| Rating | Author | Content |
| Positive | Daydarlng
(2 reviews) | On May 9, 2013, Daydarlng Midwest City, OK wrote: Posted on May 11, 2012, updated May 9, 2013
Posted on November 26, 2011, updated May 11, 2012
I ordered a great number of mixed plants from them at the end of September. I knew the dangers with dormant plants, that some might not come out of dormancy, but I said, what the heck, with the prices they have I can afford 1/3 of the plants to come survive and will still be cheaper than buying from anywhere else live potted plants. I ordered 3 types of climbing roses, several butterfly bushes, several hydrangeas, lilacs, white spirea, forsythia, and more, a total of about 40 plants for around $100.
I received the plants in the green "trash bag" (it's actually a very sturdy plastic) end of October. I planted the plants (and the free bulbs) in a period of 3 weeks, as i could work on the garden (I'm a breast cancer survivor and still recovering from the multiple surgeries). I also received free iris bulbs, free hyacinth and daffodil bulbs, and free windflower bulbs.
It is the 26th of November, and we had a very mild fall here in Oklahoma, only a couple of freezing cold nights. As of now, except for two spireas, ALL the plants have new growth, are alive and doing well, and except for the irises, all the bulbs that were in the ground have leaves! I was very pleasantly surprised to see that.
I am getting ready to put in a second order with them.
On May 11th, 2012, Daydarlng added the following:
I need to update my feed-back. Since the post I made here I had put in two more orders and a replacement request. As before some of the plants did not make it. I asked for replacements - the way it is required, with the original shipping labels and a letter explaining which items didn't make it and why. The replacements have been shipped already and I am waiting for them any day now. It took about 5-6 weeks. Normal, considering the amount of orders they process and the fact that they have to gather from various nurseries.
Also, whatever made it is growing beautifully. Roses have bloomed after 6 weeks. They were just bare-root and now they are in bloom. The lilies are in bloom too, as unbelievable as it seems. Everything else is blooming and sprouting nicely.
And every time I called customer service I had a great experience. And they even replied by snail mail to a question we had asked in the replacement request letter.
So yes, I will keep ordering from Direct Gardening. I think our orders now go for a total of over $300. All well spent.
On May 9th, 2013, Daydarlng added the following:
Updating my feedback again. We kept ordering from Directgardening after such a wonderful experience. I have no idea why people criticize their customer service, I had only very pleasant experiences with them, be it on the phone, over the email, or by regular mail - they even sent a regular letter as a reply to our letter thanking them for their wonderful service.
To sum it up - I think that starting November 2011 up until now we ordered over $500 worth of plants from them. Yes, some of the plants didn't make it, but they always sent replacements as the warranty stated. Plus the bonus plants plus some extra gifts, just because they are so good. They replaced roses that were the wrong color, and even sent some extra plants. On one of the plants, an Arkansas Amsonia, after the third try when the plant still didn't make it, they sent a gift certificate for the value for us to use against some other plant.
So right now, our dreams of a cottage garden have taken shape. We have now in the garden (I hope I won't forget anything) sand cherries, blackberries, elderberries, hazelnuts, chestnuts, plum trees, lilacs, a Japanese lilac, hydrangeas, peonies, strawberries (we ordered over 100 of them of which about 75 this year, and the ones that made it are full of fruit), lots of lilies, beautiful roses (2 Zephirines, climbing Don Juan, Dr. Brownell, Charlotte Brownell, climbing Queen Elizabeth, a regular red rose, hedge roses), spireas, mock oranges, yuccas, rhododendrons, astilbe, hostas, ferns, butterfly bushes, balloon flowers, black-eye susans, bleeding hearts, lily of the valley, stevia, shamrocks, wigelia, and I am sure I forgot some. I wish there was a way to post photos so you all can see.
People should understand that:
1. dormant plants look like sticks. They really do. They don't look nice and pretty like in the nursery.
2. the type of packaging they use, I think is the best to insure the maximum chance for the plants to make it. Plastic doesn't allow moisture to escape, it is true that mold can appear if they are kept for too long in the bag, but you know, that is USPS's fault, not theirs.
3. You DO need to present them with some kind of proof that you did purchase the items. Hence sending the shipping label. And after you have saved a load of money buying from them, not 10X the price at a nursery, I very much doubt that the cost of a stamp to send that shipping label in an envelope is going to ruin you.
4. yes, it takes them time to process your order. They send thousands of orders, and deal with plants that are in a dormant state. You do want your plants to make it nicely, don't you? They need to be packaged, and sometimes the order has to come in from different nurseries they have, they don't grow everything in one place.
And just a piece of advice: make sure you prepare your soil, and also order some of their "pep pills". They do wonders on the plants when you put them in the ground. I started ordering extra "pep pills" to use when I transplant my vegetable seedlings in the ground - I only grow vegetables from heirloom seeds that I start indoors at the end of winter and the pep pills really make those seedling not be so shocked and take off nicely.
