Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Nashville Garden Center Since 1932
Since 1932, Bates Nursery has been dedicated to beautifying Nashville through premium horticultural products and expert guidance. As a family-owned business spanning three generations, we combine decades of hands-on experience with innovative solutions to meet diverse gardening needs. Our commitment to quality begins with EarthMix soils, developed in-house to ensure optimal plant growth without chemical fertilizers. With the widest regional selection of container-grown plantsfrom specimen trees to seasonal annualswe cater to both homeowners and professionals.Our digital inventory system provides real-time product availability, while educational resources like our 'In the Garden' blog and Botanical Bootcamp webinars empower customers to succeed. By maintaining partnerships with top growers like Monrovia, we guarantee plants that thrive, not just survive. This philosophy, rooted in Bessie Bates' original vision, ensures every customer receives unmatched value through superior products, knowledgeable staff, and a legacy of horticultural excellence.
Services
Plant Sales
EarthMix Soils
Landscape Supplies
Container Gardening
Seasonal Plants
Tropical Plants
Native Plants
Delivery Services
Gardening Education
Details
- Year established: 1932
Highlights and features
- We've specialized in horticultural solutions for 93 years with three generations of expertise
- Our EarthMix soils contain real topsoil with natural nutritional sources
- We offer the region's largest selection of container-grown plants year-round
- Our staff provides expert advice through educational webinars and blog content
- We guarantee satisfaction with our locally tailored delivery services
Services
Plant Sales
We offer the Southeast's most comprehensive selection of container-grown plants including trees, shrubs, perennials, and tropical varieties. Our inventory features native species and specialty plants like Japanese Maples, with real-time online availability tracking. Each purchase includes expert guidance to ensure proper plant selection and placement for Nashville's climate conditions.
EarthMix Soils
Our proprietary EarthMix brand provides premium soil blends containing actual topsoil with natural nutrients. Formulated specifically for Middle Tennessee's growing conditions, these soils support vegetable gardens and landscapes without chemical fertilizers. We guarantee results - unsatisfied customers receive full product credit for any EarthMix purchase.
Landscape Supplies
We supply complete landscaping materials including mulch, stone, and container solutions for residential and commercial projects. Our inventory includes bulk delivery options through specialized trucks for large-scale needs. Professional-grade products are available for both DIY gardeners and licensed landscapers serving Nashville's metropolitan area.
Delivery Services
We provide localized delivery of plants and bulk materials within Greater Middle Tennessee. Our fleet includes 12-foot box trucks and 8-yard dump trucks for various order sizes. Delivery eligibility checks are available by zip code, with separate handling required for plant and bulk material orders to ensure proper transport conditions.
Gardening Education
Our educational programs include weekly blog posts, live Saturday gardening shows, and free Botanical Bootcamp webinars. These resources cover seasonal planting tips, soil preparation techniques, and plant care specific to Nashville's climate. Expert staff provide direct advice through multiple platforms including in-person consultations at our Whites Creek Pike location.
People
David Bates
Owner
Third-generation nursery owner continuing his grandmother Bessie's legacy. Developed EarthMix soil line after identifying market deficiencies in bagged soils. Leads with a philosophy emphasizing proper soil preparation for successful gardening.
Questions
Do you deliver outside Nashville?
We only deliver within Greater Middle Tennessee. Our delivery zone includes Nashville and surrounding areas but excludes locations beyond this region.
What makes EarthMix soils different?
EarthMix contains actual topsoil with natural nutrients, unlike many commercial products that use inferior fillers. We guarantee plant growth success with our proprietary soil blends.
Can I order plants online?
Yes, our online store shows real-time inventory with options for local pickup or delivery. You can browse trees, shrubs, perennials, and gardening supplies 24/7.
Are your plants locally grown?
We partner with regional growers like Iseli Nursery and Imperial Nurseries while maintaining our own container-grown inventory. This ensures both local adaptation and diverse plant selection.
Do you offer gardening advice?
Our staff provides free expert guidance through multiple channels including in-person consultations, weekly blog posts, live shows, and educational webinars.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards for online purchases and both cash and card payments for in-person transactions at our Nashville nursery location.
Reviews (7)
Laura Newland
May 28, 2022
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I was in Nashville for a conference and couldn't pass up going to a local nursery. Bates did not disappoint. I walked out with about a half a dozen types of mint, they are all super healthy and happy. The prices for most perennials and annuals were very reasonable. I was interested in some fruit bushes/trees, the prices for these were a little higher than in my home location. They all looked amazing and had some varieties I hadn't seen before. I ended up not getting them due to my long road trip home. Although I don't live in the area, if I find myself in Nashville again I will certainly go by Bates nursery.
Anna Stremming
May 23, 2022
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I would never leave a bad review but the lady with curly gray hair was so incredibly rude to me. i've never had an employee treat me with such disrespect in my life
Bobby Brumley
May 09, 2022
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Huge variety of everything. Helpful staff and well organized layout. Fun place to find all the garden and lawn stuff you need.
Justin Shellaway
Apr 28, 2022
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At least four different employees helped my young daughter select a plant or two for her bedroom. They didn't have to do that, and they surely weren't going to earn a ton of money doing it. And yet they were gracious and thoughtful, and sent her home happy. And I'm happy to say that my wife, who was elsewhere in store, gave them a quite a bit of business with her full cart of plants. Thank you, Bates Nursery.
Jr Bonds
Apr 07, 2022
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Great place but never again on a weekend. So very crowed. Nothing against the management though. Seemed they were doing all the could to help with parking and keeping check out lines moving. I just would enjoy it more on a less busy day. 5 stars though
Clunk
Jan 19, 2022
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Bates sells the best vegetable garden plants. I've been a customer for over 30 years and get very good results every year. Their staff is knowledgeable and always helpful.
Phoebe Wei
Jan 16, 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.
