Ruhlig Farms & Gardens — Local services in Brownstown Charter Township

I am updating this review as one of the owners went out of his way to listen to my concern regarding my extremely RUDE experience during a visit at this garden center location and came close as possible to making it right. It is not without customer warning, however.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: "Was bringing back $26 worth of leucanthemum flowers/white daisies in original & undisturbed plastic pots due to not fitting in with landscape design out of a $141 purchase in flowers (as pictured in original receipt). A very professional cashier went back to management office to check if return could be authorized, I was then approached by a lady named "Tammi" asking "YOU BOUGHT THESE BECAUSE THEY WERE PRETTY, RIGHT?!" without even greeting or acknowledging me. To add context, I bought these 5 days prior but due to the holiday 4th of July weekend, was unable to bring these back sooner and with extremely high temperatures the daisies were certainly wimpier than when initially purchased while being regularly watered. I explained pretty had nothing to do with my purchase as it was which flowers would fit in with the end-result landscape. She then proceeded to ask the same question "BUT YOU BOUGHT THESE BECAUSE THEY WERE PRETTY, RIGHT?!" while dropping the tag off the pot onto the floor and proceeding to remove the flowers off the pot. At that point, I understood her stance was to engage into an argument with me over $26 when she is by no means required to authorize a return. Had she said, "I'm sorry, we are unable to authorize your request for return due to xyz" I would have still told her to keep the plants as perhaps in their greenhouse it could return to re-purchaseable health. What is UNACCEPTABLE, is her HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO CONDESCENDINGLY SPEAK TO A PAYING CUSTOMER. Reason, I told her to keep the plants and that I would not be returning to Ruhlig Farms again to which she defiantly answered "that's okay."

The RUDE approach for "customer service" on my return request by Tammy at the Garden Center was unnaceptable. After speaking to the other owner at the Farm he walked me through the effort that is put on growing their plants and how many and plenty of folks bring back dead plants to their farm EXPECTING a return. The difference was, I was NOT EXPECTING a return. I could have very well been told no (although my plants were not dead), just needed to get them off my hands and did not want them to die. This, is where I will agree with them: I am not a business owner, but if you are purchasing plants from your local garden center please do properly water your plants if you are on the fence about them so that they are able to resell your plants and process your refund within the time frame of their policy. Common courtesy. It is true you can bring back dead plants to Home Depot, Lowe's & Walmart so just make sure those are tabbed separately. However, I did ask to make sure to give customers common courtesy by greeting them first, and allowing them to speak --which I was not even offered. Not all customers...

I have loved Ruhlig’s since discovering it when I moved to the area last year. I’ve purchased an abundance of porch pots, ferns, mums, pumpkins, perennials, annuals, and accessories from them in the past year - this spring I purchased a dogwood for my front yard. I followed the directions I was given for planting and it was fine for about a week and it began to wilt. Then the leaves on the ends of branches began to dry up. After a couple more weeks as it continued to deteriorate, I was concerned that it wasn’t getting enough water and I loosened the soil around it and thoroughly soaked it. Now, it is nearly all dried up. Concerned, and hoping for help, I stopped in at the nursery today and was told they can keep plants and trees in pots and keep them alive and that I just took it home and killed it. Thanks for understanding. Thank you for supporting your customer. I’ve spent about a thousand dollars on plants this spring here. Plus the couple hundred for this tree. Over the years, I have planted and transplanted trees and shrubs. I have no trouble growing anything. I keep tropicals in my home, perennials in my yard, trees, and shrubs and everything thrives. I take great care with all of my plantings. But - I just “bought this tree and killed it”. I was told that Rhulig’s does not warranty or stand behind their trees. I am thoroughly disappointed. Don’t try to help me - just criticize me and leave me with a dying $239 tree. If you can’t support me - I don’t feel like I can support you. I’m no contractor and I don’t spend as much as I’m sure many of your other clients do - but it does sting to have given you my loyal business in my time here and you won’t return the courtesy. Frankly, I’m saddened and my feelings are bruised. This is a...

Edit to show difference in quality. In the attached picture, the small fuschia plant on the left is what I got from Ruhligs 3 days ago. The massive fuschia plant on the right i bought from Schwartz today. This is spring 2025. I know I said I wasn't shopping at Ruhlig anymore but I went to see if they had ghost pepper plants and they did not, fuschia plants are my favorite so I picked it up. Went to Schwartz today, they had the ghost peppers, and these huge fuschia!

This place has ridiculous prices! We went today for some fall decor and the prices were outrageous! They had a small wreath with cheap fake flowers and a little cheap looking scarecrow and they wanted almost $30 for it. It seriously looked like they went to the Dollar Tree and got them. Wish I would have taken a picture. We walked around looking at the rest of the decor and everything was priced super high. We left and went to Schwartz where everything was reasonable priced and just as cute and they definitely had better quality of mums there. I have been shopping here for the last 10 years but every year they get more expensive and this year was absolutely outrageous the whole season. They definitely jumped on the greed train so I won't be shopping...