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Frequently Asked QuestionsHow many plants do I need to cover an area that is ... ? If you have Javascript enabled in your browser (how do I do that?), you can use this tool to calculate the number of plants required to cover an area with a certain space between plants.
If you do not have Javascript enabled in your browser and want help figuring out how many plants you need, we have provided: a plant estimating chart (for quick estimates) and a table of spacing multipliers (for exact calculations).
It's easy to figure out what you need...
When will I get my order?
Our shipping information page
explains in detail when your order will ship.
We do not ship such that your shipment will be in transit over a weekend (unless you insist), thus there may be a delay of a few days before your order ships.
Some plants do not tend to survive shipment during the summer, those plants are clearly identified in the product description and shipment will be postponed (usually until mid-September, details are in the product descriptions) unless you indicate otherwise.
You may lookup your zip code to determine whether your shipment will take 1, 2 or 3 days to reach you.
Can I specify the date you ship my order?
Yes! When you checkout you can specify your desired shipping date in the Comments section of the Shipping Address.
If you order 1000 or more plants you may ease your planting chore
by requesting that your order be split up into partial shipments on up to four different dates
in the Comments section of the Shipping Address when you checkout.
When should I plant?
We suggest you schedule your planting to be at least a week after your average last frost date
and at least a week before your average first frost date (bare root plants should be planted at least a month before your average first frost date as many varieties tend to be susceptible to root rot if frost prevents water drainage).
Click here for average first and last frost dates.
Plants will usually do best when the "transplant shock" is the least,
thus the gentler spring and fall seasons are traditionally when most planting is done.
If you purchase plants in containers (not "bare root" plants),
then this issue is less important and the planting season is extended in both directions.
There are some plants that we discourage planting during the summer, some that do not survive winters well when planted after late-spring, some that do not ship well during the summer, etc. - these are clearly identified on the product detail pages.
Can you mail me a catalog?
Our catalog and
current inventory and pricing
are available online - you can print them if you wish.
A substantial part of why we can provide such high-quality plants for such low prices
is the elimination of the high cost of printing and mailing catalogs.
As a savvy internet customer, these savings have been passed onto you.
Can you recommend what I need for ... ?
Another large part of how we can provide such high-quality plants for such low prices
is that we specialize in the production and delivery of quality plants. Period.
If you want to get advice about what plants will: do well in your zone, solve your problem, meet your needs, etc.,
then you need to talk to a nursery or landscape designer in your area - this is not the business that we are in.
Proper recommendations would result from studying the terrain, soil, water situation,
and a multitude of other things that should be done on-site.
We'd like to be able to answer your questions about what plants would be good for you,
but to do so would be irresponsible and would result in higher prices.
Your design questions deserve the best possible answers, which we cannot provide.
Once you determine what you need, come back and we can provide it at a great price!
What plants will do well in my area?
First determine your Hardiness Zone from our Hardiness Zone Map, then click on the corresponding zone to see what plants tend to thrive in your zone. Our search facility allows to you search for plants that match a wide variety of parameters, including zone.
Other factors such as elevation, soil, PH, etc., affect how well a particular plant will do in your situation, you should consult a local garden center or landscape professional to determine suitability of a particular plant for your application.
We can only suggest what tends to do well in certain zones and average conditions, please do not ask us to advise via email what will work for you - to do so would be difficult and irresponsible.
Some online plant sellers have huge markups that afford them the opportunity to offer refunds for plants that do not survive, we have instead chosen to position ourselves as offering high-quality plants at a low price to those willing to assume the responsibility of having chosen wisely.
Do your research, choose wisely, and buy from us to get top-quality plants at a great price.
Can you explain the pricing?
Our pricing is "tiered" - ordering larger quantities results in a discount of the unit price.
For example, look at the pricing for bare root English Ivy.
Note that the number of plants per pack (24-70) varies for different containers,
and that
additional discounts are available for orders of 1000 or more plants (in this case 20 or more packs would have a further reduction in price).
Do you offer wholesale discounts?
Yes.
Besides the tiered price structure explained above,
additional discounts are available for orders of 1000 or more plants.
You can take advantage of the wholesale discounts and ease your planting chore
by requesting that your order for 1000 or more plants be split up into partial shipments on up to four different dates
by indicating your desire in Shipping Comments when you checkout.
May I order by telephone or fax?
We understand that some people are hesitant to order over the Internet and give their credit card information.
One of the "payment methods" you can select when you checkout is "Provide your payment information over the telephone."
Select your items online and select this option when you checkout, and we will call you
so you do not need to enter your credit card information online.
Frankly, your credit card information is MORE at risk this way than entering it online (as a human sees it who would not otherwise), but we understand that some people feel more comfortable with giving their credit card information this way.
Part of the reason that we can offer such high quality plants for such low prices is that we have
automated fulfillment of your orders.
As such, we do not have staff available to accept orders by telephone or fax and manually enter them.
The savings from the elimination of that staff have been passed on to you in the form of lower prices.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), PayPal, checks, money orders and wire transfers (for large orders).
If you are nervous about giving your credit card information over the Internet,
you can select "Provide your payment information over the telephone" when you checkout and we will call you.
