We are passionate about gardening and our enthusiasm is contagious!

At White Oak Garden Center, you can expect to find the highest quality plants, trees, and shrubs including the newest varieties available and traditional favorites that are proven to do well in our environment. Our reputation depends on your success in the garden and landscape, which is why we are certain you will come to trust our superior selection of plants and outdoor living products.

In addition to quality products, we also take great pride in our outstanding customer service. We offer individual attention to assist you with your gardening needs. Our team of Ohio Certified Nursery Technicians and horticulture professionals is ready to help you, the do-it-yourself customer, design the perfect outdoor retreat. For those who want a professional touch, we offer a variety of additional services such as Landscaping, DIY landscape designs, customized container arrangements, and more.

White Oak Garden Center has been serving you for more than 50 years!

In the early 1950's, the original owner had a passion for roses. That passion evolved into rose production on his six acres of property on Blue Rock Road. To expand on his hobby he built two greenhouses on the property to grow annual and vegetable starts. This caught the interest of people passing by, and White Oak Nursery was born. In the 1960's, the business thrived as the surrounding area grew. Many landscapes from the original housing developments in White Oak were planted by White Oak Nursery.

Jeff Webeler began working at White Oak Nursery in 1978 after receiving a BS in Plant Science and Ornamental Horticulture from Utah State. The original owner, looking to retire but continue the business under new ownership, sold White Oak Nursery to Jeff the following year.

Jeff's love of gardening and the outdoors has positively influenced the way he does business. Now "White Oak Garden Center", the business has blossomed into a full service garden center offering more than three acres of plants and outdoor living products. Jeff attributes White Oak's success to his professional and knowledgeable staff and the company's overall commitment to customer satisfaction.

Meet the Management Team at
White Oak Garden Center!

Meet Jeff Webeler, Owner and President EMAIL | BIO »

Flash back 30-plus years to the debut of what would become one of Cincinnati's rare and most trusted neighborhood garden resources. Jeff Webeler was the man with the plan and the passion. And he still believes it's about way more than offering a plant or product for a price. Independents shake people's hands because they want to see them again next week, next month and years from now. People like Jeff will listen when you regale them with the tale of your ailing begonias or ravished lawn. He'll have answers especially for our tri-state soil, suggestions on affordable products that work and just so you know, he's a genuinely good guy who hails from the area. He grew up and lives on the West side with his wife Patty and has two sons, Evan and Andrew.

When I'm not helping others with their lawns and gardens I'm:
Probably in mine
On the golf course
Traveling
Snow skiing (love the mountains)
Hiking
Enjoying family

Best piece of garden advice:
Right plant. Right place. Enough said.

Favorite plants:
Japanese Maples (so many cool varieties)
Hostas (easy to grow and love the shade)

Meet Tom Hilgeman, General Manager EMAIL | BIO »

It's not surprising that a lot of us are morning people, but it might surprise you to know that Tom is wide awake and waiting to help you even with three boys under seven at home. He can manage anything, which comes in handy as White Oak's General Manager. He's an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician and admitted Hosta nut. Tom takes on your garden problems like they're his own and loves it when someone comes back to share their success. And when the garden center goes dark at the end of the day and the boys are in bed, he enjoys sharing the details of the day and a nice bottle of red with his wife, Sarah.

Favorite websites for inspiration:
www.hostalibrary.org
www.sethgodin.com
www.tv.winelibrary.com

Favorite plants:
Hmmmm, maybe, Hostas!
(I love and collect all the newest varieties)

The Blackgum Tree
(great fall color and they're all over the campus at Miami)

Best piece of garden advice:
"I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself... at least three times." ~ Tony Avent

Meet Chris Brown, Greenhouse Manager EMAIL | BIO »

This self-proclaimed hippie gardener is just about as good as they get in the garden center. She's our Greenhouse Manager and morning person, so you'll probably run into her as you browse and you'll be all the better for it. Chris has been hands-on in the green industry for more than 36 years and she's one of those rare people who leaves every gardener—even, and especially, beginners—feeling completely capable of yard and garden success. And how would her coworkers describe her? "A flower child gone to seed. Every garden center needs at least one." We know we do!

One thing you'd like customers to know about you:
I'm totally devoted to helping you be successful with your garden experience

When you're not at White Oak you're probably:
Listening to music
Gardening
Watching baseball

Best piece of garden advice:
The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. But if you didn't, there's no better time than now.

Meet Fred Brown, Nursery Manager EMAIL | BIO »

Fred Brown says he is just an average person who gets joy from helping people (like he has for more than 25 years). But we believe otherwise. Success for Fred is measured in customer trust, something he finds even more gratifying than results. A few of his favorite things? Working with customers on their backyards ("...the front yard is for appearances, but the backyard is a business of comfort. It's personal."), solving property problems, and hearing "We love its!" When Fred's not listening, advising, and planting, he's spending time with his family. Has his zeal for the garden turned into a family affair? "My son is, well, he's 17 and shows no interest. My 19-year-old daughter likes plants, but water polo and boys are cooler. My wife is interested, and a year or so ago my 5-year-old daughter jumped at the chance to plant her first flower."

Favorite plants:
I hate this question because there are just too many to list!

When I'm not at White Oak I'm:
Gardening
At swim meets
At water polo meets

Best piece of garden advice:
Chop and mix your soil and soil amendments like you're making coleslaw.

Meet Ricky Barrier, Operations Manager EMAIL | BIO »

Ricky describes himself as a good problem solver—which is good news for customers like you. Because, inevitably, you're going to run into some challenges and opportunities in your yard and garden, and Ricky can help you through and help your yard and garden thrive. As our Operations Manager, he has his eye on the big picture, but thankfully still has plenty of time to get dirt under his fingernails. We like that in a person.

Favorite Plants:
Ninebark (multiple seasons of interest and great color)
Crepe Myrtle (awesome, colorful blooms in summer heat)
Paperback Maple (cool exfoliating bark, beautiful fall color and manageable mature size)

When I'm not at White Oak I'm:
Spending time with my family
Working around the house
Golfing

Best piece of garden advice:
Prune or trim regularly. It's much easier than you think. One of the most common reasons people become unhappy with their landscape is because it has become overgrown.

Meet Bert Schroth, General Manager/Landscape Division EMAIL | BIO »

Sure, Bert is an Ohio Certified Landscape Technician. He has 25 years of creating lovely landscapes under his belt. But Bert is also that guy you gravitate to—the one who makes the first meeting all about you, keeps everyone on schedule, and calls you just to see how the new patio is treating you. That may be because he's likely enjoying his with Lisa, his wife of 25 years, sons Tony and Joe (who he happens to be extremely proud of) and his two loveable yellow Labs.

Favorite Plants:
Oakleaf Hydrangea (year-round interest and blooms)
Paper Bark Maple (exfoliating bark and fall color)

Best Piece of Garden Advice:
It's all about the soil prep!