I love their bare root barn in the spring, in about April. I especially like that they've changed to a preorder system. No more driving up from the cities only to find out they are out of the trees I was hoping for. The bare root trees are, of course, young, but more established than the seedlings you could get from the state nursery. And you don't have to buy 100! This is a great option if you are on a really tight budget and/or looking to reforest an area. I always take a swing through the garden center as well. There are some great bargains on garden decor, as long as you know your prices. Good gift shopping. read more

I've previously loved Nelson's Nursery. This last experience I had preordering: - I emailed several times with no replies. - I called multiple times asking to talk about an order change. Several of those I was told I'd be called back, I never was. - I called again saying I'd like a refund a month ago, and only then I was told "no problem, we'll get it" - Nelson's called me with pickup times over the weeks of waiting... when talking with them, they'd then tell me they were mistaken and they didn't have it or know when it was coming in. - I got an email on Friday saying it was ready for pickup - and then I drove there with a trailer only for them to tell me it's not there. I waited for 20minutes while people ran around trying to find someone that knew about this situation. I was told I would be called on Monday. The manager couldn't be bothered to talk to me in person. Yesterday I received no call. - No offer for any sort of compensation to right this wrong. - I finally get a chance to talk to them on the phone and they take zero responsibility for these issues. I asked them for my money back. They had the rude audacity to tell me that because they have an extra tree they are the victim of this situation. I've tried to talk to a manager, nope. I've tried reaching out to senior management, nope. This place is incredibly mismanaged and unorganized. There are better nurseries out there, I'll be recommending those to others in the future. read more

I love this place. I rarely would give any gardening place 5 stars because it is too difficult when dealing with plants to know if I kill them or they were bad plants. However they do stand behind them with a 1 year warranty. I have never tried it since I never have my receipts or the plant. I mean how do you find the plant after winter has come and gone if it doesn't grow? Just saying. The employees here have always been extremely helpful. I usually look for their bargains/sales since I am such a frugal person. We also buy our Christmas tree here. We have the last 2 years since the first year we lived up here we didn't know about them. Their trees are gorgeous and the easiest trees we have ever bought. We have bought trees from Bachmanns to Home Depot and none of them come close to the quality and price of Nelson's trees. read more

I'm very happy with the quality of the plants purchased here. I was also pleased with the prices. We just bought a tree for only $35, and anywhere in the cities we would have paid $100. The staff are VERY knowledgeable! Many times when you go to a garden center, the workers don't know enough about the plants to really answer questions. But everyone here seems either very plant smart, or really good at BSing. Either way, I'm satisfied! And finally, their selection is HUGE! If they don't have what you're looking for, they can order it too. A lovely 1 stop shop for all gardening needs! read more

We stopped in to pick up a Christmas Tree on the way back to the Twin Cities from Mille Lacs. Lots of fun & plenty of healthy choices. Similar prices to tree farms closer to the Metro. Excellent service. Everyone there was in great spirits. They gave us a coupon for a free sapling on Arbor Day & we plan to use it. read more

Nelson Nursery Inc-Garden Center - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Zimmerman, Minnesota

I am a gardening nut. From annuals to perennials, shrubs and trees. I haunt every center from Cambridge to Princeton and then down all the way to the south side of the Twin Cities. Yes, I know all the places and plant sales. I got the best price and best looking garden sculpture at Nelson's end of season sale 2014. I felt like I was stealing them! Their perennials and annuals have a great selection of old stand bys, under appreciated plants and just plain different. I think their shrub selection is tops. I like the promotion to buy so much and get a card stamped to get $10 off my next purchase. They always have last minute things I need in the fall like bittersweet and winter red dogwood twigs and at a reasonable price. Don't buy from the big box garden, grocery or home stores where who knows what is on those plants. Buy local and get good quality and a business that cares about their customers and community. read more

I purchased a bare-root Gladiator crabapple tree this spring. I noticed the leader wasn't doing anything so I've given it some time. Still nothing going on so I called the nursery and it seems the tree has to be dead for the warranty. If I wanted a tree without a leader I would have purchased one. read more