Ballek’s Garden Center

At the height of the planting season, May and June, I don’t think there is a better place, from Madison to Watch Hill, to purchase perennials. They have an extensive selection of herbs, woodland and meadow plants. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and helpful. You can tell that the people who work there like plants. It’s a job, but not just a job. Prices are moderate. By mid-​summer, the quality and selection is winding down…

I just love this garden center. I visit fairly regularly during the winter months, between the smell of the plants, the warm air, the chirping birds that live there, and the cats wandering around, it feels like stepping into spring. They also have a huge selection of indoor plants, and in the warmer months an even huger selection of outdoor plants, shrubs, and trees. The staff are very helpful. They can be a bit on the pricier side, but all in all a great place.

My mother likes to go here for Mother’s Day, but this year (2013) I purchased some annuals which I later found (after a week planted in my home planter) had a disease or bug. My mother brought a plant back to Ballek’s that she purchased prior that also had a disease. I had a conversation with a local landscape company who also noted that some plants that they purchased from here had a disease/​bug which hasn’t yet been identified. I will NOT go back to Ballek’s. Please avoid this place!!!

Received a delivery of mulch, very timely and quality mulch. Six (6) yard minimum for delivery, and a reasonable price, especially considering I do not own a truck. Look forward to using Ballek’s for additional yard/​garden needs this year.

Last friday, I drove to Ballek’s for hydrangeas and lavender plants. The specimens look dried up and definitely suffered from the heat. The sales person suggested I might get a sale price. The general sale had specific plants to be discounted. Nancy Ballek refused to make any concession for the ones I had selected. The specimens for both the lavender plants and the Annabelle Hydrangeas were definitely second rate. I could have kicked myself for not walking away. I paid full price $ 39.99 for the hydrangeas, and around $ 16. @ for the lavenders. I will never return to that nursery. Sandra R
After a mild winter, all the lavenders are dead and the hydrangeas from Ballek’s look anemic. Other ones from Riggio’s, for example, look lush!

The people who work here are the reason I come back. They are so helpful, explaining everything you need to know about a plant before you buy it and always making sure that you get the best of their selection. I have come in simply to ask for advice about my garden and they have always been gracious and never try to pressure you into buying anything. The staff is very knowledgeable about every product they sell and the place is very family friendly.

nice plants!

Ballek’s is by far the best garden center in the area. They have just what you need regardless of the time of year. Their generations of family and staff are experts on so many plants.
They also do landscaping projects, such as patios and so on. They built a great one for a former house of mine that came out perfect.

Ballek’s is one of my favorite Garden Centers, not only because it’s the closest nursery to my parents’ house, but because they also have a HUGE selection, tons of knowledge and anything else you could possibly want from a nursery. They also always have kittens, which for me when I was very young always made the place exciting. My mom used to bribe me into the car so that she could look for all of the plants we would need for the year by promising that I could play with the kittens all I wanted while she shopped, even though I’m allergic. I think they are actually trying to give the kittens away, but my mom wouldn’t let me take them home… (Little did she know that I’d find a dirty kitten next to a «free kitten» sign when I was in college and leave her at home because «my apartment’s not kitty-​friendly» muah hahahaha!)