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Dobbies Garden Centre, Newcastle 


Dobbies Garden Centre,
Newcastle
 

Entrance to Dobbies Garden Centre, Newcastle
Click the picture to enlarge it.

Dobbies Newcastle is near the airport in Ponteland. Built on the site of a farm in 2005, it is a modern garden centre. We review the plants, the cafe, the indoor sales area and more.

This is a totally independent GardenAction opinion of Dobbies Garden Centre in Ponteland, Newcastle. Click any picture to enlarge it.

PLANTS

This garden centre is on the large size but the space devoted to outdoor plants is comparatively small. The layout an uninteresting criss-cross of paths with no central or side displays. But those paths are wide and free of obstructions making it easy for wheelchair users to get round.

Some parts were covered but the majority was open to the elements.

Outside plants area


Dobbies five year guarantee. We were surprised at the total lack of overhead signs to help you find the plants you wanted. The layout of the plants appeared to be almost random. Indeed, there was an area of plants at the far end of the outdoor area which we almost missed altogether. In smaller plants areas this is not a problem because it encourages wandering round. But at this garden centre, the opposite was true, for us at least.


The picture above shows the Dobbies five year hardy plant guarantee, the best in the garden centre business.

On the right, the picture shows the outdoor help centre. This is normally manned and contains lots of useful reference material to help you check out the preferences of individual plants.

Outdoor help centre at Dobbies, Newcastle


Plant pots The plants were of good quality and well-watered. There were no outstanding specialist areas at this garden centre although there was an unusually good selection of conifers. Oh yes, and masses of pots! Conifers

PRICES
The prices at this Dobbies were about the industry average. A good "four for �10" on general purpose compost countered a rather expensive �7.99 for a hebe.

Rose, 3 litre pot �6.99

Common shrub (e.g. hebe) 3 litre pot �7.99

Clematis �9.99

Runner Bean seeds (4m) �2.79 (Unwins)

Multipurpose Compost 60l �3.99 or 4 for �10

Miracle Gro 1kg �4.99

Stainless steel fork �21.99 (Dobbies)

Economy spade �13.99 (Dobbies)

Tomorite 1 litre �3.69

Medium cup of coffee in cafe �1.80



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