Fertile Ltd

I hired this firm based on good Unilocal reviews. But at the time, could not quite make sense of the negatives. Until now. Here’s a cautionary tale…
My neighbor and I were both looking at a number of firms for cleanup plus services. The owner Susan came to meet us. She seemed knowledgable. The one watch-​out of the visits was her obvious discomfort at offering a viable cost parameters. She actually told me: «I’m really not very good at estimating.» Seriously — from an owner & professional? However, again based on reviews of the actual work, we decided to give her firm a try.
I spoke to «the manager» after two calls, because no one seemed to know when Susan would actually be in. Explaining that, as business people neither my neighbor or I was comfortable hiring anyone on the basis of TOTALLY open «time & materials», we proposed a reasonable time parameter for both jobs for this first fall clean-​up service, based on prior firms’ work. I was clear that we would be fine with any work that might be left undone, based on our own parameters. She checked that and another specific question with the foreman who would actually do the work. And Fertile agreed to take the jobs. We set a date, finding one day for both visits for their advantage (vs. our own convenience).
Over a week later, there’s a voice message from Susan: she’s «too busy» to take on anything with any parameters. Thinking perhaps this was a mis-​communication of what we were asking for, I left several messages. When the call was finally returned, she was not only rude. She directly contradicted facts her employees, who do the work, had provided.
Net: while employees seemed honest and may be talented, if you like signing blank checks, and want a firm whose owner does not honor verbal contracts — does not empower its own employees — and isn’t truthful: this is the firm for you.

I cannot say enough about Fertile. We moved into a new construction house with no landscaping except basic sod and inexpensive bushes. We tried four different landscape architects to come out and help us with our front yard. Finally after their ridiculous contracts and failure to get us drawings, my husband went to Fertile to pick out some trees to plant ourselves. When Ruben and the guys showed up, they planted our trees, ripped out the sod, created a beautiful stone pathway to the side of the house and planted annuals. My front yard looks like it should be on a magazine. They just came back to give it a fall look with pumpkins and mums and it looks like something Martha Stewart would do. They are the best in Chicago hands-​down! They are the easiest landscape company I’ve worked with as a homeowner. I promise you will love their creativity and quality trees and bushes.

The plants are flowers here are amazing! I have been going here for years and can attest that they have great quality for their flowers and plants. Their containers, flower pots and decorations are very nice, too! All of their products are fairly priced and are nice quality. I purchased a beautiful, fresh Christmas wreath here a few years ago, too, and received a lot of compliments on it. It’s nice to shop at a gardening center where the employees are truly knowledgeable about flowers and plants and can give you an educated answer to your questions. I’d highly recommend shopping at Fertile!

Beautiful selection and super helpful staff. I don’t have much of a green thumb but this nursery has inspired me me for a second summer to make my yard beautiful. They made me 3 gorgeous planters, delivered them and now our yard looks awesome!

Lovely local owned flower shop with a great selection. The whole staff was very friendly and helpful with my many questions. Defiantly stop in for your spring flowers!

All around fabulous nursery — high quality flowers and plants, wide selection and exceptional customer service! Kate was so helpful working with me to select the perfect combination of flowers for my flower boxes. They look absolutely beautiful. Thank you to Kate and Alfonzo for such a positive experience… because of you I will continue to be a return customer and recommend you to my friends and family.

I have worked with Fertile Gardens for many years and I must say the quality service, professionalism and amazing talent for my balcony garden-​scape baskets are unparalleled. Every summer I arrive in the morning, drop off my baskets, tell them what I’m thinking as far as look and décor and let them «work their magic». Hours later, I get a call letting me know my baskets are ready and I always look forward in anticipation to see what they have done… needless to say, I am NEVER disappointed. They simply do AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL work!

They have great people that work there but the owner was very rude. Our sales person couldn’t have been any nicer taking her time and working with us on what we need. The owner on multiple occasions called her over to tell her do other things. The final straw was when she told her salesman to go do something else and she would help us. Well that didn’t sit right with us. Basically at the end of the day the owner was just a very rude person with no respect of her customers or employees.

We recently got our Christmas tree from here. Best Place ever! Best tree! Staff was so friendly and helpful. Great place to check out!

