Agree all, round, the best things, there is never enough, no matter who you are & even at the largest turnover group in UK, there are always more and more issues on supply & availability these days. You never really know.... Suppliers have to grow numbers they know they will sell, so pre booking is essential these days, no matter size of GC, some crops are 2 years growing, so you need to plan ahead. The quality that the big 5 or 6 Nurseries are growing is fantastic, just gets better and better. Well done!

Yes it is more difficult than ever to get what you need when you want it without ordering way in advance especially over last 5 yrs. Even then you don’t get it all, usually to late to source elsewhere. We have this year gone over to 100% home grown for all our GC stock, it has meant many gaps and spaces when stock is sold but not growing quickly enough to keep up. It’s not affected the bottom line, quite the opposite to be honest. We do have to make sure orders for plugs/liners & seed are in early - way earlier than we used to, even then some fall short. But I’m pretty done with buying in finished plants now it’s far too hit and miss and many suppliers when under pressure are pushing “our choice selections” which I won’t do.

If you reserve your stock early enough you get it . Growers don't grow free stock just incase you need it!! Times have changed.

Don't think it's just small centres some suppliers seem just as bad for centres in buying groups as well .makes you wonder if they were under prepared for the season (no stock based on numbers from last year poor year) or theirs bigger problems at play with a handful of suppliers, or was their such a big push to restock the former Dobbies it has created gaps which suppliers are chasing to fill.