With the agastaches, I've found that if you get small plants rather than big plants, they do better. Plus they have to be kept kinda moist their first year.. thereafter, they're weeds. That's what I've found out after 3 years of experimenting with them. Hugemungo plants from a LGS never survive, the little bitties from Home Depot (grown by the same wholesaler, btw), do just hunkie dorie. Probably because the big ones are so pumped from the nutrient fluid they're grown in, once you put them in the ground, they starve to death.
My first summer in my house ('06) I spent over $2500 at my LGS (Tagawa Gardens). Well over 75% died, but they have a year warranty if you have your receipt. '07, spent about $1300 at same LGS, same results. Started to wise up & branch out to other LGS (Nicks Garden Center & Paulino's Gardens) in '08. Spent more at Nicks & Paulino's in '08, almost 100% survived when went to other places. In '09, experimented: bought same plant from all 3 different garden centers plus one from either Home Depot / Lowes. Results? Home Depot did 100% the best out of everyone, Lowes' plants didn't do so hot. So, in '10, shopped almost exclusively at HD (various HDs throughout the metro, usually hit about 5 different HDs when I make my rounds). Result? Happy gardener, ticked off DH who had to pay the massive Home Depot bill (LOL!). This year? Not buying much of anything (being super picky now); but what I do buy will probably be bought there at HD.
Pretty sad state.
I prefer to patronize smaller "mom & pop" stores versus big box stores (not saying that I don't love Walmart now), but when I can get the same plant grown by the same wholesale grower but cheaper and they perform better? Makes absolutely no sense.