I am aware that Fertile’s offerings are on a seasonal basis and that my review might vary based on visits in other times of the year. However, my first visit here was rather disappointing.
I’ve driven by Fertile on many occasions but waited until I was ready to decorate my mantle for Christmas before I went over. I went around 11am on Friday and got a spot in the alley behind the shop.
This place isn’t very big and it was actually several minutes before I even saw someone who looked like they worked there. There were plenty of Christmas trees and you could smell the pine, but when I went to look at the garland and swags, well it was a different story. The garland wasn’t an option as I believe that only rolls of 25′ or more were available. The swags looked beat up and had no smell. Some of them had brown/​dried up needles and none had any scent to them. One guy came over and showed me the boxes of swag that were opened today and they were better but not what I was looking for and $ 12 each.
Overall I was disappointed about the quality and quantity of what they had to offer. I went to Home Depot on North Avenue afterwards and found exactly what I wanted (4 swags of different tree cuts for a total of $ 28) clearly less than what Fertile was charging and it smells wonderful. I’ll try them again in a different season, but not for holiday greenery.

I walked into Fertile having never bought plants, flowers or shrubbery, nor have I ever gardened before. A total rookie. Shame on me for not watching my mother more closely in the garden over the years. I did know that I wanted a purifying house plant for my studio apartment, had made a short list of options, and that Fertile was the first place I would check out.
I quickly learned that there was no need to go anywhere else, because this place was absolutely amazing! Mostly thanks to Adrianna (sp?), who approached me almost immediately and asked if I needed any assistance. Boy did I ever, it’s very intimidating to walk into a nursery not knowing a thing about flowers! I bet it’s a bit like walking into a crowded daycare to pick up your child whom you’ve never met before!
I gave her my list, and she let me know that they had English Ivy. After asking how many I wanted and what type of pot I planned to put it in, I think she quickly realized the look of terror on my face and offered to pot it for me. WHAT?! YOU CAN DO THAT?! I was so thankful for the offer and definitely took her up on it. I just couldn’t believe she did that for me, and she even created a rock filtration system at the bottom of the soil since there was no hole in the pot, as she told me. Again, this is all a foreign language to me, whatever she said, I would have gone with. I would have never known to do that! She made me proud to be a first time house plant owner, and I can’t wait to go back for more!
To sum it up: Excellent customer service, wide variety, reasonable prices. (at least for what I bought!)
Thank you Adrianna and Fertile!

They did a great job planting our container garden last autumn and then a nice job in the winter with greens and such. The garden this summer was a hot, smoking’ mess. Completely incoherent in terms of plant selection, color, style. .. you name it. Everyone from husband to housekeeper thought it was awful. Their explanation «the style went with the containers». True, if the container was an airsick bag. No way, no how, not ever, ever, ever letting them loose on my terrace again.

After managing to kill my Home Depot flowers off by June, I went to Fertile to get replacement flowers. The staff was friendly and helped me find the perfect flowers. They went above and beyond when they took pity on me and drove me home (I was going to get a cab) – this isn’t a standard service you should expect, but since it was a slow day they went out of their way to help me out. I’ll definitely be back.

Wonderful flowers pretty place. But the only thing that bugged me was I was accidentally charged 23.06 twice by the owner. I immediately showed her my bank statement on my phone Chase app before I left the register and she said their is nothing that she can do for me. To call my bank and they can cancel the extra charge… and unfortunately my bank was unable to reverse the charges :(so I def wont be going back to fertile. She was rude n unhelpful.

I just moved to the city last year. this place has beautiful healthy plants. a wide variety of herbs. and a very knowledgeable staff. I have purchased plants from home depot and other local shops, i found that fertile’s live much longer.

While this nursery seems more expensive than the big box stores, we frequent this place often because it’s within walking distance of our house, they are super helpful, have a great selection and it’s also become a family tradition to take our kids to their pumpkin patch and take photos every year.
We were disappointed that 1 of our 5 pumpkins was rotten within a few days of our purchase and I’m sure they would have refunded our money had I brought it back.
I recently purchased some birch branches to put next to our fireplace and they are just lovely. Also bought a great holiday wreath made in red berries. Fertile is not just a spring and summer nursery. .they have many things for every season.

Great selection of flowers, herbs, and vegetables

I needed a 6 foot tall ficus tree for my living room. I needed it quickly as I was having
a party. Fertile did not have one on their premises, but Reuben offered to get me one within the time span needed. The next morning at 10:00 a. m the owner called me and informed me that Reuben had obtained a beautiful ficus that fit my specifications. They delivered it that afternoon. Fertile is a great place for your plant and garden needs. They have earned my future business by their great service.

Awesome, friendly and staff is very knowledgeable. Huge selection easy to shop.
Ryan is always willing to answer my questions and the owner is there every day — love Sue.
Highly recommend and prices are very competitive.

Great place for all your garden needs. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Easy, wide open spaces as well which made the experience that much better.
Selection was great, staff is very knowledgeable on the best options for small spaces.
Great place, highly recommend!