Business Details
47 Years
experience
Your Trusted Garden Center in Zimmerman, MN
Nelson Nursery has served the Zimmerman, MN community since 1979, offering quality plants and gardening solutions. Founded by Mike and Jacie Lemke after acquiring Nelson Trees, the business evolved from Christmas tree shearing to become a full-service nursery specializing in flowers, nursery stock, and seasonal gardening products. Our family-owned operation maintains a commitment to community service through educational workshops, fundraising programs, and expert horticultural guidance.With decades of hands-on experience, we provide personalized service backed by a one-year plant warranty on select items. Our expanded offerings now include outdoor structures like garden sheds and portable buildings, complementing our core nursery business. The Lemke family continues to prioritize customer satisfaction through knowledgeable staff, curated product selections, and community engagement initiatives that reflect our deep local roots.
Services
Nursery Stock
Flower Sales
Fundraising Programs
Garden Sheds
Seasonal Products
Details
- Year established: 1979
Highlights and features
- Family-owned since 1979 with generational horticultural expertise
- Offers comprehensive plant warranty on select nursery stock
- Provides community-focused fundraising programs for local organizations
- Sells both live plants and outdoor structures under one roof
- Maintains seasonal educational workshops for gardening enthusiasts
Services
Nursery Stock
We offer a comprehensive selection of trees, shrubs, and evergreens for residential and commercial landscaping. Our inventory includes both common and specialty varieties suited to Minnesota's climate. Professional staff provides planting guidance and maintenance advice to ensure long-term success.
Flower Sales
Our flower department features annuals, perennials, and roses in diverse color palettes for garden beds and container displays. We maintain greenhouse-grown stock ready for immediate planting and offer seasonal specials for holiday decorations and special events.
Fundraising Programs
We partner with local organizations through profit-generating plant sales programs. Our fundraising solutions include marketing materials, product selection guidance, and logistical support for groups seeking to raise funds through seasonal plant sales.
Garden Sheds
We provide pre-fabricated storage solutions including garden sheds, utility buildings, and playhouses. Our inventory features multiple sizes and styles to accommodate different property needs, with options for customization and delivery.
Seasonal Products
Our seasonal offerings include fresh holiday greens, decorative containers, and special event plants. We curate themed displays for spring, summer, and fall holidays, with expert staff available to assist with event-specific plant requirements.
People
Mike Lemke
Co-Owner
Mike Lemke has operated Nelson Nursery since 1979, working in the business since age 13. He transitioned the company from Christmas tree shearing to full-service nursery operations, expanding product lines while maintaining community focus.
Jacie Lemke
Co-Owner
Jacie Lemke co-owns Nelson Nursery with her husband Mike. She has helped shape the business's evolution since 1979, focusing on customer service improvements and community engagement initiatives that define the nursery's local presence.
Questions
What warranty do you offer on plants?
We provide a one-year warranty on trees, shrubs, evergreens, roses, and perennials when proper planting documentation is provided.
Do you offer fundraising opportunities for local groups?
Yes, we partner with community organizations through seasonal plant sales programs that provide fundraising materials and product selection support.
What outdoor structures do you sell?
Our inventory includes garden sheds, utility buildings, playhouses, and portable garages in various sizes and configurations.
Are your plants suitable for Minnesota's climate?
Yes, we specialize in plant varieties that thrive in Minnesota's growing conditions with proper care and maintenance.
Do you offer gardening workshops?
We host seasonal educational workshops covering planting techniques, seasonal maintenance, and decorative gardening applications.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards, cash, and checks for nursery purchases and outdoor structure orders.
Reviews (7)
Judy Eldridge
Oct 29, 2021
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People working were very friendly. Well organized nursery and so much gun to look around in their indoor area. Would recommend this nursery to all.
Carly Lindstrom
Jun 06, 2021
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Love Nelson's. Wonderful, healthy looking plants and gorgeous arranged pots.. Spend way too much money there. Haha!
Nancy Pittr
May 29, 2021
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Thank you, Deb, for your patience, kindness and wisdom in helping us with the bulk mulch for our garden. Excellent service.
Rochelle Wallace
May 21, 2021
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Each member if the staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful! They gave me the red carpet treatment. Products bring me in the door, excellent service keeps me coming back, and i will definitely be coming back to Nelsons. They have a large variety of perennials and annuals in a vast display of colors. All around 5 star nursery!
Ashley Roberts
May 19, 2021
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We visit Nelson's several times a year! It's clean, the staff is super helpful and kind. Their plants and flowers are healthy and gorgeous. They also have any mulch, chips, sand, dirt, and rock you may need. Happy returning customer here. :)
Ruth M.
May 25, 2016
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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
Sj O.
Apr 17, 2015
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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
