Minors Garden Center

We’ve had generally good experiences with Minor’s especially when purchasing thinks like shrubs or larger plants.
My preference is to head to the Milaegers on Douglas Ave in Racine because I know they’ll have everything I need (and then some) but Minor’s is a close second. Most importantly for me, they have their own greenhouses meaning they grow a lot of their own stock. That generally means healthier, better maintained plants.
The selection tends to be large with both common and lesser-​known varieties of plants. They have a full service landscaping service so it’s an especially good place to get things like trees and shrubs.
In terms of pricing, I feel like they’re on par with Steins, but I know that I’m getting better quality here.

Good selection but horrible customer service. Spoke to a woman on the phone about replacing a tree that didn’t make it through the winter and she was short and rude to me. She then hung up on me mid-​sentence. Definitely will never will never purchase another plant from this company.

We will never return to Minors. We were excited to find a large garden center on the north side of MILWAUKEE who had their own greenhouses and had a large variety. From the moment we arrived we were treated poorly from every member of the staff. It is a sprawling center with things all over. The layout of the interior made little sense so when I had to ask where hose guards were I received different answers from each employee, some said, «oh we don’t have that» rather than even understand what I was looking for. They acted like I was really taking them away from work much more important then helping a customer. You know how sometimes you get this vibe that everyone in an establishment hates where they work? I got this vibe from everyone. We bought hundreds of dollars of plants and yard accoutrements and were treated like we were in their way during checkout. It was so bad I mentioned something and the woman just ignored me. I was in a cast at the time and we were parked in handicapped parking using the mirror tag. As we were loading the car, someone came out to yell at us and tell us we caused traffic problems for the last two hours because of where we parked. I said the lines were painted on the ground, I parked where the symbol and lines were. The guy told me they were faded and I should have known it was an old space and not really a space anymore. After lousy customer assistance finding what we wanted, dropping $ 250 dollars for what were mediocre plants and then being shouted at in the parking lot by some employee we will never return to Minors again. I’ll drive to Racine and go to Milaeger’s where the plants are hardier and the customer service is exemplary.

Wnen it comes to a good selection of quality plant material I rank them as good as anyone in the Midwest. The prices are fair and the selection is over the top! I read some reviews of their phone system and people don’t realize the magnitude of the calls they receive in season.
My suggestion is pay them a visit when you have time
to take a good look at their inventory! WOW. And if you want that special plant that sets you apart from your neighbors, they have it!
Cut through the chase and visit Minors for your complete gardening needs.

I really love the organization of this place. You could pretty much plant the way they have it set up. Herb and vegetable selection is outstanding.
The employees don’t hover over you and aren’t pushy. They have a huge variety of fountains and lawn ornaments.
It gets pretty busy but, the lanes and rows are still big enough to navigate your garden cart without plowing into anyone. You know when your are bending over to read the description of a plant or flower and someone is like, «EXCUSE ME!» People think that is the epitome of manners. Newsflash, it’s rude. Wait your turn or go around me and come back when I am finished.
I especially like the rolls of sod. They provide trunk covers which is very helpful to keep your vehicle spick and span.

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UPDATE: While the wench on the phone was horrid, the staff on the ground at Minor’s couldn’t have been nicer and more customer service oriented. Whereas I bought a sapling for $ 40 at Stein’s, I bought a «tree» for $ 32 at Minor’s. They loaded it in my car, and even lined the cargo area with plastic. I tipped Shawn and Hugo for their efforts. Sometimes I’m spot on with a review. This time I wasn’t. My assessment was tainted by the actions of one employee. This example should illustrate to business owners, however, just how important that point of initial contact is, even if just over the phone. UPGRADE FROM 3 STARS TO 5 STARS.
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MENTALLY OBESE
I’ve been searching for a blue President Lincoln lilac for my yard, and unfortunately every nursery I’ve tried refers me to Minor’s Garden Center. UGGGH, I’ve been intentionally avoiding this place. A previous bad experience with them in my early twenties left an impression that stuck with me.
Nonetheless, I called Minor’s. What I got was a recording by an older woman, «You’ve reached Minor’s Garden Center, in business for over 54 years, and founded by Don Minor.» Great, so what. Then you are prompted to press 4 for the retail division, amongst other departments. I did just that. A woman with the most contemptuous voice ever says, «Gooooood afternoon, Mi-nor’s Gar-​den Cen-​ter.» You know the annoyed type of intonation – the kind that, even though the words say «good afternoon,» the tone says «please die.» When I STARTED to explain what I was looking for, I hear «beep,» and instantly I’m transferred to a voicemail system! Before I called back to tell Minor’s to suck a big back of dicks, I figured I’d give them the benefit of the doubt, thinking someone accidentally transferred me to voicemail. So, I called back again with this in mind.
I get the same woman and START to explain what just happened. I was interrupted. Is this a Midwestern thing, to interrupt someone when speaking? I encounter this a lot! Anyway, she croaks out that the «booth» is «backed up» and that’s why she transferred me, but she’ll «try» to page someone. I felt like saying, don’t strain yourself trying, simply DO it. But I bit my tongue.
This is my complaint: people hide behind technology to the point where the laziest of the human race that have somehow managed to avoid ANY physical labor, now have the luxury of being equally as lazy when it comes to any communicative task at hand! I refer to these people as «the mentally obese.» How difficult would it have been for her to say, «Thank you for your patience. We are swamped right now with customers. Is there any way that we might take your number and return your call, or would you be willing to leave a message if I were to transfer you to voicemail»? Businesses lose money every day, because they hire and subsequently fail to train the «mentally obese.» It’s so sad.
I upgraded Minor’s to three stars from one, because the gentleman in the garden department was so patient and genuinely tried to help me. They didn’t have what I wanted, but he suggested an good alternate: a five year old blue lilac of a different variety, and at a bargain price of $ 31.99.
Businesses should be well advised that, just like the poison pen letters of yore, the technological equivalent of a bad review can be just as damaging. I’ll put it in terms Minor’s can understand. While it’s «not nice to fool Mother Nature,» it is equally as foolish to f with «Brother Unilocaler.» For now, THREE stars for this long-​established garden center that hired one employee that «gets it,» and therefore redeemed their reputation and possibly saved a sale.

I love this place. We have gotten our Xmas Trees here for the past two years. great service. they will wrap everything up and bring it to your car and even tie it on.
The prices are totally comparable. They have special «flocked» trees as well if that is something you are into.
Their poinsettias are great and last a long time. I think we eventually just got rid of ours because it was like March!