On May 9, 2013, Direct Gardening responded with: "On May 28, 2013 1:24 PM, Direct Gardening responded with: Thank you for your positive feedback and wonderful tips for our customers! Happy Gardening!"
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| Positive | elenarose
(1 review) | On May 9, 2013, elenarose Bridgeport, NE wrote: Posted on May 8, 2013, updated May 9, 2013
I have been ordering from the direct gardening company and its affiliates since 2001 and have always had a positive experience. They have cheap stuff (the equivalent of gardening at Walmart) but if you baby their products and save your mailing labels they will replace free of charge what doesn't make it. I have never had them refuse to replace or keep my money or wrongfully charge a credit card. There are only about 300 negative feedbacks on this site and they must mail out 10, 000 orders a year. In 10 years that is only 300 negatives and 9,700 positives so I am not afraid of the bad negative experiences that a handful of people have had. Like I said, 10 years and totally aware that I get what I pay for--I baby, and continue to order, and continue to save mailing labels. They have never ripped me off. Yes, things arrive broken, that is the postal service not them. Yes, things have arrived moldy (again the postal service)--send them the original mailing label and they will replace it free of all shipping charges. No questions, no problem, no hassle. Be nice and send them a nice letter with your mailing label (cut it off the package as soon as it arrives and keep it in a safe place) and they will send you new things. (Also, read the descriptions of what you are buying--bareroot means exactly that--bareroot. You are not paying for a potted plant at the local gardening center. You are paying for them to ship you a bareroot plant that resembles a twig or a branch or a dead bulb--it is your job to bring it to life by planting it and watering it appropriately.)
On May 9th, 2013, elenarose added the following:
I received my replacement order for what had not survived last year this morning-they replaced everything and added a few extra for good measure-what a polite thing to do-it feels like xmas-everything is in good shape and already budding-planted my bareroot daylilies that had arrived in yesterday's order and they are already 3" high--I am no way affiliated with direct gardening just a happy gardener who has had positive experiences from a trusted company for more than 10 years.
On May 9, 2013, Direct Gardening responded with: "On May 28, 2013 1:22 PM, Direct Gardening responded with: We are happy to hear of your positive experience! Thank you for your post!"
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| Positive | katy44
(1 review) | On Apr 23, 2013, katy44 Valparaiso, IN wrote: I ordered 3 pampas grass that arrived today; green and with good looking root systems. Not planted yet because of all the rain right now. I also ordered two peony trees that look really good - nice root system and already have leaf buds. The soil that my plants came in looks good and is still moist. I work with plants and have a feeling that they will do very well out in my garden and yard. I also got some freebies: 3 different types of bulbs and some climbing tomato seeds to try out. Overall very happy with the price, product, and service. |
| Positive | umbertoed
(1 review) | On Dec 26, 2012, umbertoed White Plains, NY wrote: I've been meaning to leave a rating for this company for a few months and have finally gotten around to it. It's a bit disheartening to read all the negative comments when I think that what most people need is a little patience. I ordered several items from Direct, and when they arrived, most of the plants looked dead. I followed the planting instructions provided and most survived and have since flourished. Unfortunety, some didn't even bud and it was something I expected. I contacted customer service via letter and attached the original shipping label, and after a followup email, received my replacements at no extra charge just as advertised. Overall I am satisfied with my experience given the pricing that's offered and the warranty provided by the company. |
| Positive | wxjunkie
(1 review) | On Aug 7, 2012, wxjunkie Fairbanks, AK (Zone 3a) wrote: I placed an order for about $100 worth of plants in late June. I understood that processing could take some time. I was charged for the order within 2 weeks of placing it, and the order arrived in early August. I never attempted to contact the company. The order arrived in very good shape, overall, with just a few plants that had budded out and died back. All have very good root systems and will probably survive. Considering the unusually warm weather along the shipping route and the fact that I live in Alaska, these results are better than expected. I was skeptical at first about ordering from Direct Gardening, as their prices were lower than other places and they offered $9.95 shipping-amazingly low to Alaska. So far, I haven't been disappointed. I hope to order again from them soon. |
| Positive | KarenOleta
(1 review) | On Jul 30, 2012, KarenOleta Lake Telemark, NJ wrote: The prices allured me as well as customer service attempts to rectify past negatives so... I just placed my order with this company, as follows:
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1 Tayberry
1 Candy Cane Oxalis
10 Jubilee gladioli
10 Oscar gladioli
5 butterfly daffodils
3 Hot Lips oriental lilles
3 climbing roses: peace, rhode island red,
3 white poppies
3 lavenders
1 Anvil of Darkness iris
The order says that they'll send some free plants as well, as others customers mentioned
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I'm in no rush to get the plants so I'll just wait and see what happens. I have experience with dormant plants, bareroot, forcing, bulbs/corms, etc so I'll update when I receive, what I receive, and how they turned out under my ministrations.
