How do I check a nursery’s potting soil and container suppliers before buying?

Soil and containers look like routine purchases until a supplier stops delivering in the middle of spring. Ask the seller to name each supplier, explain how long they have worked together and show a season of invoices. Look at how prices have moved, how orders are timed and whether the nursery buys in bulk or as needed. A single supplier for a key item is a risk to discuss.

Quality matters as much as price. Ask whether the mix has caused problems, such as weeds, salts, poor drainage or pests, and how the seller found and fixed them. If the nursery blends its own mix, find out who knows the recipe, where the materials come from and what equipment is needed. If the soil is imported or moved across a border, ask what inspection records exist.

Finally, check the terms. Are there written supply agreements, volume commitments or credit arrangements that could pass to you or bind you? Ask your lawyer to read them. Your accountant can compare the supply costs with the financial statements to confirm that the numbers fit. Ask the seller who the best backup supplier would be and whether they have ever used them.

Key takeaways

• Review a season of supplier invoices for price and delivery trends.
• Ask about any quality problems and how they were solved.
• Identify a backup supplier for the key items.