Shetler's Garden Centre serves Auburn's garden needs

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

There are not a lot of signs marking the way to Shetler’s Garden Centre, but, for the past 12 years, those in the know have managed to find their way each spring to the collection of greenhouses located on the outskirts of Auburn to source some of Huron County’s healthiest, heartiest plants and seeds at more than reasonable prices.

 

Those heading to Shetler’s don’t need signs - they’ve either been here before, or somebody has told them where to go. Over the years, customers have cultivated a real sense of loyalty to the cluster of greenhouses located right across from Smyth Welding, and they’re not shy about recommending it. Shetler’s has become a destination - one with a reputation for raising plants that thrive.

 

For owner Tobie Shetler, that reputation didn’t happen overnight. “I started off in St. Helens, on three acres,” he told The Citizen. “The garden centre’s been going on for 12 years. When I moved to this land five years ago, it got bigger, obviously.”

 

What began as a small pursuit has steadily taken root, growing into a full-fledged family business that now serves gardeners from all over Huron County. Enough time has passed since his first season that Shetler no longer remembers what the original seed of inspiration was. “I’m not sure how I really got started into it,” he confessed. “I wanted a bit of a sideline and my wife’s parents used to have a greenhouse, and then they got out of it, and nobody in the area really had it. I guess that’s what made me think that a greenhouse would be something I want to do?”

 

From those early days, expansion came gradually, shaped by both demand and experience. “I think we’ve got around 7,000 square feet of greenhouse now - we started out with this greenhouse - it was like a 22’ by 48’ greenhouse… it was a little bit of flowers, a lot of vegetables.”

 

Today, that small footprint has multiplied into a series of greenhouses filled with a wide range of offerings. Rows of tomatoes and cucumbers remain a staple, while apple trees have become another signature draw. Shetler is realistic about the limits of any one operation. “Obviously, you can’t have everything,” he pointed out.

 

Instead, the focus is on offering a carefully chosen mix of reliable favourites and seasonal highlights - a little bit of all the best. Hanging baskets and planters greet visitors at the entrance, while bedding plants, vegetables, trees, shrubs, perennials and seeds fill the space beyond. In one greenhouse, tiny succulents sit in neat rows; in another, shade plants stretch toward filtered light. Apple and other fruit trees should be on display soon.

 

At Shetler’s it’s all about balancing changing tastes and tried-and-true gardening habits. “There’s always some things that are easier to grow than others, of course,” he said. “Trends change, I guess you’d say. When I first got in it, everybody was still planting geraniums. Now they say, ‘well, that’s what grandma had - I want something else.’”

 

Of course, some things stay the same as they were in grandma’s day - Shetler’s is still family-run, and is still pay by cash or cheque only. Those who wish to pay with debit or credit will politely be directed to an ATM in the nearest town.

 

On May 9, Shetler is hosting a Customer Appreciation Day to kick off the 2026 gardening season by offering regulars and newcomers alike a chance to mingle, browse and celebrate spring. “We offer free coffee and cookies, and ice cream, if it’s warm enough, hopefully,” Shetler explained. “We also have a bit of a sale on baskets and this and that - just to make it more of an event.” 

 

For Tobie Shetler, the work is about more than just plants. It’s about the people who come looking for them. “It’s great to be here. You get to meet a lot of people,” he said. “There’s little things that happen - on Saturday, a 4-H Club is going to show up here, a bunch of young kids, just to see how I plant seeds.”

 

Shetler’s Garden Centre is a place that doesn’t need many signs. It’s a place that has managed to flourish by word of mouth and local advertising. It’s a place that customers return to year after year and leave with the confidence that what they plant has the best chance of thriving. It’s a place where quality takes root, one plant at a time.