I did state when I checked out- and sent an email to customer service- specifically stating not to substitute anything. And I will hang onto that original shipping label.
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| Positive | myserenity
(1 review) | On Jun 5, 2012, myserenity Ellenton, FL wrote: Posted on June 2, 2012, updated June 5, 2012
rave!rave!rave! i put in a large order for plants in may, they were 2 hansen's cherries, 4 snow on the mountain, 12 red sedum, 2 japanese lillies, 1 rabbit's foot fern,laloha lilly, 1 string of pearls, 1 queen's tears, 100 shamrock bulbs, & 1trailing gardenia. they all came in boxes, in bubble wrap, or in plastic, all bubble wrapped. sometims the post office is not kind to fragile things. as for replacement, it was written a couple of times and on the lable to save the mailing lable to send plants back, or to replace, it wasn't weaseled in some little print, either, it was in plain sight. it might be because of the large volume of merchandise they send out, that it takes 3 weeks to receive the plants, they also tell you that it will take 2 weeks to process the order. i have already sent in another order and will continue to do so, their timing , pricing, &shipping are great!!!! i know some of the different plants don't look like they would do anything, the sedum i got was bare root, i looked at them and wondered what i'd paid for, but i planted them, and within 2 days, there were little green leaves coming up! patience!
On June 5th, 2012, myserenity added the following:
here i am again! i just received my second order from direct,,,,i sent for 12 hottuynia (i still don't know how to pronounce it) chameleon, it is a ground cover, and if it is half as pretty as it looks, it will be beautiful. it arrived thru the mail, in plastic, inside, each plant was protected by cardboard. i couldn't believe how nice the plants were, they had to be over 4" tall, the roots were trying to get out of the containers, i guess it was a little over two weeks from the time i put the order in, until i got it. another thing I did, i took them out of those cramped little pots, and planted them in at least 2x the pot size, it will let them breath. i just went out to water my orchids, and my new plants, and my bushes that looked like they wouldn't do anything, they both have leaves coming out of the base, so, thank you, DIRECT! I WILL BE ORDERING FROM YOU AGAIN! oh, i put some in bigger pots because all of a sudden i had more plants than i could plant at one time. |
| Positive | lulu229
(1 review) | On Jun 1, 2012, lulu229 Charlotte, NC wrote: Posted on August 24, 2011, updated June 1, 2012
Posted on June 29, 2011, updated August 24, 2011
I am not much of a gardener. I recently purchased a 'fixer-upper' house and EVERYTHING needed to be fixed up, including the yard. Years of neglect left the back yard overgrown and needing to be bulldozed. After removing almost every living plant in the yard, I need a lot of plants and I had a tight budget! I was a little concerned after reading some of the reviews and I contacted the company via e-mail with my concerns. The reply was quick and after several exchanges, I was satisfied that my $ would be refunded should there be a problem. I did a bit more research on the internet and choose plants that 1. I found attractive, 2. were reported to be 'easy' and quick growers. (knowing that at low prices the plants would be small). I ended up ordering 16 shrubs and 40 flowers/perennials. I carefully followed the directions that were included. It has been just about 10 days since I got everything planted. ALL the bushes have new growth, all of the other plants except 4 have new growth. I have to say that I am pleased with outcome. I think some of the dissatisfaction that people have experienced may be the result of unrealistic expectations and /or not reading the directions (ie, a bush that is $1.50 is not going to be 3 feet tall). Like I said, I am not a gardener, but I can follow directions. Yesterday I had some damage to 2 of the bushes (my neighbor's dogs, ugh!), I called the company today and they offered some suggestions as to what to do to save them. I found their customer service to be friendly and helpful. I am very happy with my purchase!
On August 24th, 2011, lulu229 added the following:
8/24-- all 6 Rose bushes blooming and doing well. 5/10 of the other bushes thriving -- 2 that were doing well to start with were damaged by dogs, and did not survive--so I don't fault DG for those... 3 others did not survive. The flowers have had mixed results and one group of flowers, while doing quite well, are not the color that I ordered. If refunds/replacements go well, I will probably order from them again as I have the rest of the back yard and the entire front yard to landscape! I may order earlier and plant them in pots and then transplant when they are larger....
On June 1st, 2012, lulu229 added the following:
So, I had some plants that did not make it. I followed the directions on the guarantee and all the plants were replaced with better quality, larger plants. I even was sent more than I requested! Some of the smaller plants I planted in pots, and will transplant them to the garden as they get larger. All the replacements are doing well and all the plants that survived the winter are doing quite well. Overall, I am very happy with they way everything was handled. I did not have any of the communication problems that others have identified. The time between ordering and receiving the plants is a little slow, but I'd rather have the plants be more mature, than be shipped quickly and not developed enough to make the trip! I will be ordering again....when I move on to the front yard! |
| Positive | Wrenda
(1 review) | On May 22, 2012, Wrenda Underwood, IA wrote: I ordered early and received my plants at the appropriate planting time for my location. I am very pleased with the large, sturdy, healthy plants, If they grow as well as they look like they will, I'll be ecstatic! I'm sure I will order from Direct Gardening again next year. |
| Positive | reb314
(1 review) | On May 13, 2012, reb314 Valrico, FL wrote: I was aprehensive about ordering plants online but to my surprise, my overall experience with DirectGardening I would say is positive. The plants came in dormant as expected. Some of them are doing good (I'm pretty happy with my Cherry Blossom tree so far). Although some did not show sign/s of life (after 6 weeks) even after careful planting, and some seemed to have been dead when it arrived, this didn't bother me so much as they back their products with a one year guarantee so I gave it a try.
