurseries had told me that the Double Pink Knock Out Rose wasn't even available yet. I know every time that I go to Bates, that there is always staff on hand who are extremely helpful in finding plants that I'm looking for and very helpful with plant questions. I have recommended Bates Nursery to all of my friends and family members. Plus, I really enjoy reading my e-mails that David sends. He has a very interesting writing style and I always get a chuckle or two from his jokes in his e-mails. Do yourself a favor and go visit Bates Nursery. Pros: Healthy reasonably priced plants & great service. Cons: Can't think of any cons.. more

Always the very best information, products and service... even if you don't buy anything. Pros: Always the very best information, products and service Cons: none that I'm aware of more

First off, David is great! He is always friendly, helpful and so dialed in. Standing around, talking to David is like sitting around with a great musician listening to him riffing on a guitar. The man jams! He is always interested in what project you are working on and always has great suggestions. He always is helpful and never makes you feel like you are interrupting him. He takes his time with his customers and is obviously passionate about his business. I enjoy his emails and always find something interesting when reading them. His staff is always friendly and helpful, going out of their way to help. I grow a huge organic garden every year and buy the earth mix to add to my soil with great results! Last fall, I went there to purchase some pansies and mentioned to the woman who was assisting me that I had purchased all of my tomato plants (about 15 varieties, over 36 plants) earlier in the year, in the spring after starting my own seeds in February, planting them and then, that night,, getting 2 1/2"" of rain, followed by low 30's temps the next day. She was sympathetic to my frustration and then was very interested in my feedback on which plants I liked, didn't like, which produced, didn't produce, etc. I liked that she actively sought my feedback on how their plants did for the season. The interaction and personalized service, advice, and knowledge at Bates is something never found at big box retailers which is why I always recommend Bates Nursery. Pros: Always helpful and informative! Cons: Trying not to buy everything in the place more

Since David Bates has come back to running the nursery the quality of his merchandise and the customer service has been AWESOME!! I always go to Bates for all my trees, shrubs and plants for the spring and summer!! more

I love Bates Nursery because I go in, roam around, and let my imagination go amidst their huge variety of plants. Then I ask a super-friendly staff person to help me make realistic plans for the time and money I have to spend. I leave with healthy plants and clear instructions. And I sometimes plan my weekends around their sales. Pros: staff who take the time to tell you all you need to know Cons: none that I know of more

Now that David is back, Bates is back!!! Excellent nursery stock, great staff. I love wondering around first; then asking for help. The best rose bushes I've ever bought came from Bates...along with needle point hollies, and oh so many others. Looking forward to a visit this weekend. Pros: Locally owned; knowledgable staff Cons: Can't think of any more

Our family has had nothing but great experiences shopping at Bates Nursery. In fact, we've been when they had a grill set up and offered great BBQ and Burgers and always a free water bottle. The staff have been very informed and helpful which keeps us returning as it's almost impossible to get any kind of information from the inexperienced staff at the big box stores. We love the specials which are amazing. Only wish I'd bought many more bags of their special compost dirt when it was on sale for a $1 per bag! I am a big fan of roses and wish they'd carry even more varieties than they do but I understand that's getting quite specialized. Overall, it's the best nursery in town IMO and well worth a visit to see for yourself. Pros: Healthy selections of plants Cons: Wish it carried more rose varieties more

I have lived in Middle TN for about 15 years and have loved going to Bates Nursery and even worked there one spring. David Bates in a fine man and always has the best of everything. I was greatly disappointed when he decided to sell his business and equally greatful when he took back the business, Bates Nursery & Garden Center. You will not be disappointed when you go there for what ever your needs are. I am sorry that the folks who took over the business were not happy with the way they were treated but I assure you that it will not happen again. Pros: Excellent place to learn and and beautiful place to visit more

