Laurel Nursery/Garden Center provides consistent service to community
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Laurel Nursery/Garden Center has served the gardening needs of the community with its consistent quality since its inception.
Founded by John and Joyce Heese in 1974, Laurel is now owned by their son Ken and his wife, Patty. The two founders still work at the garden center, which today includes over 1 acre of greenhouses and over 4 acres of display area.
The garden center offers the area’s largest selection of vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs. Upon request, Laurel will install landscapes for customers.
Ken said the garden center’s biggest strength is that “we have every vegetable and flower you can think of. We probably have the largest selection of live goods in Western Pennsylvania.”
The garden center is open year-round, offering plants and products for every season.
Vegetables and annuals are the biggest category in spring, followed by perennials, trees and shrubs. By late summer, there is a shift toward fall mums, décor, pumpkins, gourds and cornstalks. Live cut Christmas trees, poinsettias and Christmas decorations are available starting in late November.
Patty, who serves as manager of the garden center, said one of the fastest-growing categories is houseplants, which are offered year-round. Along with the houseplants, Patty said, “we offer a large selection of planters and soils.”
The gift shop and boutique inside the store has something for everyone. Laurel Nursery is also a Weber grill and Yeti cooler dealer.
The increase in people gardening during the pandemic contributed to one of the garden center’s busiest seasons yet. The diversity of gardening has also increased as people branch out into vegetable, butterfly, herb and rose gardens.
“I do believe the pandemic and everybody being locked down and stuck at home made everyone look at their yards,” Ken said. “Being home, they decided they might as well get it looking the way they want to.”
Although this has leveled out a bit in 2021, Ken said this season is shaping up to be on par with 2020.
Ken said the local gardening community most recognizes the garden center for its “consistent stability.”
“You can come in and get anything you need to take care of your yard,” Ken said.
“We’ve been in consistent operation since 1974, and most of our staff has been here for at least 10 years or more. I feel they are very knowledgeable to help with anything a customer could need.”
The garden center — located at 3648 Route 30 in Latrobe — is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Additional information can be found on the garden center’s website — laurelnurseryinc.com — and Facebook page.