Aside from what I think is a bit of a wait for shipping (order tracking would have been helpful), their Customer Service was good all in all throughout the process. I just sent my request for plant replacement last Monday (w/ the shipping label and a letter and quantity of plants need replacing) and I'm hoping to hear from them soon. I won't be afraid to order from them again. |
| Positive | lcmoody1
(3 reviews) | On May 10, 2012, lcmoody1 Flemington, GA wrote: Posted on November 24, 2011, updated May 10, 2012
Posted on August 13, 2011, updated November 24, 2011
I'm a former army wife and cancer survivor. If anyone has been what I've been through, they can eliminate me as a "cry baby" or a product of an "impatient American culture" as other posts have stated about all the negative comments. No matter what country or culture you live in, people expect superior service after investing hundreds and for some even thousands of dollars into a business and rightfully so. This has been my experience with Direct Gar.
1. I expected my trees to look like sticks, I expected my plants to look like dead grass. This is common for dormant plants, Dir Gar ships in the dormant state.
2. I did not expect it would take 4 weeks to receive my order, or that they would be shipped in what looked like a bright green garbage bag. The roots were moldy and showed some signs of damage: smashed, broken or spongey.
I soaked the woody items in water overnight, per my instructions and planted everything accordingly. It has now been 6 weeks since planting, I have taken great care to water regularly and at this time only 20 of the 60 plants ordered are showing any signs of life. I will give the others an additional 4 weeks to see if they will "come out" or just dead. I had ordered plants from other companies and all of them are flourishing so its not something I did wrong.
Based on my own experience, I believe the high volume of negative reviews is due to poor customer service. I was greeted with rudeness and just plain incompetence on 2 of 3 calls. Being nice is useless if your responce is "Sorry, I don't know".
Direct Gardening has the best price, user friendly website and variety. I love the preplanned gardens, but much improvement is needed in customer service: better communication, better informed cs reps and shipping procedures. I will update in 4 weeks on the remaining 40 plants that have shown no life or if I have any trouble with my replacement guarantee as other reviewers have stated.
On November 24th, 2011, lcmoody1 changed the rating from neutral to negative and added the following:
Unfortunately, I have to change my rating to negative: The remaining plants never bloomed and all but one tree died. I didn't bother asking for replacements, too many people have had trouble in the past. I will simply report to BBB. I do not reccomend doing business with Dir Gar. It has been a disappointment from beginning to end.
On May 10th, 2012, lcmoody1 changed the rating from negative to positive and added the following:
Direct Gardening honored their replacement policy--yes it took awhile,but Gabrielle was relentless in her pursuit to make things right! Maybe the other reps can learn from her. Yes, I still got sticks and grass but MOST of them are green and showing signs of life, although I am concerned about the "blue oatgrass" which are all brown straw. I'll just have to wait and see and report back. I hadn't bothered asking for replacements before because so many people had problems, because they didn't have the original shipping label, but THEY contacted ME and emailed a copy of my order and items shipped, so I don't understand the confusion over the almighty "shipping label". But you can bet this label is going in a secure place immediately! I'm willing to give Direct Gardening another chance. As stated in previous postings they have the best price and user friendly website I've come across |
| Positive | liesl1
(1 review) | On May 7, 2012, liesl1 Midland Park, NJ wrote: I was hesitant at first placing an order with an unfamiliar company, however when my first order arrived I was very pleased. My plants were all well packed and extremely healthy looking. Needless to say, I am now a happy customer of Direct Gardening and they have gained becasuse I will certainly be buying much more from them in the future! |
| Positive | RadiantPoppy
(1 review) | On Apr 29, 2012, RadiantPoppy Hemby Bridge, NC wrote: Yes. A positive. For various reasons.
First of all: I know this is a bigger company and they don't always send perfect merchandise.
Why I like to order from them:
Variety. There is tremendous variety available.
Price. I get a lot of bang for my buck.
Fun. While I do like to go out and buy things that are already firmly established there is a certain amount of fun that I derive from starting with rootstock. It is more challenging, but my thumb is pretty green and I am up to the experience.
My most recent order is placed but there is also one from last year in June that I just made a letter to the company regarding in order to fulfill on the one year guarantee that they offer. (I have used the one-year guarantee in the past also and they have made good on replacing things.)
