Houston Garden Centers

When we arrived at this location an 18 wheeler was blocking the main parking lot with a guy that looked like he was enjoying a sammich… m’k. I don’t see why they wouldn’t ask this guy to move from their main entrance, but whatever… we parked a little ways away.
I was blown away by how amazing this place seemed. They have a vast selection of really healthy plants from giant trees to ground cover and everything in between as well as a great assortment of pots, and other gardening material. The prices are really great too, and the space is really clean besides a few puddles that an employee was sweeping up. This vast space though only had about three employees, all of which weren’t really interested in helping us find specific plants including herbs which they didn’t have a great variety of when we did find them. A garden center needs a knowledgeable staff that’s willing to share their expertise or at least point their customers in the right direction.
My dad went to grab the truck while I struggled with what we had bought to bring to the curb while the few employees that were there just kind of looked on… the staff wasn’t rude, they just weren’t helpful at all.
If you know your shiz when it comes to plants, don’t need a variety of herbs, and are fine to hit up a garden center without much assistance, this is your jam. They really do have a wonderful selection at great prices. They just need to step up their customer service game, and let people know if/​when they’re getting other herbs.

My first time to shop here. I must say that I came away with a high opinion. They have two critical things there that you’ll never find at a big box store’s garden section: vast selection and knowledgeable employees! Prices are awesome and staff is friendly and helpful. For instance, I wanted to buy a pot. The last of its kind, there was a quarter-​sized chip in the edge. Even though it was already 50% off, the manager kindly took an extra $ 5 off, which made me feel like a valuable customer. I’m for sure becoming a regular customer!

I always drive by HGC on my way home and decided I would check it out when I bought my Xmas tree this year. I showed up on Black Friday and was surprised it was kinda slow. Service was good. A gentleman helped me find a tree and just would not give up!
When I finally selected a tree, I went to pay only to have issues with the credit card machine. After the 3^rd attempt and the cashier telling me the have really slow DSL internet, I finally gave up and left. Saving money by getting the cheap internet service is not a way to run a competitive business… especially in this day and age!
Everything happens for a reason though, because I drove down the street to Home Depot and got a bigger and better quality tree for the same price!
So not only does this place sacrifice service for cost savings, but they also charge more! WTF! Keep driving past this place and go to Loews or Home Depot!

*I only come here at Christmas time.*
Last year I got my tree at the other HGC at SW loop. This year, we attempted to go back to the same place, but the trees were all losing needles left and right and looked dry and dead. We decided we’d give this one a go the following day and the tree buying was like night and day. To be fair, we went on a Monday evening, which I highly recommend. The trees were fresh and healthy looking and it was really easy to get the attention of an employee to help us, which was unlike the experience we has last year. Waiting a day to get the perfect tree was really the best decision. I think the secret is to go after the new trees are delivered. Good luck figuring out exactly when that is, though.

Great selection of fruit trees at very reasonable prices. Got a bunch of grapes, citrus, and fig trees from here.

I was really disappointed to find out the same day I spent 500 dollars at their store, when I got a coupon in the mail for 100 off of 500, thy wouldn’t honor it. I went back to the store the same day with the coupon! I can’t believe the poor customer service. Total waste of my time to call the corporate office expecting to talk to employees that care at all about customer service! Spoke with bobby who was rude and jennifer as well. Awful experience. I recommend going to lowes or Home Depot or even walmart over this company. They don’t back their products and they don’t back their own sales!

Great, Large selection of Christmas trees at an affordable price.
I got a 6 foot tree for a very affordable price (more money for Christmas shopping now!). The price also included a fresh cut trunk and mounting the tree to my car. HGC has many varieties of Christmas trees and most of the trees are shipped in from Oregon.
I was surprised that not many needles fell off from carrying the tree up my stairs. This tells me that the trees were pretty fresh and well maintained at HGC.
I will definitely come back here next year for my tree.
Good talk Russ.

Let me start off by saying you cant beat the price; the 70% off sale has been going on for nearly a year now. Knowing I have a black thumb, once the plant die, it makes me feel much better to know I got the plant for cheap ;). Now that I’ve gotten the one positive out of the way… Houston Garden Center, specifically the one near W.18^th St. and the Loop is the PITS! The majority of employees speak Spanish only. The few that speak English have no knowledge of plants; where they are located in the store, planting tips… nothing. This past weekend I visited the store for sod. Turns out they sold out earlier in the day. When I explained to the staff I attempted to call (multiple stores) before making the trip, she informed me the owner removed landlines from every store. Come again?! She went on to say, they communicate in-​store via walkie-​talkies, however they have no way of communicating with neighboring stores to see what they have in stock. While there are plenty of plants in-​store, do not expect to receive any form of customer service while there, for it seems that is not a principle important to the owner.

