CHARVET'S GARDEN CTR INC

After moving to Metairie, I began using Charvet's as my nursery of choice. Most of the people there are helpful. I installed a garden in front of my house as well as lots of gardens in my back yard. I got all the dirt, topsoil and plants - tomatoes, blueberries, several types of herbs, strawberries, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, etc,etc, etc from them. Scott at Charvet's gives good advice. I have also purchased lots of organic gardening supplies and supplements and then lots of chemical and soil supplements when the organic stuff would not get rid of the bugs or address the problems. Every time we went back to visit, we left with more supplements and chemicals to address whatever was going on. Somewhat frustrating, but last year, we had a decent crop for a first go-round. This year I planned to do more gardening and also plant trees. I went back to Charvet's. I told Michelle that I wanted a satsuma tree and an avocado tree, she dicussed this with me and a week later my husband and I came back to buy all the plants for the garden as well as the trees. The avocado tree was $69.00! We bought it and planted it as instructed and gave it the "Pecan and Citrus Tree Food" we purchased, which Michelle said would be good for both trees. Within two weeks, the tree wasn't looking good. I took pictures and went back to Charvet's. I showed Scott the pictures and he confirmed we had planted it correctly, it was draining, the root bulb wasn't buried, etc. However, he said no way should we have been told to give it Pecan and Citrus Tree Food as that was "way too much nitrogen" for the avocado. Another 50.00 worth of supplements and instructions to try to save the tree and I was off again. The tree now looks completely dead. I called Charvet's on 4/5 and spoke with someone who said there is nothing that they can do. I asked if they would replace the tree like some of the other stores in the area and she said no, they weren't a big box store like Home Depot. I told her Perrino's (not a big box store) has a year long guarantee and this has been a month. All I have done is purchase plants and enough chemicals and supplements to go into the garden supply business and I would expect them to do something to correct the situation, especially when apparently I had been given incorrect advice on how to care for the avodcado tree. She said she really didn't see what they could do, that there are too many other variables coming into play as to whether a tree would make it. In short, if you can afford to throw lots of money into supplements and chemicals and don't care if things work or don't, you can head to Charvet's. Everytime you visit and bring up a problem, they will sell you something to address it. However, if you are looking for customer service, a professional attitude, or for someone to stand by the advice they give or their $69.00 trees, you might want to go elsewhere. I've spent a ton of money there and I guess I will have to find another place for my gardening supplies and plants.