Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Nashville Garden Center Since 1932
Since 1932, Bates Nursery has been dedicated to providing Middle Tennessee with premium plant materials and horticultural expertise. Our commitment to quality begins with our exclusive container-grown plants and EarthMix brand soils, formulated to ensure optimal growth. With over 90 years of experience, we offer an unparalleled selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, and landscape supplies, supported by a team of knowledgeable professionals. Our philosophy emphasizes soil health as the foundation of successful gardening, reflected in our proprietary soil amendments free of chemical fertilizers. As a family-owned business rooted in Bessie Bates' vision, we combine generational wisdom with modern resources, including searchable online inventory and educational programs like Botanical Bootcamp.We guarantee customer satisfaction through our EarthMix product commitment and partnerships with top growers like Monrovia. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, we serve both homeowners and landscaping professionals with local delivery and pickup options. Our legacy of 'Beautifying Nashville' continues through personalized service, extensive plant diversity, and a passion for fostering thriving gardens across the region.
Services
Plant Sales
EarthMix Soils
Container Gardening
Landscape Supplies
Native Plants
Houseplants
Tropical Plants
Seasonal Gardening
Educational Webinars
Local Delivery
Details
- Year established: 1932
Highlights and features
- We offer 90+ years of horticultural expertise and family-owned service
- Our EarthMix soils contain real topsoil with natural nutritional sources
- We maintain daily-updated searchable inventory with on-hand availability
- We provide educational resources including webinars and gardening podcasts
- Our delivery service covers Greater Nashville with specialized truck options
Services
Plant Sales
We offer the widest selection of container-grown plants in Middle Tennessee, including trees, shrubs, perennials, and tropical plants. Our inventory features Southeastern native species and Monrovia-certified stock. Expert staff helps customers choose appropriate plants for specific landscape needs while ensuring year-round availability through our container-growing methods.
EarthMix Soils
Our proprietary EarthMix brand provides premium soil products containing real topsoil and natural nutrients. Formulated to address common horticultural challenges, these soils work equally well in vegetable gardens and ornamental landscapes. We guarantee satisfaction with our soil products through a full-credit return policy for unsatisfied customers.
Container Gardening
We specialize in container gardening solutions for homes, offices, and apartments. Our inventory includes decorative containers and appropriate plant selections for confined spaces. Staff provides guidance on proper container selection, planting techniques, and maintenance practices to ensure successful small-space gardening outcomes.
Landscape Supplies
We supply comprehensive landscape materials including mulch, stone, and hardscaping elements. Our product selection supports both functional and aesthetic landscape improvements. Delivery options accommodate bulk material transport using specialized equipment for large-scale landscaping projects.
Educational Webinars
Our Botanical Bootcamp program offers free webinars covering various gardening topics. Led by nursery staff experts, these sessions provide practical advice on plant selection, soil preparation, and seasonal maintenance. Educational content focuses on helping customers achieve successful gardening results through evidence-based practices.
People
David Bates
Owner
Third-generation nursery owner continuing the family tradition since 1932. Advocates for soil health as gardening foundation. Developed EarthMix soil line after identifying market deficiencies. Oversees operations and product development at Nashville's premier garden center.
Questions
Do you deliver outside Nashville?
We provide delivery within Greater Middle Tennessee only. We do not ship plants or materials beyond this region, but pickup options are available at our Nashville location.
What makes EarthMix soils different?
EarthMix contains actual topsoil with natural nutrients, unlike many commercial products. Our proprietary blends avoid chemical fertilizers and are specifically formulated to help plants thrive in local conditions.
Can I order plants online?
Yes, our online store shows real-time inventory with options for local pickup or delivery. You can browse plants by category and check availability before placing orders.
Do you offer gardening advice?
Our staff provides expert guidance through educational webinars, blog posts, and in-person consultations. The 'Gardening Inside Out' podcast offers weekly expert Q&A sessions on various gardening topics.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards for online purchases and in-store transactions. Payment options may vary for delivery orders - please contact our Nashville location for specific payment arrangements.
Are your plants locally grown?
While we partner with quality growers regionally, our inventory includes locally adapted plants suited for Middle Tennessee climates. We prioritize plants that perform well in our specific growing conditions.
Reviews (7)
Phoebe Wei
Jan 02, 2022
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In my opinion it's a great stop to purchase plants in a local nursery- huge selections. The staff was nice to build a "greenhouse" with a cardboard box and wrapping bubbles to protect the plants I purchased. Also pet friendly.
Ed Garrison
Dec 20, 2021
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This was my third visit to Bates. It just keeps getting better and better. Today, Shannon was very generous with his time and knowledge ; he listened to our desires and our home/yard conditions and topography, and then made several suggestions for each desire we had. He steered us away from plants that our plentiful area deer would feast on.
Overall, a great experience and excellent customer service. THANK YOU!
Overall, a great experience and excellent customer service. THANK YOU!
James Blankenship
Oct 31, 2021
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They have everything you need, plants, mulch, trees, even some exotic plants... Also imported coconut mulch, which is like a peat moss type mulch. Very big place with any plants you would want, I'm sure they can order for you if it's not in stock.. They are voted as Nashville's number one, ceremony should be this Saturday
Missy Lovingood
Jul 14, 2021
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I live in a different city and really did not know who to call for what I was wanting. I found what I wanted online and ordered it to be delivered to someone in Nashville. They took the time they needed and made it happen for me!! Thank you very much Bates Nursery!! She loves her her Hydrangea and I love the quick response and the quality she was given!!
Pauline Williams
Jul 02, 2021
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Impressive! A very LARGE collection of trees, shrubs, bushes, and flowers. And an extensive selection of usual, unusual, and hard to find botanical delights. Add to that garden tools, pots, garden art and more. With an abundance of knowledgeable and helpful staff, what more could you ask for? Next time I go I will take a picture of the acres of beautiful flowers to share.
Deborah Sarason
May 21, 2021
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My first contact was to call them and ask if they have two kinds of plants I was looking for that no one else had. The woman was very nice and knowledgable and located the plants, told me how many they had in stock and what varieties. I was amazed! That is customer service you don't see or expect these days. I drove there and it was so huge I was overwhelmed, in a good way. I flagged down a worker to see where the plants were located, she walked me right to the plant section and helped me find the best plant, This was a 10+ expercience. I could not be happier to have found a place like Bates, and
Nikki Hardin
Jan 27, 2021
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Their collection is wonderful. Staff is so helpful and nice!! I'm glad I live 2.5 hours away or I'd be broke
