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I had good luck with Jung Seeds and Bluestone Perennials while living in Ohio. Living in an apartment here in Texas I've not had the opportunity to do any gardening other than in pots.
When you go garden shopping it's best advised to go to a local Garden Center. This way you can see what you're getting and pick the best plant(s) possible. Most Garden centers give you a one year warranty.
Online buying is a crap shoot, you never know what they want to get rid of and are sending out. Returns are a hassle as you've already found out.
I agree, it is usually better to buy locally so you get to see how healthy the plant is and to pick the one you like best.
Unfortunately when you love shrubs and planting, the nursery’s often don’t carry or deal with the less expensive bushes or shrubs/trees that are really small that you might want to plant where you have a long time horizon for growth. Or, specifically bamboo or tall grasses which is almost impossible to get locally, especially with all of the various varieties.
Anyway, I have bought online from several different growers where their nursery stock was excellent, economical, packaged properly, delivered In two days from FedEx and looked great and are growing like champs! I would buy from them again in a heartbeat ❗️❗️
Direct Gardening sends plants that are substandard, smaller than promised, and often totally compromised.
I always shop local garden centers first but cannot always afford gallon pots of pricey items, so since I had a huge area to plant I decided to opt for smaller plants that came in bulk.
I ordered from three companies and DG was the only one that shipped plants in a plastic bag in which the small pots were jumbled in the bottom. Most were dead with only one retaining any leaves at all and that one was brown and in poor condition.
I returned the plants immediately after sending a picture that I took after unpacking them and then I had to contact them after a week of their receiving the plants. They have promised a refund in 2-3 weeks...not sure why that takes so long.
The other two companies sent healthy, thriving plants that were packaged so well that I had to work to remove them. I will gladly choose that option over the practices of Direct Gardening!
Because they make money on the float - your money sits in their bank account, earning interest. Along with probably thousands of other people's money.
I've been happy with White Flower Farm and potted trees from the Arbor Society.
For bulbs and bare root plants, I love Fedco Seeds.
It is so late in the season. Shipping plants in early summer heat does not seem like a winning situation. Early spring or late fall might be a better time for mail orders.
I've gotten great plants from Edible Landscaping out of Virginia. The one time I had a persimmon tree that didn't have a very good graft, I snapped a photo and asked them to send me a new one. They did it with no hassle.
Whereas I ordered a boatload of berries, shrubs, and trees from Edible Landscaping several years ago. Few survived.
When I wrote for replacements, they said they didn't guarantee anything.
Plants Delight is primarily a mail order nursery but they have some terrific open houses for those of us who live close by. Their catalogue is filled with unusual plants from all over the world and Tony Avent offers terrific advice with humor all throughout his catalogue. They are known for many many varieties of hosta.
For gardeners who have never attend a Plant Delights open house, you are missing out. Mounded beds in sun and shade. Paths meander passed grottos and waterfalls.
Then there are the greenhouses and beds filled with interesting plants for sale.
They've recently joined forces with NCSU Raulston Arboretum.
Online reviews of Direct Gardening paint a picture of an outfit that ships stuff they buy from other outlets. Many complaints about what they were shipped was mislabeled. Lots of dead bare root stuff.
I agree, it is usually better to buy locally so you get to see how healthy the plant is and to pick the one you like best.
Unfortunately when you love shrubs and planting, the nursery’s often don’t carry or deal with the less expensive bushes or shrubs/trees that are really small that you might want to plant where you have a long time horizon for growth. Or, specifically bamboo or tall grasses which is almost impossible to get locally, especially with all of the various varieties.
Anyway, I have bought online from several different growers where their nursery stock was excellent, economical, packaged properly, delivered In two days from FedEx and looked great and are growing like champs! I would buy from them again in a heartbeat ❗️❗️
Would you kindly cite these growers, greatly appreciated. Thank you,
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