Glam Up Your Green Thumb

For Jeff Webeler, owner of White Oak Gardens, it’s about more than offering a plant or product to his customers at a good price. It’s about helping, teaching and empowering because he wants to see them again next week, next month and even years from now.

When you visit White Oak Gardens, you’ll find that Webeler and his team will listen when you share details of your ailing petunias, wiry wisteria or spotted lawn. Then, they’ll give you answers specifically tailored to the local soils and offer suggestions on affordable products to help you get the job done right the first time.

Webeler began working at White Oak Nursey in 1978 after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science and Ornamental Horticulture from Utah State University. He then took over the business and purchased it from the former owner who wanted to retire but continue the business under new ownership.

The inspiration for launching the White Oak Garden Center came from knowledge and experience in providing quality plants, products with design and style and a reliable source of gardening information and project assistance.

According to Webeler, his team at the White Oak Garden Center is unlike any other out there. “We’re passionate about gardening and our enthusiasm is contagious,” he says. “We want to share our plant knowledge with customers and share how they can improve their quality of life and overall well-being.”

You’ll find more than 3.5 acres of nursery stock at White Oak Gardens with a wide selection of annuals, perennials, houseplants, trees, shrubs and roses to suit your landscaping needs. “We carry the highest quality lawn and garden products, fertilizers, mulches, soil, pottery, giftware, decorate accents and so much more,” Webeler adds.

A Make and Take Workshop attendee holding her newly-made mossy blooming handbag planters.

Many of Webeler’s employees attend annual continuing education courses to stay on the cutting edge of new information available, and become more knowledgeable about the plants, lawn and landscaping products that thrive in the Tri-State.

The team’s commitment to customer service doesn’t end at the garden center, however. They’re constantly communicating with customers by print, weekly email newsletters, Facebook, Pinterest, a new smartphone app and Twitter.

They also host hands-on workshops to give your green thumb some new experiences. “We engage our customers with educational seminars, Make and Take Workshops and special events,” Webeler adds. “Most of our employees are Ohio Certified Nursery Technicians with several years of experience in the green industry.”

The Make and Take Workshops at White Oak Gardens helps customers understand how the center creates beautiful “this or that” and the creative processes. “The Make and Take Workshops are outlets to not only show how to create like one of our designers but to also give the customer the opportunity to do it themselves with our help,” explains Webeler. “And they get to leave the mess behind for us to clean up!”

The cost of a Make and Take Workshop varies from class to class but Webeler says most workshops cover just the materials since the customer is doing all the work. However, each class is also geared toward teaching customers how to create and design like one of the center’s own while having fun in the process.

After spending the last 28 years at their present location and acquiring adjacent properties over the years, White Oak Gardens will be working on a rebuild of their facility in the next several years to continue offering new and exciting experiences for customers. “In 2013 we opened our potting bar. Do-it-yourself container gardening is growing and this covered area allows customers to leave the mess at the garden center and get help from our design team. This area also gives us a covered spot to host our Make and Take Workshops and demonstrations,” Webeler says. “With the rebuild, we’ll continue to offer new services that set up a part from the rest.”

To learn more, visit www.whiteoakgardens.com or check them out on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.