My June 2012 order, what worked:
Angelique Tulips - Gorgeous, soft pink flushed with white petals that were beautiful
Moulin Rouge Astrantia - It is small still, but is gathering momentum and looks like it will be quite nice soon enough
1/4 bushel basket of Daffodils - It is hard to screw up daffodils. If anyone is wondering I got a hundred of them for twelve dollars and fifty cents and they were outstandingly beautiful.
Lavendar Stardust Daylily - Came as a small plant but is now very large and healthy and I await the blooms
30 Grecian Windflowers - Growing nicely
What didn't work:
New Leaf [German Bearded] Iris arrived in terrible condition and although I tried to spruce it up, it's dried husk of a self failed
6 Black Hero Tulips - only 1 came up for some reason
Reliance Seedless Grape - Admittedly my fault on this one: I planted it in crappy soil and then got the bright idea that I wanted to put a raised bed there. The plant sat out for a day and I replanted it but to no avail.
Finally Two that really stumped me the Smoke Tree and the Regal Blue Hosta didn't grow. I planted them both in the fall, but they should have been alright. I don't know what happened because they arrived in good shape. I bought a Smoke Tree in the past from Direct Gardening and it grew wonderfully so I don't quite know what went wrong with this one.
I am confident that they will make good on their guarantee though. I look forward to my replacement products.
This year's order was placed tonight 4/29/2012. I will let you all know how it went when I get and plant things. |
| Positive | Mateo6288
(5 reviews) | On Apr 25, 2012, Mateo6288 Santa Fe, NM wrote: This company is not for everyone but if you review the site properly & understand your not getting plants from a local garden center it will be a great experience. With Direct Gardening you are getting budget friendly prices for plants that would be more expensive through other companies. For budget friendly prices you also dont get some of the perks of paying the higher prices.
I purchased 2 trees in which quoted being 2-3 feet and they came 2-3 feet, bare root/dormant in a surprising red/orange bag. One was a substitute tree that they clearly indicated on their site they will substituted if your item is not available which can be a good thing for some. In my case the substitute tree did not work out so I sent it back and received my credit. Yes you do have to send back at your own cost....again consider their very low prices...this is expected
The tree I did keep keep was a chocolate mimosa and budded in a few weeks after planting and grew about a foot and a half so was pretty good for a first year bare root planting. I will more than likely purchase from them again. |
| Positive | Rjusticerj
(1 review) | On Apr 21, 2012, Rjusticerj Leicester, NC wrote: I ordered a rose collection and i am very pleased. It did take a lil longer to receive my order than i expected, but over i am very happy |
| Positive | Celeastar
(1 review) | On Mar 9, 2012, Celeastar Tulsa, OK wrote: We have ordered from DirectGardening a few times. Of course we get startings. This is the best way to get plants to take a strong hold in the soil, be resistant and resiliant...
It is not resonable to beleive we are going to get full blown 5 year plants for the pricing we pay.
We have had great success ordering and have placed our 3rd order. Only a few have not made it, and we recognize it was not due to faulty product, it was our mistake to not plant as soon as possible.
These plants come ready to thrive. We enjoy the products from Direct Gardening. This is a good company. |
| Positive | Mkelly04
(2 reviews) | On Feb 20, 2012, Mkelly04 Commerce City, CO wrote: Posted on September 8, 2011, updated February 20, 2012
I ordered from direct gardening a couple months ago and my experience was very positive. My plants came sooner than I had expected and they were in great shape. I actually just placed a second order with them because I was so satisfied before. Maybe their customer service is slow because of the numbers of orders they receive at a time. I mean, it has to be hundreds! They have the best selection and at great prices! Who wouldn't want to order from these guys? Besides, their website tells everyone it could take up to two weeks BEFORE their order ships, maybe people need to read the website?
I am pro Direct Gardening. I think they are doing just fine!
On February 20th, 2012, Mkelly04 added the following:
I absolutely love love love Direct Gardening. I have never received anything but good quality plants. As far as their customer service goes, they are awesome. Every experience I have had with them has been professional and kind. I will continue ordering from them. As for all of the negative comments, Direct Gardening always resolves ANY problem so maybe if you weren't so curt and rude with them they would be happier to help you. |
| Positive | JMKM1976
(18 reviews) | On Dec 30, 2011, JMKM1976 Hornell, NY wrote: Posted on April 5, 2011, updated December 30, 2011
Posted on March 20, 2011, updated April 5, 2011
I've ordred from directgardening in the past (about 6 years ago) and from several of the affiliated companies in more recent years and have never been dissatisfied with my orders, though I have gotten plants that needed replacement, the companies have always kept their end of the deal (which is good when dealing with very small plants and bulbs).
