Dobbies Garden Centre, Chesterfield

	Click the picture to enlarge it.
	Dobbies at Chesterfield has a particularly impressive entrance. One glance inside is enough to convince you that it offers a huge amount of choice. But is it a "good" garden centre? Read on.

This is a totally independent GardenAction review of Dobbies garden centre in the Chesterfield area. Click any picture to enlarge it.

PLANTS

The outside plant area at Dobbies is very large and offers a comprehensive selection of plants. The selection is so large that the good signs are necessary. They allow you to navigate around this large area to find the plants you want.

The paths were clear and wide enough for easy access by a wheelchair user.

All then plants we examined were in good condition and well watered. Dobbies offer a five year hardy plant guarantee which is amongst the best in the industry.

The layout of the outdoor plant area was functional but uninspiring. We visited at the beginning of the year so this will possibly improve. There was an evergreen show garden on display which was interesting and informative.

There was a large and attractive plant information centre which was unmanned at the time of our visit. As well as plants, the outside area contained an impressive show of greenhouses and garden buildings. The range of plants pots for sale was large and varied.

We visited Dobbies in February and we were the only people in the outside plant area. That included no staff. It was eerie, such a large area totally unoccupied. The time of year was early, but other garden centres we visited at the same time had a fair number of people and staff browsing and working in the plants area.

PRICES
Below is a typical shopping basket of goods and plants in 2008. The prices we slightly below the average. The exception was the stainless steel fork, but the prices of these differ considerably according the manufacturer.

Rose, 3 litre pot	�5.99 upwards
Common shrub (e.g. hebe) 3 litre pot	�7.99 but �2.99 for a small one
Clematis	�9.99 upwards
Runner Bean seeds (4m)	�2.79 (Unwins)
Multipurpose 75l	�3.99 (3 for �10)
Fish, Blood and Bone, branded, 3.5kg	�4.99
Stainless steel fork	�49.99 (Dobbies)
Economy spade	�12.99 (Dobbies)
Tomorite 1 litre	�3.49
Medium cup of coffee in cafe	�1.50

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