Comments regarding Pickering Nurseries

I am very sorry to say that i had a negative experience with Pickerings.

In the late summer on 2002, i ordered 4 roses for fall planting. I received three, and they were very nice plants. I contacted them about the 4th, and was told that the rose had been forgotten and would be sent in the spring.

In the spring, i wrote them asking about the timing of my shipment, and then recieved notification that my rose would be coming, but either through my neglect or miscommunication, i didnt know when to expect it. After two months i wrote again explaining that i had not yet recieved my rose. I got a strange letter back asking me if i had not recived my rose, to please let them know.. I thought i just had, lol.

I wrote them again and they said they would investigate. Several weeks later i wrote or called, cant rememeber.. and was told that the plant had been destroyed in shipping, they would send another out when they could, as weather was bad. I can understand that.

A couple of months later, i noticed that many friends and aquaintences were recieving roses from Pickerings, so i called. I was told that they would be unable to ship me my rose at all. He said that it wasnt possible.I told the man that he could send me any rose, that would be fine. He said that he had none to send, but would send me a new rose in the spring if i called to remind him. I found that interesting as many people were recieving roses from them. Many people i knew were even getting extra roses for the trouble they had gone through due to Pickerings having such a bad year. I asked instead that my money be refunded.. to which the man, who was very nice, said that would be fine, but to please allow him to send me a rose in the spring anyway. That was the last time i heard from them. My money was never refunded. I was too embarresed to call and ask for my refund again.

Pickerings has always recieved such high marks from friends that i was looking forward to doing buisness with them. I can certainly understand bad weather, and miscommunications. Yet.. The complete lack of communication, unless i initiated it, is not something i am used to from my regular vendors.

The three roses i did get from them are doing just fine. Nice healthy plants, good roots when i recieved them. The man i spoke with was very nice.

I think i just fell through the cracks somehow with them. Yet.. it did happen.

I ordered roses from Pickering for the first time in Spring 2003, after comparing prices and selection from a number of retailers. I was very impressed with the service, price and quality of the roses I received. They are all growing vigorously this summer,and have remained healthy. I will definitely be purchasing roses from them again. I found the website to be a very good reference as well.

I have had nothing but good service from this company. The bushes are big and healthy.After all they have to be good if Martha Steward buys from them.

I ordered from Pickering for the first time in spring of 2002. Healthy canes; nice, long roots, and the plants performed as well in their first year as any I have planted. I also changed my order twice and met with flawless customer service each time. Quality product; superb price; great service.

I have to add my 2 cents to the chorus of happy customers. I have ordered over 25 rose bushes over 3 different occasions, over a 10 year period.

I've received nothing but big, healthy outstanding bushes from them. Choice galore. Comprehensive collection of old fragrant roses. You MAY find a rose they don't have. Good luck to you.

The colors in their catalogs are rather bleached (I suspect they err in photographing their blooms on sunny, rather than overcast days).

I have ordered from Pickering for over 30 years and it is still the number one nursery for roses, especially the old antique ones. The roses are disease free and grow well.

THE very best place to buy your roses. Great selection. Great prices. Roses are shipped for fall planting. I haven't lost one yet in 3 years.

The first time I ordered from them. Roses arrived bare rooted but healthy. Good instructions on how to store before planting and how to plant them. All bearing leaves already. I love their web-site with good reliable information on every plant.

I too have had good results with their roses. Fall planting is not always easy, I once planted 10 roses in what started as cold wet weather and had turned to freezing rain before I finished, but all these roses survived and bloomed the next summer.

I was glad to see they branched out recently and began to offer some Teas and Noisettes, which are better for my climate. Selection is excellent, service is very good, there is plenty of information in the catalog and the roses ARE HEALTHY. I've only lost one or two out of 50 or so. They grow and grow well. People are amazed when I tell them that the 4-5 foot roses in my garden were planted only 4 months earlier. The BEST PART: terrific prices. Even including shipping costs from Canada, the prices are good!

I find the Pickering Nurseries catalog a real danger to my pocketbook! A wonderful selection of roses is available, the plants are healthy, and the catalog gives frank advice pertinent to northern gardeners about disease resistance, fragrance, and floriferousness of each variety. The main quirk to note is that since their roses are shipped bare-root, they'll only ship in late fall. You have to get your order in by Sept, latest early October, to have a good selection. Once I planted an order of 25 plants in an early November blizzard - only 2 failed to make it through that winter!

My absolute favourite nursery grower and supplier for roses…Prices are reasonable; they ship worldwide. I have found quality of plants and shipments to be excellent. Can't recommend this one enough.