However, last spring, I ordered a large order of primarily bulbs (as that is what I have had the best luck with from the other companies). Many of the bulbs were in questionable condition upon arrival but I planted them anyway. Still, by the end of summer, not many emerged. I put my shipping labels in a safe place (and almost threw them away a couple times over the winter) with the intent to write for replacement items early in the spring as I think maybe part of the failure of the bulbs to grow was in the fact that the temperatures were already soaring last year when my order was shipped (which wasn't helped by the green plastic bag).
In any case, I have requested the following replacements:
3 Stargazer oriental lilies (3 grew)
4 Lollipop lilies (6 grew)
31 mixed Asiatic lilies (9 asiatic lilies grew)
8 bicolor Asiatic lilies (2 grew)
15 orchid gladiolas (5 grew)
13 hardy gladiolas (7 grew)
26 glad bulbs (4 grew)
4 hibiscuses (2 grew)
2 Salmon Star oriental lilies (none emerged)
2 Nippon oriental lilies (none emerged)
3 Dizzy oriental lilies (none emerged)
2 Sumatra oriental lilies (none emerged)
On the up side, I did get a very small but healthy pink knock out rose that was up to about a foot in height by the end of summer and put out a last minute brst of flowers. The liatris bulbs were nice and almost all grew. A red butterfly bush, though just a little stick when I got it grew well and set a couple smallish flowers. The cinnamon fern surprised me by setting up nice leaves right away, I typically have to be really patient with ferns before I see any action from them.
I have come to doubt the hardiness of bulbs offered in collections as that was the case with most of the oriental type lilies, they were offered as collections. Now, I have ordered oriental lily collections that did well from Royal Dutch and sort of expected the same luck with Directgardening.
In any case, I am not about giving bad ratings if I can help it. I've had much success with bulbs and some plants from directgardening in years past and with affiliated companies in more recent years and so hope that directgardening will make good on their promise to replace items that don't grow and survive the first year.
On April 5th, 2011, JMKM1976 changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
I recieved my replacements today and inspected every single bulbs and plant. They all look terrific, much, much better than what I took from the bags last year. The bulbs are all firm, many showing small sprouts of life. The hibiscus plants had nice, fresh looking roots and nice green stems at the crown too!
There were no mushy bulbs in this order and none of these bulbs appear to be losing pieces as they did last year. I'm very pleased with these as I have been with orders in the plast from this company and sister compaines. For me, it confirms my suspicion that last years heat was the culprit and cause of such dramatic loss of plants.
The bulbs are not as big as other lily and gladiolus bulbs from some other places but for a little smaller bulb, the cost is much less. I've filed a lot of space with plants from directgardening and sister companies over the years and have many positive expereinces, including this one, as the plants were replaced as promised and are in much better condition.
On December 30th, 2011, JMKM1976 added the following:
The replacement bulbs did very well!!! In fact, I purchased other asiatic and oriental lily bulbs from a much more expensive source. There was a very definate size difference between the direct gardening bulbs and the other more expensive bulbs, the direct gardening bulbs were about 25-40% smaller.
However, that difference in bulb size wasn't reflected in the flower vigor or bloom size! The direct gardening bulbs did as well as the larger, more expensive bulbs this time.
I should note that, the stick butterfly bush that survived the original order was gorgeous this year! It rocketed in height and was taller than me (even if I'm only 5 feet) and it was nicely branched and full; best of all, it set out masses and masses of bushy, beautiful flowers! It definately wowed and dazzled the butterflies as well. On most sunny days, the bush entertained at least a half dozen butterflies and usually more.
Oh, yeah, and hummingbirds seem to like it too, at least the new baby hummingbird that has come to my garden. Mom and dad bird have come for years, but this wee little bird was mistaken for a bumble bee at first because that is all the bigger he is. Anyway, bumble-baby hummingbird loves the butterfly bush! |
| Positive | RobThomas
(20 reviews) | On Nov 3, 2011, RobThomas Readyville, TN wrote: I actually read these reviews before ordering from Direct Gardening. Though the reviews are about 3 to 1 negative, I still decided to place a small order. Most of the items I ordered were sale items and "1 cent" items. The total purchase, including shipping, was just over $48. I ordered three varieties of cherry shrubs, 1 flowering cherry tree, 2 mulberry trees, 2 kiwi vines, and 3 wisteria. I figured with the low prices, even if most of them died or arrived dead, it wouldn't be a huge loss. I expected to receive a bag of rotted plants.
The plants arrived today - just over two weeks after placing the order. I opened the red bag and discovered that most of the plants appeared healthy. The trees and all shrubs were as described on the website and of the height promised. The roots systems were EXCELLENT, and all had branching to some degree. The two kiwi plants were potted and packaged in a box. When I opened the box I initially suspected they had sent a plastic plant. The female kiwi leaves were vivid green with bright pink stems. It was short, about six inches, but had many leaves and was in excellent condition. The male kiwi not so much. The male plant had obviously been packaged with green leaves, but the female pot had been placed over the males leaves and stems, crushing the plant and causing all the leaves to fall off. Still hoping for the best. The only real concern were the wisteria plants. They were much smaller than described. They looked like twigs with a single root. Maybe 6 inches in total length. They were individually placed in plastic bags. Not much hope for them, but we'll see.
