Comments regarding Earl May Seed & Nursery

I have been a frequent customer of Earl May. I love visiting their stores as they have terrific customer service, knowledgeable employees and always a terrific selection of products. Their grass seed and lawn programs are wonderful, giving me the deepest green and weed free lawn I have ever had. Gardening is a passion of mine and the variety of flowers (annual and perennial) and garden plants is just wonderful. The staff at Earl May can help you with any aspect of your yard. If I ever have a weed that I need to identify and figure out a way to get rid of it, I just take a sample to them, and they show me the product that gets rid of it. Every time I use one of their products it works better than I ever thought. I will never go anywhere else when I need something for my lawn and garden.

Last year I bought 5 blueberries, 1 raspberry, and several cayenne pepper plants. The berries have done well, and I have already had planty of them to eat in just the second year. The peppers did wonderfully in my garden last year. I would definitely buy from them again.

A year ago, as I visited a 'gardening bud' of over 30 years, she introduced me to this wonderful co. by taking me into the store closest to her home in Des Moines; I live in another state, Indiana. While there I discovered a gazing globe that looked, to me, like a huge glass golf ball; I'd never seen one like this before, despite all the catalogues I receive and on-line store-sites I visit. Now, my DH is a serious (but fun-loving) golfer, and Father's Day loomed; but I was unable to (purchase the globe and) fly home with it in my suitcase. After I arrived "back home again in Indiana," I emailed Earl May about the globe and a stand for it. Customer service at EM is INCREDIBLE, and in hardly any time at all I had the golf ball globe and its stand here at my home--awaiting the arrival of Father's Day! My DH loves it!! Our neighbors love it! Our friends all love it, and my DH's golf buddies all love it! I love it, and, Earl May Seed and Nursery!! Their product line is expansive and their customer service is unbeatable!!! I bow to them.

I order several packets of seed from Earl May. They arrived in just a few days and everything was in order.
I would certainly order from them again.

Earl May is so good that it's actually gotten to the point that I'm most unlikely to do any garden shopping anywhere else anymore.

They insist that their sales staff learn as much as possible not only about the store's stock, but also about gardening issues common in the area. This means that if you go into a store, looking to find a solution to your pathetic lawn that has resisted all your efforts to improve it, the Earl May employee will ask questions. If it becomes obvious that your problem is due to soil compacted to the density of cement, they won't just send you home with a five-step Earl May lawn program, but will tell you about renting an aerator and suggest you do that first. Critter control a problem? Ask a member of the sales staff. They know the answers. Even the "temporary" summer help.

Earl May's plant stock is displayed outdoors, not in a greenhouse. This means no losing plants to unsuccessful hardening off. They're outdoor-hardy when you buy them. And the selection is amazingly good for no bigger than most of their stores are.

Their seed selection is mind-blowing. (I virtually stopped mail-ordering from Thompson & Morgan when I discovered that Earl May carries a large selection of T&M seeds.)

Ponds, arbors, trellises, paving stones, portable greenhouses, you name it, it's available at Earl May. (Bury a beloved pet recently? They have pet grave-marking stones, too.) Yes, the prices on these things will probably be a little bit higher than what you'll find at the local discount store. But the quality justifies the higher price. These items won't fall apart the first year. Or the second. Or the third..............

Grow lights, seed-starting supplies, pots, garden accents, it's all there.

If you're adventuresome, you can buy a tarantula. For the more conservative, they sell Science Diet dog food.

I simply can't say enough good about this company. Try them. I'm sure you'll be impressed.

I have dealt with Earl May many times since moving to this area 6 years ago, and I have had a positive experience every time.

Their plants and bulbs are always larger and stronger than their competition and they often have hard to find varieties or unusual specemins. Each store seems to have some latitude in what it offers and different stores will have different varieties.

The staff has been courteous, helpful and friendly, and is always willing to share their knowledge. The personnel have patiently answered my questions and provided honest answers that sometimes resulted in me choosing not to purchase a plant or chemical. I would expect this excellent treatment from a local mom and pop greenhouse, but not from a chain.

I really cannot rate this company high enough!

Always had great luck with Earl May. Excellent seeds and plants as well as excellent prices. They seem to shy away from selling stuff that you can't grow easily in Iowa and the have excellent customer service. They have the best Tomato seed packaging you'll ever find, but not many varities. Prices are higher, but you get quality.

Steve Cox

Holland, Iowa