There's been a surge in Aucklanders buying plants and soil, with more than 4000 online orders at one chain since the move to alert level 3.
File photo Photo: Unsplash / Macau Photo Agency
King's Plant Barn spokesperson Natalie Allen said it was the "perfect storm" of pent up demand - plus a prime month for planting.
Soil mixes were the most popular order - including compost, topsoil and fertiliser.
"People just desperately need to get their beds ready to be planting for what is now vegetable season. And from a plant perspective its just the seedlings - but definitely the veggie products."
Allen asked customers to understand that click-and-collect and delivered orders may take a little longer than they want, although staff were keen to help.
"It's really difficult for them to go home at the end of each day knowing they maybe haven't been able to help every single person that's tried to place an order or phoned or that's wanted to get it within an hour. We just can't physically do that. So just a little bit of understanding," she said.
"We are also very hopeful that we will go down to alert level 2 and be able to open our doors again. And there will still be plenty of plants."