Potomac Farms Nursery & Greenhouses closed its doors on June 27. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN – After 41 years of serving the local gardening community, Potomac Farms Nursery & Greenhouses closed its doors on June 27.

The business, which was founded by Lowe Products Company in 1984, was sold a year ago to Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia. According to Oldcastle APG President Tim Ortman, the purchase was made, due to the business’s proximity to Washington, D.C.

“We are delighted to welcome the Lowe Products Company business into our Oldcastle APG family as we continue to strengthen our ability to deliver top-tier service and high-quality products to our customers,” Ortman said, after the acquisition. “This move positions us well in one of the most attractive lawn and garden markets in the U.S., while reinforcing our commitment to help customers live well outside.”

At the outset, Oldcastle APG’s intention was to expand the mulch and soil production side of the business. It agreed to keep the nursery side of it open for one year following the acquisition, as various members of the Lowe family had wanted to continue working there.

Unfortunately for the local community, the company decided against keeping the nursery open longer than it was legally required to and, this spring, began organizing its closure.

The greenhouses on the property of the former Potomac Farms Nursery & Greenhouses will be used for soil testing by its new owners. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“We didn’t order anything after Mother’s Day, I don’t think, outside of maybe one small order,” said a source at Potomac Farms Nursery, mentioning the soil and mulch wholesaler had no other retail locations and no interest in changing its business model to include them. “I could see what they were doing, just from reading between the lines. The fact that they didn’t want the nursery to be open on weekends anymore spoke for itself.”

In the coming months, 789 Potomac Farms Drive in Shepherdstown will be undergoing some changes. But, according to the Ortman, the changes will not be made without careful consideration. For this reason, the greenhouses on the property, as well as the two red buildings bracketing them, will be repurposed, rather than torn down or left empty.

“They are going to use the greenhouses for testing of soils and stuff,” the source said. “The red building in which the store was located, will now serve as the main office space.”

Oldcastle APG has plans, according to a May 23, 2024 press release, to continue investing in its acquisition’s “bulk and bagged mulches, as well as soils and compost assets.” Only a handful of plants, pots and related items remain from the nursery, which will be sold to other nurseries in the area or given away to employees.

For Hannah Riner, Potomac Farms Nursery sales coordinator of three years, seeing the business close has been a heartbreaking experience, both for herself and for her customers.

Oldcastle APG will be expanding the mulch plant at 789 Potomac Farms Drive. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“A lot of people are upset about us leaving. When we first announced it, we had people coming here crying. People have been coming here for 20, 30, 40 years, and now, it will be gone,” Riner said. “This has been the heart of the local gardening community for so long. It’s so sad.”

Potomac Farms Nursery & Greenhouses advertises its closing sale at the corner of Potomac Farms Drive. Photo by Tabitha Johnston