Quality Groundcover Plants with FREE SHIPPING
Index | Home
Cart: 0 item

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for taking the time to check these questions and answers before contacting us. They will often get you an immediate answer to your question.

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 - these savings have been passed on to you in the form of lower prices.

We do not have staff on hand to help you decide what you want. If you need help, education, explanation, ... please contact your local cooperative extension, your local garden center or landscape engineer. Once you know what you want, order it from us and save...

Click on a question to take you to the answer...

  • How many plants do I need to cover an area that is ... ?
  • When will I get my order?
  • May I specify the date you ship my order?
  • When should I plant?
  • Can you mail me a catalog?
  • What plants will do well in my area?
  • Can you explain the pricing?
  • Do you offer wholesale discounts?
  • May I order by telephone or fax?
  • What payment methods do you accept?
  • What is "bare root"?
  • Will the plants look just like the photographs?
  • How do I order a smaller number of plants?
  • Do you sell seeds or bulbs?
  • Do you offer a guarantee?
  • Will __________ come back next year?
  • How do I plant __________?
  • I don't see __________ on your site, do you carry it?
  • How do order plants that you are out-of-stock on?
  • Do you require a signature for delivery?
  • My plants were delivered but I did not get them...

  • How 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.

    Calculate the number of plants you need
    Area to be planted (square feet):
    Spacing between plants (inches):
    number of plants needed:

    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...

  • Determine the square footage of the area you wish to plant. Use our formulas for calculating your area if needed.
  • Choose how closely you wish to space your plants. We suggest spacings in the description of each product that will generally result in good fill within two years, Use a closer spacing if you want them to fill in more quickly, use a farther spacing if you want to save money and are willing to wait longer for them to fill in.
  • Use the plant estimating chart to estimate the number of plants you need or use the table of spacing multipliers to calculate the number of plants you need from your area and spacing).
    Click here if you want more instructions on how to use the plant estimating chart or table of spacing multipliers.


    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.

    You may lookup your zip code to determine whether your shipment will take 1, 2 or 3 days to reach you.


    May I specify the date you ship my order?

    Yes! When you checkout you may specify your desired shipping date in the Comments section of the Shipping Address. [ more info ]

    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 three 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 two weeks 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.

    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. These savings have been passed onto you.


    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 advanced search facility allows to you search for plants that match dozens of parameters.

    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.

  • "$43.50 for 1 pack of 50 plants ($0.87 per plant)" means that the item is sold in packs of 50 plants - 50 plants cost $0.87 each for a total of $43.50

  • "5-19 packs - $33.50 per pack ($0.67 per plant)" means that if you get 5 or more packs (250 or more plants), the unit price drops to $0.67 per plant ($33.50 per pack)

    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?

    No, you must place your order online. You can select "Check" and mail a check to pay for the order.

    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).

    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. In general, bare root plants identified as fast growing will display full mature foliage after the second season; slower growing plants will take longer.
    For plants that we sell only in bare root form (Daylilies, Hostas, etc.), the plants are mature and should display full foliage the second season (transplant shock, etc., may reduce foliage the first season).

    Some tall plants that are sold as bare root (for example, some gallon or clump grasses, ferns, and perennials) may have the foliage cut back for shipping. Once they have grown their foliage to a mature size they will look like the photos on the product pages.

    For example, see bare root Vinca major - it shows what mature bare root Vinca major plants looks like...


    and what the corresponding immature bare root plants look like...

    Please note that the bare root grasses (Liriope and Ophiopogon) are a special case: they are single division little plants with short roots (Liriope roots are 1-2" long and Ophiopogon roots are around 1" long). The dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon ’Nana’) are immature versions of a dwarf plant and will look tiny if you are not familiar with what to expect.

    Sizes of Grass Plants
    (a "division" is the smallest clump that could be planted separately)
    Ophiopogon Liriope spicata,
    Liriope m. 'Big Blue'
    All other Liriope
    Bare roots single division, approx 1" roots single division, approx 1-2" roots single division, approx 1-2" roots
    2 1/4" pots 4-6 divisions, established roots 2-3 divisions, established roots single division, established roots
    3 1/2" pots 8+ divisions, mature plants 4-6 divisions, mature plants 3-4 divisions, mature plants
    Gallons not available 10+ divisions, twice as large as 3 1/2" pot plants 6-8 divisions, twice as large as 3 1/2" pot plants

    For an example of bare root grasses, compare mature bare root Liriope 'Big Blue' to this photo of what is typically shipped (click for a larger photo)...


    Will the plants look just like the photographs?

    The photographs on the site are of mature plants. Depending on what form you buy the plants in (bare root or potted in various stages of growth), they will need to grow and reach maturity before looking like the plants in the photographs. Depending on the growth rate of the plant it can take from one to several years.

    Some of the mature plants we sell (such as gallon and clump Liriopes) are cut back short in the spring to facilitate new growth. Ferns and some other plants often need to have their foliage cut back to approximately 6-8" for shipping. They require at least several months of new growth before the foliage again looks like a mature plant.


    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.

    We do sell bare root daylilies that some people call 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 7000 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.

    Hardiness is a rating based on the average low temperatures in a climate zone. We cannot guarantee winter hardiness in northern fringe zones. If a plant is described as hardy in zones 5/6-9 that means that there are parts of zone 5 (and perhaps even zone 6) where it may not be winter hardy. If a plant is described as hardy in zones 6-9 and you have an unusually cold winter in zone 6 you might lose plants. Please understand that it is not reasonable to expect us to replace plants lost to these situations. We suggest that you ask your local extension office to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone.

    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 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 (unless you plant them outside the hardiness zone), 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. We suggest that you ask your local extension office to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone.

    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. You can quickly search all plant listings at the top of any page.

    You can easily see our entire inventory on a single page by viewing our Inventory / Pricing summary or A-Z index - if you do not see your desired item there, we do not offer it and cannot recommend someone who does.


    How do I order plants that are out-of-stock?

    We do not accept backorders on out-of-stock items. You may click "Email when available" and submit your email address to get an email when the item is back in stock (we respect your privacy and will NOT use that email address for any other contact).

    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.


    Do you require a signature for delivery?

    We normally do not require a signature for delivery. This does not guarantee that the delivery driver will leave ti without a signature - it is up to their discretion (leaving a note on your door may help).

    If you wish us to ship with a signature required for delivery, you may request that in the Comments section of the Shipping Address when you checkout.


    My plants were delivered but I did not get them...

    If tracking information shows that your plants were delivered but you did not get them, please do not expect us to replace them. If they were misplaced, stolen, lost or otherwise moved after delivery, we cannot be held responsible for replacement.

  • Buying Guide
    Testimonials
    Plants On Sale
    Attribute Table

    Inventory / Pricing

    Catalog Download

    Planting Information

    Shipping

    Frequently Asked

    Bulk Discounts

    Affiliates
    Buy with confidence!
    "Top 5 out of 7,000" customer satisfaction rating - Dave's Garden
    As seen in ...
    The New York Times
    Newsweek
    The Washington Post
    Home and Garden TV
    [more]
    Bookmark and Share
    © 2012 Classy Groundcovers

    Home | Contact | Site Map | Press | Customer Accounts | Privacy Statement