Simply place your order online and select your preferred method of payment when you check out.
If you select Check or Money Order, please include your order number when you mail payment.
We use the Internet's largest and most respected provider of credit card processing services
AuthorizeNet.
Your order with us is far more secure than using your credit card at a restaurant or other retail establishment -
with AuthorizeNet as our payment gateway, even WE do not ever see your credit card information...
What is "bare root"?
Bare root plants are plants that are shipped with the soil removed. They must be planted soon after delivery.
They are single divisions and tend to be the best value as long as you can plant them within a few days of delivery.
Part of the reason that we can sell them so inexpensively is because the shipping cost is greatly reduced when no soil is shipped.
Note that bare root plants are less developed than the potted versions we sell, and will take longer to fill it
(that's why we suggest you plant them closer together).
Over time they will be the same size as the larger potted versions.
The photos on the site are of mature plants. For plants that we sell in more than bare root form, bare root plants will be less mature
- and in the case of grasses, far less mature - and much smaller. Some plants (such as hostas) come only in bare root form and are mature plants - planted early in the season they will display full mature foliage the first season.
For example, see bare root Vinca major -
it shows what mature bare root Vinca major plants looks like...
How do I order a smaller number of plants?
We used to accept small orders,
but we were not able to sell small quantities at our low prices and still make a profit.
Faced with a difficult choice, we chose to suspend acceptance of small orders instead of raising our prices.
We retained our low prices by now requiring orders of full flats (24 pint pots, 50 bare roots, 70 small pots, etc.).
WaltD knew what he was talking about when he wrote in his review for us
(see his post - Jun 15, 2005 at Dave's Garden) that he did not understand how we could afford to price as we do.
Do you sell seeds or bulbs?
We sell plants, we do not sell seeds or bulbs.
Do you offer a guarantee?
We guarantee to deliver healthy, thriving plants.
If you want an indication of the quality of our products,
check comments from customers
and the ratings and comments for us at
Dave's Garden.
We are a Watchdog 30 company at Dave's Garden,
meaning we are rated one of the top 30 out of more than 6000 gardening vendors that they track.
For details on our policies, see
Terms of Use
and Shipping.
Some online plant sellers have huge markups that afford them the opportunity to offer refunds or replacements for plants that do not survive, banking on the fact that many people will not bother. We have instead chosen to position ourselves as offering high-quality plants at a low price to those willing to assume the responsibility of choosing wisely and nurturing properly.
If you think you would rather pay more for plants that have a guarantee, check out the customer ratings for some of the well-known places that offer refund or replacement guarantees for their plants:
Spring Hill -
Breck's -
Michigan Bulb -
Henry Field's, etc., and see how frequently unhappy their buyers are.
Do your research, choose wisely, and buy from us to get top-quality plants at a fair price.
Proper environment and nurturing is also, of course, required for plants to survive and thrive. For example: if a plant that requires well drained soil is planted in a consistently wet area it probably will not survive; if a plant that requires frequent moisture is not watered during a prolonged drought it probably will not survive.
The main reason that we do not warrant plants is that we have no control over the environment and nurturing that our plants receive. Survival depends on a suitable environment - if you understand the needs of your plants and and match them to your environment you will not be disappointed.
We choose to structure our pricing so that those who make
informed choices are not forced to absorb the cost of mistakes made by those who make uninformed buying decisions.
Will __________ come back next year?
Plants that require replanting every year are called "annuals" (they need to be planted annually - every year).
None of the plants we sell are annuals, all of our plants are either "evergreen" (staying green year-round)
or "perennial" (will come back year-after-year).
When planting outdoors, it is important to plant in a recommended "hardiness zone"
or the plant might not survive the heat of summer or the cold of winter.
The recommended hardiness zone for each plant is mentioned in the description of each item,
you can lookup your hardiness zone here.
Proper environment and nurturing is also, of course, required. For example: if a plant that requires well drained soil is planted in a consistently wet area it probably will not survive; if a plant that requires frequent moisture is not watered during a prolonged drought it probably will not survive.
The main reason that we do not warrant plants is that we have no control over the environment and nurturing that our plants receive. Survival depends on a suitable environment - if you understand the needs of your plants and and match them to your environment you will not be disappointed.
We choose to structure our pricing so that those who make
informed choices are not forced to absorb the cost of mistakes made by those who make uninformed buying decisions.
How do I plant __________?
We do not have individual planting instructions for each plant,
we have general information about ground preparation, fertilizing, weed control and soil conditioners.
If you elect not to till a large area, you can dig individual holes and fill under and around the plant with good soil
mixed with 25% peat, compost and/or manure.
I don't see __________ on your site, do you carry it?
Everything that we carry is listed on our site.
How do I order plants that are out-of-stock?
We do not accept backorders on out-of-stock items.
Although our "expected back in stock" dates tend to be fairly accurate, many factors beyond our control
can cause those dates to change (sometimes entire crops are judged not good enough to sell). The cost involved in managing pending orders for out-of-stock items
would raise the prices for all plants, we have chosen to keep prices low by not accepting backorders. |
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