I won't know the survival rate for a few months. But, for now, except for the wisteria and male kiwi, all appear healthy and alive. I plan to post a follow up in the spring.
The only verbal contact I had with the company was a couple of days after placing the order. I called to add an inexpensive item. The phone was answered after the first ring. I think the person's name was "Mike". Anyway, he said no problem to add the item, but since the order was already in processing there would be a $2.50(?) processing fee, but no additional postage. The conversation was short, but he was polite.
Overall, I am very happy with the order and the experience was positive. |
| Positive | vwzach182
(1 review) | On Oct 14, 2011, vwzach182 Princeton, MA wrote: Posted on September 22, 2011, updated October 14, 2011
I wanted a specific variety of Albizia Julibrissin (silk tree, mimosa) and my girlfriend ordered one for me from this company. The price was slightly lower than some other sites so thought we would give it a try. The next day I found this site and became very concerned about our purchase after reading the reviews. Here is how it all went down step by step.
1. Card was charged immediately.
2. I called them up about a week after order was placed. I was told computers were down but they seemed helpful enough. (it was Friday at 4:30 so maybe they just wanted to get home)
3. Called the next day 9/2/11. Was told that the order has not shipped yet and that I should wait the full 2 weeks before calling.
4. Called a week later at 15 day mark and was told that order shipped on 9/1/11?
5. Order arrived on 9/10/11 in a green trash bag as expected.
First off, I don't see any reason why fed-ex would take 9 days to ship anything to my house from anywhere in the US. That must be horrible for any plant. My tree was a 3' stick with 3 thick, very short roots. One of the roots was completely broken off at its base so I was forced to remove it completely. Surprisingly, the tree was still very green all the way to it's tip. This thing was not recently dormant. It appears to have been in a warehouse for months at least. I soaked it overnight and planted it in my desired location. It's been almost 2 weeks now and still green under the bark and alive for now. It will be a long wait till spring but I'm very hopeful and I think it may make it.
Another negative thing to add. My free gift to be included in the order was supposed to be 6 Grape Hyacinths which I was actually a little excited about since they were free and all. What I actually received were 2 empty baggies labeled " 4 shamrock Holland growr" and 3 little tiny bulb things in the bottom of the green bag. The shamrocks on their site are not even viable in my zone and I have no interest in growing them at all. I don't really care but don't mention a free gift at the end of my order and then send me some useless crap instead. I'd rather just have what I ordered and that's it.
On October 14th, 2011, vwzach182 changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
Update 10/14/11:
Within a few days of my first review I received a message from Gabrielle at Direct gardening asking for my info so she could look into my order. After receiving my info she replied stating that she would be happy to send me the Hyacinth bulbs as my free gift as stated on my order and apologized for the mix up. I just received the bulbs yesterday and they look perfectly healthy and I will be planting them this weekend.
My tree is still looking healthy and green all along the trunk and I can't wait till spring to see how it does. I am changing my review from neutral to positive because Gabrielle did go above and beyond what I would expect after reading these reviews. Thank you Gabrielle. |
| Positive | vaboi1der
(1 review) | On Jul 29, 2011, vaboi1der Bristol, VA wrote: Posted on July 8, 2011, updated July 30, 2011
I ordered a large amount of trees and vines back in feb and rcvd my order in march, i had a bit of a time getting the order but it was the busy season i guess. my trees arrived dormant and described but all had new shoots forming, and i soaked them overnight in water and planted them the next day, i lost a few plants, less then a quarter and the rest are doing very well, some im actually amazed with... i contacted them about replacment and rcvd a quick and friendly response. ive had a great experience with them minus the wait, and have placed a second order. idk what people expect from orderingn plants online but DG seems to be one of the better places.
On July 29th, 2011, vaboi1der added the following:
Since this posting I have rcvd my second order, and well.. the trees i purchased are already sprouting out and have full leaves on them, just 2 days after planting... my roses are a little to be desired but they are green and i have no doubt that if they dont make it I will get a replacment in spring. I have also rcvd my replacment order for what didnt make it from the first order and it too arrived well and ready to go. I look forward to doing more business in the spring. I dont know what people expect from the site as you arent buying from a local nursery, these plants have to go through a rough ride to get to you and I think they do a great job in doing so. It just takes a little more work and patience on your part to get them growing. |
| Positive | thewheel
(1 review) | On Jul 3, 2011, thewheel Denver, CO wrote: Come on negative reviewers. I know as well as you do that many of the positive reviews here are from "imposters" and paid company shills, but, honestly, what they provide is not that bad. Don't get me wrong, i have received few items from them that were in great condition, but, honestly, 80% of what i got from them has survived. Was the other 20% either a slimy gooey mess or mummified? Yes, it was. I will be returning the "sacred" label and asking for a refund of those items later this summer (the results of which will obviously affect my rating...hope they honor their guarantee...).
