My closest Garden Centre is in Schinznach Dorf –These is a massive selection of bedding plants, Bonzai Trees, fancy stone, building stones, whole forests of trees and much more.
However, THE PRICE is unbelievable.
Does anyone know if I can pop over the border to Germany and bring back similar items or could I expect problems with the Zoll guys coming over the Rhine with a ton of plants and rocks.
Has anyone found a more reasonably priced place to buy plants? I have tried 3 more smaller Centres in Argau, but they are equally extortionate.
What I am specifically looking for are heathers, black and white gravel (or even a nice red – about 4 tonnes) and some plants which will grow in the shady side of the house.
I did not see any theme of Gardening except for someone looking for jallepenos – perhaps this can be a new one?

This page on the custom administration's web site might be helpful if you want to buy plants in Germany.

There is an Obi Garden Center in Singen just up the road from WalMart though I'm not sure if they have what you are looking for.

Four tonnes! For such a quantity, you should buy at a gravel plant - if you can live with a limited sortiment of colors. There's a mine about 25 km from you in Weiach, they sell gravel for 40-50 Fr./tonne. I don't know if they'd transport it for you and how much that costs. Look at page 14 of their price list PDF for detailed information about their gravel offers. Gravel from Germany probably is even cheaper.

Maybe you can find better prices for plants at the Migros. At the popdown menu named "Folgende Filialen, Unternehmen anzeigen", you can search for outlets with "Do It + Garden" section.

The Ikea in Dietlikon sells cheap plants, but last time I was there, they mostly offered succulents and potted plants of all sizes, like this one. They also sell decorative colored gravel, but only in sub-kilogramme bags.

Cheers Nathu - this stuff (washed Kies) will suffice for the foundation layers to level it out. And they deliver! I am going to order this next week.

All I need next is a couple of tonnes of the Ornamental (nice colours) stones to put on top of a plastic sheet on top of this basic gravel - these will be much more difficult to source at a reasonable price - as you say, they come in small expensive bags which work out a wee bit expensive for the amount I need. It is about 250 metres square I need to fill in around a new lawn I built. I checked lots of internet links last month, but my german badly lets me down when looking for stuff like this.
I think Germany will be best for this - and thanks to the info in the other replies, it now seems that there is no restriction on importing stones and most plants.
If the garden ends up the same way as it appears is in my head, it will be worthy of Groundforce. The right coloured stones will be the deciding factor. I will get there! Thanks again

Most of the small expensive bags contain artificially colored gravel anyway. I don't know how something like this looks after 5-10 years of outdoor use...

I suppose you're just searching for different kinds of rock? If so, the keyword is "Naturstein". Here are some yellow pages for you, and a section of organised producers.

The stuff from this company isn't cheap either but at least not everything is stuffed in small bags and they'll make better prices for large quantities... "Discover numerous kinds of split and gravel, ranging from white, beige, green, grey, brown, to pink, yellow and black" - Sounds promising? Or search for natursteine in Germany... Good luck!

I did not realize that these pebbles were "painted". When I looked at the "this" link and it pointed to IKEA then this started to to ring bells in my head.
I can live with bedroom furniture which falls to bits every 5 years, but I have no intentions of disposing of a few tonnes of painted stones.
The Naturstein is what I need - if these rocks have been in the earth for a few million years, hopefully they should last my lifetime in the back of my house. The bulk prices do not look so bad if you think of this longterm.

I had the chance today to visit Zulauf, the garden centre you are referring to. It is amazing. It was a special Sunday opening for the "rosenevent." Usually on Sundays only the cafe is open and you can take an excursion on the steam train.
http://www.zulaufquelle.ch/schinznac.../filmportrait/

The only plant I was considering buying is the Nepenthes, to catch flies.