In summary:
Pros:
— large selection for the Houston area
— low prices if you can find it
Cons:
— no one speaks English (only Spanish or Spanglish)
— no one really knows the products if you can understand what they are saying
— they will tell you one price and change it on you at the counter (mistagged prices)
— selection is so large, its hard to find what you want
If you want sod, you have to ask when the truck comes and come that day cause there will be a line and they sell out!!! Staff is all Mexican, few speak English but are too busy to help you or don’t want to. They treat the plants like trash throwing them around and stepping on them and have no return policy.
In summary, its a crap shoot here. You’ll get no help and the quality of the item is iffy. It is cheaper than most places but there is a risk.
**note: you can print out better coupons online

My first real Christmas tree purchase! Houston Garden Center has a huge lot full of trees starting at $ 39.99. They’ll cut the bottom for $ 2.00 and apply it to the stand and mount it on your car. It smells like Christmas in my house!
For photos visit,

The plants are plentiful and the prices are reasonable… it is not the unique selection you find at «Another Place in Time» or «Wabash,» but for your run of the mill sorts of plants, the prices are good. The service has never been impressive, you better know what you need and how it works because no one here is going to be giving you advice on what works best in the shade or in the sun and at times service has been downright infuriating. I tried to buy grass here and was treated so badly here and told to drive to a different location and finally just found their supplier online and went straight through them. Good deal on poinsettias right now though, we were hoping for 10 for $ 50 and pleased to end up with 10 for $ 35.

This is the the worst retail establishment I have been in, bar none. No one speaks fluent English. No one knows anything about the merchandise being sold or its care. Management, when present, is impotent. There is no guarantee on any of the plants, under any circumstances. I could understand no refunds, but not even allowable exchanges?!! After arguing with a manager about the third instance of plants dying shortly after being purchased, I was given a corporate office number (713)218−0860. The woman who took my call was as equally dispassionate about condition of the purchases and reminded me that Houston Garden Centers did not guarantee anything sold and that it was printed clearly on my receipt. If 70% off sounds attractive to you… think twice. It’s not much consolation when the plants and shrubs are dead… not stressed, dead. Shame on me for going back after the first time this happened, but I assure you, it will not happen again. Buyer beware!

My spot for buying plants for the yard. Houston Garden Center always has great deals on their plants, plus they are all over the place! Each month, you can find coupons in various circulars, along with on their website.
Are there better places with better selections? Probably… but I’m no green thumb, so it works just fine for me.

My wife and I decided to pick up a Christmas tree at the last minute. They had a good sale. We went in, found a tree and the cashier (Joanna) made a suggestion regarding a stand that saved us a little coin. We were in and out without any snags. The only knock I have is I couldn’t call the store and speak with someone in person. I really can’t believe they don’t have a direct line.

I have shopped here at at other Houston Garden Centers a few times and recently purchased a Christmas tree at this location. They have a really good selection of reasonably priced fresh tress. But they charge an extra $ 2 for a fresh cut, most places don’t charge for this. My problem with this business is they have no customer service, the check out employees are zombies and trying to get someone to help you is impossible, communication is also very difficult at all the stores I’ve visited. But they have great prices on grass and their 70% off sale each year is really hard to beat.

Went here to get our Christmas tree, the day after Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, when we went it was not busy at all. A guy does follow you around while you are searching for the perfect tree so that was a little creepy and made me want to hurry the process; however he carries it to the register and helps you load it onto your car correctly. I agree with JM it was odd that they charged an extra $ 2 for cutting the tree and that the workers were unable to communicate with you; however, the prices for the tree were good so no complaints there. Would come back here next year for our Christmas tree again.

So… my Mom is coming into town Columbus Day weekend. Some of you met her at The Harp during St. Patrick’s Day and know how awesomely southern she is… :D.
In order to prepare for her arrival, I needed some plants and flowers for my townhouse. I read an online ad that Houston Garden Centers was having a major sale, so I headed over there today. I had no expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. It’s kind of like the Walmart of flowers and plants. Not the selection you would find at Buchanan’s or River Oaks Plant House. But, what they do have is healthy and cheap. 3 gallon plants, like bougainvillea, was on sale for $ 6.50 each. Small palms and Chinese fans were $ 9.99. At Lowe’s or Home Depot, these plants would be $ 20 minimum.
All in all, I purchased a palm, two bougainvillea, some flowers, potting soil and some natural mosquito repellent for my yard for $ 50. Note that they do not accept Amex!
Yay, Houston Garden Centers… keep it up!