Shoal Creek Nursery

I’ve really good customer service here. They’ve always been able to help me find what I’m looking for, or tell me if they don’t have it. The plants I’ve gotten from them have all been good. The one time I called ahead, and then they didn’t have what I’d asked about when I showed up, they wrote me a gift certificate for the amount plus a little extra, and called me as soon as they had the plant in again. So I’ve very happy with this nursery.

Maybe they’ve been reading previous reviews, but they have definitely improved their customer service. Quite a few employees offered to help, and they answered my questions politely. They have a great selection, and their clearance section had quality pots and accessories. Don’t be discouraged from the other Unilocalers, check this place out!

Rather lame as far as natives and knowledge. There is a big dumpster in the back filled with old plants and plastic pots. How shameful that they neither recycle or compost. There are so many better options in Austin. People only shop here for the convenience.

I have been a regular customer of Shoal Creek Nursery since 2007 — not their biggest customer, but regular. I have always received excellent help and advice. When I have a lot of questions (and as a new vegetable gardener I have questions), I try to go to the nursery weekday mornings for assistance. Staff have always been gracious, even when they are very busy. Have I ever had to wait to get a question answered? Of course. But folks are knowledgeable and want to help. Prices are very fair and quality very high compared to other nursery suppliers in the area. Don, James, Ana, Mike, Bob (in the past) are a few of the folks who have helped me improve my flower and vegetable gardens. I trust these folks, including the introvert with fewer words than others who work there. Cecile A.

I absolutely adore this nursery. All of the plants are of gorgeous quality and then entire place is beautiful. The staff are all very friendly and knowledgable and ALWAYS willing to help. I could tootle around this place for hours just looking at everything and relaxing.

We hate admitting that we cannot grow everything from seed ourselves… but we don’t have the time. This nursery is our go-​to for filling any gaps we have and I love their selection of succulents. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. I recommend going the week or early morning. Weekend afternoons are busy.

This is a convenient nursery for central Austin dwellers. I do think customer service is especially poor — particularly when you buy a bulk product. Today, I had to convince the employee trying to deliver what I bought that he brought the wrong stuff. He argued with me. I showed him the receipt and he said, «We don’t have that.» I told him I was just sold that product, so I thought they did. Then he asked me to come find it. I realize customer service is mostly a thing of the past, but this is pretty ridiculous.

Nice plant selection. OK prices. Great location. Really, really inferior customer experience, and I’ve shopped with them for years. Natural Gardener is sometimes worth the drive.

As many other reviewers have said, poor customer service. I’ve been 4 or 5 times, as I live nearby, but the staff makes me feel like I’m bothering them. It’s strange to go somewhere and spend a lot of money, to be treated like you aren’t welcome. Shop elsewhere, maybe one of these days they’ll come under new ownership.
UPDATE: I’m not sure if they’ve made an effort recently to work on their customer service, but the friendliness levels have went up on my last couple of visits. It’s been pleasant. Keep it up Shoal Creek!

Possibly my favorite nursery in Austin! They have the best plant variety I have found and all the plants I’ve brought home have thrived. They told me they stock only plants that will do well in the area, which is comforting to me as a Texas transplant.

This place has almost everything I need for the type of gardening I do. I live in an apartment with limited space and sunlight. When in doubt, I have always been able to ask one of the very courteous employees for advice and suggestions. I recently purchased several Japanese boxwoods and wanted to k ow if they would be ideal for. small planter boxes. They didn’t try to sell me anything I didn’t need. I love this place…

I want to give Shoal Creek more stars, but I try giving four or five only to firms that really blow me away.
They don’t.
The good news? They have a good selection most of the time and frequently have some castaways marked down on the side. Any real gardener will tell you we love the castaways — we are the ultimate optimists convinced we can bring plants back to life.
But I digress.
The prices are about average for a nursery — but if you’re into gardening you know that. Hey, some people blow money on a boat, some are into plants.
SCN has a very nice succulent section so if you’re into cacti you’re in luck.
Parking is adequate — they can be busy on a Sat afternoon.
So why not more stars? I’ll tell you: people, or, social skills.
I’ve probably shopped here eight times in the last two years. Now, while that doesn’t make me a regular, it does let me the average way people treat you. This store doesn’t bother to pretend they like you.
I’ve never been greeted as I came in: I seldom am asked if I need help. If I am, I feel like it’s grudging as if I’ve been looking around too long. I’m sorry, make it feel genuine or just leave me alone.
Even at checkout, I’ve never encountered a friendly face, knowing smile or someone that seems to be having fun. What’s the deal? Do you not like people or plants?
Will I still go here? Yes, but I won’t be making any out of the way trips.
Man I’d love to like these people more, but you gotta give to receive, you know?

Good plants. Sure. More or less. Customer service? Unhappy people working there who can’t be bothered to answer questions. These people do not know what customer service is and it starts with the owner. Front desk help would rather ignore you than help. Multiple miserable experiences. DO NOT GO HERE.

