Florida nurseries, garden centers gear up for business

Consumers are expected to hit stores to replace freeze-damaged plants

Wholesale and retail nursery owners say they hope as the weather thaws, so will sales, Tampa Bay Online reported.

Warmer weeks ahead may prove fruitful for the long-suffering nurseries as people are expected to turn out in droves to replace frozen landscape plants.

Kim Kerby Boker, co-owner of Kerby's Nursery in Seffner, is ready for an influx of retail customers.

“We're trying to make sure we are restocking things that will be able to handle cold if we get that again next year,” Boker said. "One of the things we've had good luck with is lorapetalum. It adds some color. The leaf is colorful burgundy. The variety called Pizazz gets bright pink flowers.”