St. Jacobs Country Gardens is a fully operational and established garden centre in Waterloo Region. We carry everything from trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and houseplants to home decor. Looking for expert advice on building a pond? You’ve come to the right place… we offer quality supplies and accessories for that pond of your dreams!
As a family owned business, we have 10 years of relevant up to date experience in all facets of gardening as revealed in our proven success and pleased repeat and new clients.
We have become known for our creative and unique experience as pond and garden designers, landscape consultant’s and builders. A full service company with a genuine flair for insightful concepts that deliver the look, appeal and beauty of ponds and landscapes to beautify your home.
St. Jacobs Country Gardens offers complete landscape services for its small to large projects for residential and business clients. We view every project as the beginning of a long-term business relationship.
They’re always looking for unique ways to bring in customers, like bringing in regular guest speakers and holding “pot parties,” which are a great way to get excited for spring when you’re sick of winter and the snow that comes with it. ‘People come out and they listen to what plants are big for pots this year and what they can pair with. It gets people thinking,” Sandy said. She notes it’s important to them for their customers to be successful in their gardening.
Lately, lots of customers have come to them looking for ways to make maintenance-free gardens because they don’t have the time to tend to a traditional garden. Sandy says they like to inform customers they can help them achieve the gardens they’re hoping for, but it will come at a price and it’s best to complete it in stages. They also like to specialize in unique hanging baskets and planters.
She says many customers come in the spring with their plant pots and tell them what colours of flowers they want in them and if it will be in the shade or sun, and the garden centre staff puts it together for them.
“We want to provide exceptional service, exceptional quality, unique ideas and dedicated customer service,” Keith said.
Keith wants the garden centre to be totally customer friendly. Where other people walk in and see a vast array of flowers, he sees dirt on the floor “that’s the perfectionist in him. He doesn’t have plans to expand the building anymore, but he’s always looking at little improvements. He’s always thinking ahead. He’s always saying what if we put a gazebo by the pond out front,” Sandy says with a laugh.
Sandy says she hopes people walking into their greenhouse take a deep breath and walk a little slower.
For Keith, it’s all about becoming the area’s destination garden centre and the name that comes to mind when people in Waterloo Region are thinking about their gardening and landscaping goals.
And where do they see themselves in another 10 years? “I don’t see myself in retirement. My goal is to have a very confident, competent staff. I don’t think I’ll ever be a hands off person,” Keith said.
Celebrating 10 years of business. There’s always something on the go!
Time flies when you’re having fun in the garden!
Keith and Sandy Snider have spent the past decade transforming their customers’ properties into beautiful landscapes and lush gardens. It doesn’t seem like it’s been over 10 years already since the couple opened St. Jacobs Country Gardens and Landscape Nursery in 2006. “It’s gone by fairly quickly. The older you get the faster time flies,” Keith said.
Corn used to grow where the business now sits at New Jerusalem and Sawmill roads. They’ve gone from half a dozen employees when they first opened to cutting 29 pay cheques last summer, including seasonal staff.
Education is crucial to the couple, who note they’re continually training their staff, which includes three full landscaping crews.
They’ve owned the property since 1970, with Sandy explaining that horticulture was something her husband knew and felt confident about pursuing.
He always had an interest in plants, ever since he studied horticulture in high school. Previously he was a hog farmer.”Hog farming in my mind was a dead-end industry,” Keith said.
And he hasn’t regretted his decision to switch career paths yet, always taking the time to listen to customers’ needs and explain what can be done.
