How Local Garden Centers Can Help Build Your Garden
April 26, 2022How to Plant Tomatoes in Your Garden
April 27, 2022Everyone has heard the news of how the supply chain is causing problems throughout the retail world. Consumers are forced to wait longer for deliveries and are seeing empty shelves wherever they go. Even garden centers are experiencing these issues, whether you are buying online garden supplies or planting vegetables.
Garden Center Supply Chain
Nearly every business uses a supply chain to distribute its products. This helps them provide low prices on goods and allows their products to be delivered. Garden centers are no different. Many vegetable seeds and plants must be imported from other countries which would need some type of supply chain cycle to be used. With cargo ships being delayed across the globe, your tomato plants may be stuck near California in the Pacific Ocean.
So while the supply chain issue continues, it’s important that you remain patient with all your retailers. It’s very frustrating when you expect a package to come, but it doesn’t show up for weeks, but just know that most people are experiencing the same issues as you.
High Demand
Even before the pandemic, garden centers were struggling to keep up with demand. In 2018, American gardeners spent over $47.8 billion on their lawns and gardens. Since more people are staying home now, that number has increased. And with the increase in demand, growers are having a difficult time keeping up. They already need to wait for the natural plant cycle so they can harvest the seeds, so the supplies can’t always keep up with the demand.
Climate Change
Climate change affects just about every aspect of the planet. This includes how plants grow and even how the supply chain works. But, with extreme weather occurring more often, more plants are struggling to grow properly. Plants can’t flourish in hurricanes or tornadoes. And, if a whole area freezes over, those plants may die and never be able to grow. People know climate change affects how plants grow, but they may not have thought it would affect garden centers’ supply chains.
These are just some of the reasons why garden centers are struggling to keep up with demand. It pains many businesses to not have enough supply to provide to their loyal customers, so please be patient with your retailers as they are going through a tough stretch in their industries.