THE LOWEST RATED NURSERY IN AUSTIN FOR A REASON. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!
High level summary…
1. Not friendly. Seemed bothered when asking for help
2. Over-​priced, but that’s the least of it
3. Downright rude and defensive
4. Customer is certainly not right
I have frequented Shoal Creek for several years because of limited city options near my house. They have always been unfriendly, but my last two visits caused me to make them my last visits.
I bought a good amount of expensive pots and I was made to feel as if I was bothering the help behind the desk. To be honest, they’re always like that. I asked what type of soil to use for my potted lemon tree. I was told potting soil. I recalled this contradicting everything i’d read, but didn’t remember what exactly to buy. I was sent to their «tree expert.» He said use a sandy soil. Ok.
So-​so experience behind me, I went home only to find one of the pots I bought was too small so I went back for another. It was $ 200 ($ 400 in total in a short period of time). Not a small amount, not a small pot, because it didn’t fit in my car. I asked about options. The woman behind the desk seemed bothered the entire transaction. The manager asked one of the stock boys what he charged. When he didn’t get an answer, he turned to me and said we charge a minimum of $ 40. WTW!!! You ask someone what to charge and they don’t answer so you come back with something made up? Mind you, I live less than a mile from the nursery.
I mentioned after these lovely experiences that the help behind the desk just wasn’t very nice. The girl said incredulously, and I quote, «what do you want? Us to deliver the pot for free?» I then mentioned her attitude, her disposition, and her misinformation on soil. She remembered this and I then said, «I didn’t misinform you. I use potting soil.» Then an even snottier person said «I use potting soil, too.» Apparently tree expert and customer are wrong. I informed her their self-​proclaimed «citrus tree expert» said sandy soil for drainage. She said he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. she’s the one who referred me to him as the expert. I finally gave up, returned the pot and vowed never to go back.
— — –
In response to the owner, this is exactly the response I would have expected. Your help was rude. She literally said, what do you want a free delivery. You were an ass and instead of being customer-​centric, you reply like this. I hope everyone reads this and the rest of the the low reviews and understands why they should not waste their money here. Check out the other complaints. Try to like people. You’re clearly in the wrong business because you were just as bad. When I asked for an expert opinion on citrus soil, I was directed to Don. When you both disagreed with him (on my subsequent visit), you both said he doesn’t know everything. WTW??? There’s a reason you’re the LOWEST RATED NURSERY IN AUSTIN.

Love the setting, the merchandise was wonderful, and it’s a local business, I really wanted this to be a great new favorite place to shop. Cashier at the counter was super nice, but the owner was rude and abrasive. Seemed bothered that a customer had a question and pissed off that I wasn’t buying more.
Won’t be going back, even though it’s convenient and local. It’s really a shame that a business owner doesn’t recognize the importance of building good customer relationships. He won’t be long in the business with that attitude.

Edited after visit on 4÷5÷2014
This is my favorite nursery.
— For healthy plants and an overall, «Man I wish this was my backyard!» vibe, Shoal Creek Nursery is a treasure. It’s one of my favorite businesses in Austin to just «be» in. (Anderson’s Coffee and Antonelli’s are my other two.)
— Customer service is outstanding. Employees are quick to answer questions. There are people assigned to help you load your car. Don is the best. He knows everything there is to know.
— I grew up around gardeners, so I never noticed the plants were scientifically named and not commonly named. (Revision: the plants are all labeled with common names. Some sections even have signs with the names on them.) It wouldn’t be a serious hurdle. The web will tell you all about plants and even plants that do well in our part of Texas. (Even as someone who «knows» plants, I always go with a researched list in hand.)
— For beginning gardeners, to get a hint for how something will grow in your yard, look at where the plant is in the nursery. Is it outside in full sun? Is it in shade? That’s a starting point to knowing where it will go in your yard.
— To recap: Hidden gem. Great plants. Do research before buying plants.

I rather enjoy this little nursery. Their plants look awesome healthy and strong and they always have a pretty good selection of what’s in season. We went a week ago and they had tons of herbs and veggies out. Prices are very competitive with the big chain places and they have much higher quality of plants. Plus their three cats are quite adorable and will help you shop. Their whole place is landscaped and always looks gorgeous. Good parking lot too. Overall just a pleasant place to shop for plants!

Note: I have not visited Shoal Creek Nursery. Upon calling them regarding a specific variety of apple tree, I determined I would unlikely visit their establishment. The individual who answered the phone when I called was short with me and unfriendly. From a service standpoint, Shoal Creek merits 2-​stars in my book.

Wow … such mixed reviews here. I just came to check out their pots and get a rake. I was happy to look around without being bothered. Perhaps if I was wanting help finding the rakes I would have been annoyed that no one said anything to me but sometimes I like just checking things out without sales associates bothering me.

This place is great. I stopped by today on a whim, and was awesomely surprised. It is a large, healthy looking nursery, and the staff was so helpful. After buying strawberries, broccoli, and artichokes, i happily walked out after paying just five bucks.
I went back a couple hours later, because i was in garden mode. I picked up brussel sprouts and asparagus. The cashier was fantastic, giving me a plethora of information and answering all my questions.
My garden looks kick ass now (or even more kick ass, which i didn’t know was possible).
Thanks, Shoal Creek Nursery. You are awesome.