Found dream house in Old Hickory Village that had been abandoned for 4years (needed lots of work). Since I was new to gardening I spent all of winter 2009 reading and researching. So when spring 2009 came around I was at Bates with all of my notes. Every project (except one)there was someone who knew about the plants I had read about and the care and best location for planting. I now have a shade garden, flowering vines and the fence, flowers just for cutting, spring flowers, summer and fall flowers, I even started an herb garden late in summer that thrived. My only frustration was the rose selection and then their lack of knowledge when I developed black spot one the roses I did buy. I organic garden and Bates Nursery seemed at a loss when I would ask for help. But that is small. I love the e-mails that Mr Bates puts out. I look forward to them each week. Bates Nursery is worth the drive. Pros: answers all my questions, never made me feel rushed Cons: rose selection was poor and so was their knowledge r/t them more

My wife and I went in to overhauling our yard without knowing much about plants or flowers. The staff has educated us and made great suggestions on our numerous trips to Bates. They almost always had what we needed in stock, which is saying a lot considering the variety of plants we needed. They are our first choice for plants/flowers and for landscape experts. Pros: Knowledgeable staff more

Being a new comer to the Tennessee experience, I first tried another nursery, locally operated near Joelton. After being informed of Bates' Nursery, I found them to be much more helpful and knowledgeable for my needs. I especially enjoyed the ""greet and meet"" I received from Bella!!!! What a great spokesperson and hostess.\r I received the absolute best service and the knowledge that was displayed to me was exceptional!! Adam was so patient with my questions and his ability to help me understand the difference between northeast gardening and southern gardening was terrific.\r I have gone back to Bates' several times during the winter off-season and I do so look forward to purchasing my plants for all of the new vegetable and flower gardens for my forever home.\r I would recommend Bates' Nursery to any and all. My experience with their staff and plants has been a great joy. In fact, I purposely asked for a Bates gift card for Christmas.......... Pros: great knowledge for newcomer more

David Bates and his team are excellent resources for any shade of color green thumb! There is a plethora of plant varieties available as well as professional advice if needed. I had been having a problem with my Spirea and Bates instantly knew my problem whereas two other gardening centers had no idea. Whether you are an accomplished green thumb or a gardening 'dabbler' - Bates is worth a drive to walk through the plants to get ideas and see new plants! I make it a trip at least once a month from April through October, and people still comment how great my yard continues to 'grow in color' every year! I credit it to Bates helping to achieve the ongoing seasonal blooms!\r Pros: Excellent selection, Professional help Cons: It can be a long drive - but worth every mile!!! more

The Bates staff issues a very helpful email newsletter, gives great advice in person, offers many, many types of plants, seeds, and accessories. Bargains are offered many times during the year. Bates is a full-service facility. The only danger of going there is buying too many plants! Have a strategy in hand before you go and are tempted! Pros: Large selection & knowledgeable personnel Cons: Long drive for me but worth it more

I have always considered the quality of the plants to be exceptional. However, last year I purchased approximatety $1500 worth of foundation shurbs. I came to pick them up with my landscaper. I was told that I could get the shrubs/trees at the landscaper cost but that I would then not be able to get the 1 year warranty. I opted to pay the additional amount so that I would get the warranty. Now, one year later, I had 2 shrubs completely die and one tree and one shrub nearly dead. I dug them up and brought them back to exchange them. I had all my paperwork in order. When I arrived, I was told that my shrubs were not covered by the warranty because of the draught we suffered this year. I told them that all my other shrubs did fine and how did she know that these died as a result of the draught. She said she knew it was because they survived for a year and that the other two (which were nearly dead) were not dead and therefor not covered either. I asked her what the point of a 1 year warranty is if they would not honor the warranty a year later. She had no answer other than to say she would not exchange or honor the warranty. I will never patronize this place again as I feel I was grossly misled. I could have had my landscaper buy the shrubs at a discount and foregone the warranty which is nonexistent anyway. Very bad business practice. Don't be fooled like I was. I plan to send an article to the Tennessean editorial page as well so that others will know how Bates honors their warranty. more