Ordering Guidelines

When is the best time to order?
We strongly suggest ordering early, especially with new and top selling varieties. You are most likely to get all the items you want if you order in August or September.  After September, many items start to sell out in Holland.

Can I make changes to my order?
Yes, we would be happy to accept your order changes with enough notice. Once the product is on the way from Holland, we cannot change orders.  To ensure accuracy, we prefer to receive any changes in writing via email.

What if the item I want is sold out?
Be the first in line for next season by placing a future order.  There are some items that have very limited production.  If an item you are ordering falls into this category, we will suggest substitutions (if there is a good sub).

How will my order be shipped?
We use the best, most cost-efficient methods of shipping possible. We use RL to ship pallets and UPS to ship boxes.  Depending on the size of the order, we will run a rate quote with RL and let you know shipping beforehand if you would like.

What time of year do you typically ship?
We start shipping product from Holland the end of January all the way through July.  It is kept in our freezer and stays dormant until you want your order.  We have a fall peony program that ships starting mid-September through November.

Unsatisfactory plants
If you have a concern about your shipment when it arrives, be sure to note any damages on the shipping documents when you sign. Digital photos of the damage are needed for us to protect your claim. Digital photos of the damage need to be sent within 48 hours after you received your plants, together with a written statement of the damage. We prefer that date and time are stated on the photos.  Please be as specific as possible to report the damage back to us. Credit will be issued for plants and royalties only, no freight will be credited.

Shortages and delays
If you have shortages or delays on your order, please notify us immediately via telephone or email. We will do our best to sort this as soon as possible.
For any questions or concerns regarding your order, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Bare Root Plants

• When your shipment arrives, open all boxes and inspect the condition of the bare root plants. They should be firm, relatively dry and are typically light brown in color.
• If any roots on them are still frozen, allow them to thaw slowly in a cool (40-50 degrees F) room before handling. Do not plant them immediately in a warm greenhouse.
• If any roots are dry, soak them in a bucket of water, containing a small amount of soluble fertilizer for one hour before potting. This will help plants get established more quickly.
• Transplant all bare root plants as soon as possible. If you are not able to transplant the roots immediately store them in a cool (33-45 F) area for a limited time. Be sure to have all plant labels on hand when potting to ensure correct identification.
• The highest priority for transplanting should be bare root plants, beginning with all evergreen types such as Iberis, Lavandula and Phlox Subulata.

Plugs
When your shipment arrives, inspect the condition of the plugs. Depending on the time of year and the variety, the plants will either be dormant or leafed out. If any plugs are frozen, allow them to thaw slowly in a cool (40-50 degrees F) room before handling. Do not plant them immediately into a warm greenhouse. If any plugs are dry when they arrive, water them immediately. Keep them sufficiently moist and then water the plugs again just before transplanting. Watering plugs just before transplanting is a critical step not to be missed!

After your bare root plants have been potted up, the next order of priority should be potting up your plugs starting with the smallest size.

Growing on
We suggest potting up your new perennial liners in a well-drained potting mix for optimum growth. A number of excellent bark or peat-based, soilless commercial mixes are available. Most perennials grow best when potted with their crown at the soil surface. If the roots are too long to fit in the pot they generally can be trimmed a bit to fit. For optimum rooting, most perennials should be grown in full sun. For shade loving plants such as Ferns, Hosta’s, Astilbe and Dicentra 50-70% shade is recommended.

All recently transplanted perennials must be kept from freezing. If the roots are subjected to cold, wet conditions for an extended period of time, they may deteriorate or rot. Do not plant directly outside until all danger of frost is past. Losses due to frost, excessive rainfall or overwatering are the customer’s responsibility.

Most perennials prefer to be grown at 45-55 degrees F for 10-14 days after potting to promote root growth and then grown at 55-60 degrees F until they are finished. Lower temperatures may be used to delay or suspend growth, while warmer temperatures generally help to accelerate growth.

Autumn planting and overwintering
Many factors such as soil moisture, temperature fluctuations and root development in the container can affect plant survival. Since there are so many variables beyond our control, we do not guarantee survival of plants overwintered in containers or in the ground. Overwintering success depends on having well-rooted, established plants by the end of the growing season. Poorly rooted plants tend to overwinter poorly. Time the delivery of your bare root and plug perennials so they are well-rooted in their containers by the time winter arrives. Perennials with evergreen foliage should not be cut back going into winter, but perennials with dormant foliage should be cut back before overwintering.

Most perennials prefer to have moist roots going into winter since the moisture helps to insulate the roots and prevent desiccation.

When deciding when to cover your plants for winter, be sure to monitor weather conditions closely. Nighttime temperatures near freezing allow the plants to harden off before covering but if the forecast predicts nighttime temperatures below 32 degrees, it’s time to cover your plants. Do not cover plants before they are hardened off.

It is important to keep your plants from freezing over the winter.