Protecting Our Environment
Merrifield Garden Center has always believed in recycling and helping protect our environment. As a member of the green industry for over 40 years, it’s only natural that we’re committed to planting trees, using water wisely and protecting our natural resources. As we continue to grow as a company, we want to do everything we can to help make the world a better place to live.
Every year we supply and plant thousands of trees throughout the Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Trees are one of nature’s greatest gifts. Not only are they beautiful, but trees absorb carbon dioxide, lower energy costs, reduce noise levels and water runoff.
We’re firm believers in the wise use of water. For years, we’ve carried moisture meters, gator bags, rain barrels, soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems, which conserve water and minimize runoff. This goes hand-in-hand with our decades-old recommendations about the judicious use of water when caring for lawns and gardens. More recently, we’ve begun to promote awareness of water-wise gardening, in which landscapes are designed to require little supplemental water.
We carry a great selection of native plants, which are hardy and drought tolerant. These plants offer more than just beautiful flowers and foliage. Many of them are critical to sustaining native butterflies and birds, and they’re the first step in restoring habitat that’s disturbed during construction and development.
Merrifield Garden Center offers a Plant Diagnostic Clinic at each of our stores to provide our customers with free advice about the proper use of landscape management products. Our objective is to give accurate information, offer the least toxic control options and recommend pesticides only when necessary. We’ve always stocked a large selection of organic gardening products, and we’ve vastly increased the quantity over the years as the demand has grown. These products offer more earth-friendly solutions for fertilizers and pesticides.
Additionally, we recycle soil and brush from our landscape jobs and convert them into quality products to help our gardens grow instead of dumping them in landfills. It’s estimated we recycle over 20,000 tons of soil and over 25,000 cubic yards of brush every year, making us one of the largest recyclers in the county.
We also recycle concrete, which makes an excellent base for new patios, sidewalks and driveways. We accept old refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, wheelbarrows, bicycle frames and other metal products - even cars - at no charge at our Gainesville location. For a nominal fee, we’ll come out to your home and pick up the product.
We’ll continue to plant as many trees as possible, use water more wisely and expand our recycling efforts. But that’s not enough. We’re committed to doing more to help our planet.