 Garden catalogs inspire and inform the
gardener. While some folks think the only way to purchase plants is at their local
nursery or home center, experienced gardeners know better. Mail order nurseries offer a
wider selection of plants and provide much better information on the cultural requirements
of each plant. Purchasing plants by mail allows you to shop in your free time at your own
pace and even in your robe... try that at Home Depot.
When purchasing plants over the internet or through a catalog there are some key factors
to consider when evaluating different companies:
Identified hardiness range:
Every plant in the catalog should should have a USDA hardiness rating assigned to
it. Words like hardy and tender are not sufficient and companies who will not take
the time to label hardiness should be dismissed. Every plant we sale has its USDA
hardiness zone clearly marked. Knowing the plants hardiness zone will aid you selecting
the appropriate plants for your gardening zone. If you do not know your zone please see
our USDA Zone Map to locate it, or email us your zip code and we will let you
know what zone you are in. Knowing your zone will save you from the disappointment
of purchasing a plant that will not grow in your area.
Detailed cultural information:
Information on planting and caring for each and every plant should be easy to
find and easy to understand. We go to great pains to try and provide our customers
with all the information they need to grow perennials successfully. Information such as
how much sun or shade a plant can tolerate or if it prefers damp soils or dry soils.
If a company will not take the time to provide this crucial information in its
catalog or web site then they probably don't know the information or simply don't care.
If you have to look elsewhere for information on growing the plant it is probably a
good idea to look elsewhere when buying the plant.
Knowledgeable Customer Service:
Companies should know their own products. Nothing is more frustrating than asking
a sales person a question and getting the "I don't know" answer. If you
have a question concerning one of the plants we sell then please ask - we are here to help
you. We don't claim to know it all, but we will make every effort to find the
answers to your questions.
Things you should do:
Know your USDA gardening zone
Be ready to plant when your order arrives
Order early to avoid "sold out" notices. Our stock is
produced one season in advance so quantities are limited. Once a variety is sold out
we will not have it back in stock until the following year.
Consider substitutions; it is common practice among mail order
nurseries to substitute a closely related item for one that is sold out. If you do
not want substitutes please leave a comment during the check out process that you do not
want substitutes.
Keep a record of your order; this will help keep communication efficient
if you need to contact us regarding your order.
Understand our Guarantee.
If you have questions about our guarantee please contact us.
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