You get what you pay for. I LOVE to nurture things back to health and am not opposed to waiting a year for the starter plants DG sends to get established and flower. If you want full size plants, customer service, or timely delivery, I suggest you look elsewhere. If you are a patient gardener like me, you could do worse than DG. |
| Positive | magmae122
(1 review) | On Jun 25, 2011, magmae122 Fargo, ND (Zone 4a) wrote: Being a novice/new gardener, I had a good experience with DG. I placed an order last summer and had a pretty good response with what I planted. I don't remember the dates of order or shipping but it seemed it was a reasonable turn-around and as expected. Any product that didn't live/bloom/leaf out, etc, I was able to easily use the guarantee as they stated. I have had various email contact with them with no difficulty in getting a response. In fact, for the most part, they have been pleasant and helpful. Any plants that didn't bloom or even come back this summer, I was able to mail back the original shipping label with a letter explaining my problems and received the replacements in a timely manner. Before my year guarantee was up, I was even able to request further replacements by just referring to my original shipping/order number. I agree, you get what you pay for and for the price, you can't beat it. As they state, they come bare root with planting directions...it's up to you if follow or don't follow the guidelines. Happy gardening! |
| Positive | mzyung
(1 review) | On Jun 24, 2011, mzyung Castle Point, MO wrote: After reading the negative post, especially about their shipping/customer service, I was very skeptical about this co. but decided to try them for myself, because their product line & their pricing is phenomenonal. I placed a small order of $65, the items came to my door within one week. VVery pleased with the stock, all are now in full bloom except for 2 trees out of the 20 I purchased. The day following the receipt of my $65 order I placed a larger order, $200. Those items came yesterday! Exactly 9 days after placing my online order! I haven't inspected the order yet, but with the success of my 1st order & the quick receipt of this order, I expect to have no problems. Will update if need be. Lastly, I'm wondering if it's this website that is questionable? The above comments look the same as the onones I read 2 weeks ago, before my 1st purchase, but the dates/timelines of the dates appear to be more recent. We'll see! I'll be checking back to view my post, I hope I spelled everything correctly. Thanks, good luck. Great experience with Direct Gardening, 3rd order coming up. |
| Positive | fostenhiemer
(1 review) | On Jun 16, 2011, fostenhiemer Minneapolis, MN wrote: I am a 36 year male from Minnesota. I am an novice gardener at best. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!! All of the negative reviews on this site nearly scared me away, but for the price I could not resist. The website clearly states 1 to 2 weeks to process the order and then allow time for shipping. Most of the negative reviews on this site are about shipping time. Read what the website is telling you and if you cant wake a couple three, four weeks DO NOT ORDER! IF you have a little patience and you've grown a plant from seed you will be happy with their products. The other big complaint is quality, READ THE WEBSITE!!! They clearly state the plants will more than likely be shipped in a dormant state, that is how they do it and that is why you pay pennies on the dollar for their products. This company is not amazone.com, they do not have email notifications, tracking numbers, hold your hand customer service, but you pay pennies on the dollar! The descriptions on the site are for mature plants, not what they are selling, but what the plant will become if you have any sort of a green thumb. Please, take it from me and I rarely do online reviews, if you have a little patience, a little time to devote to your garden and once again some patience you will be very happy with this company. If you do not have these abilities go to the big box stores and pay full price. BTW, ordered on May 31, received my order 9 business days later. Most plants were dormant but many had foilage and just three days later are already showing signs of growth. |
| Positive | songbird22
(1 review) | On Jun 14, 2011, songbird22 Anderson, MO wrote: I ordered from this company because it was the only place I could find Arctic Beauty kiwi at the time. I checked them out AFTER I ordered and was dismayed to find less than great reviews.
I received my plants yesterday which was a reasonalble length of time for delivery. They were well packaged, and although small, looked healthy.
I ordered a male and female kiwi , two Medusa peppers and received three free gifts as promised.
This was a positive experience, and I will order from them again. |
| Positive | darlaolsen
(1 review) | On Jun 14, 2011, darlaolsen Anoka, MN wrote: Posted on June 8, 2011, updated June 14, 2011
I have had not problems with Direct Gardening. My order arrived within 1 1/2 weeks and all the plants were a little saggy but the delivery person just throw them on the back steps and never knocked on the door to alert me that the package was there and it was 99 with high humidity. One of my items was not what I thought (per emails back in forth, I thought I was getting a live plant in a 2 1/2" pot but it was just a tuber with a little growth.)
Direct Gardening answered all my emails in a timely manner as well.
Does Directing Gardening own or just do business with Four Season Nursery and Burgess?
I ordered from Four Seasons Nursery and Burgess.
From Four Seasons - Received my order within in a week of planting for zone 4. I have only two items that has not grown, one of the two Black Iris I ordered has not shown any spark of life. The lavender angel trumpet died. All the trees I ordered are growing like weeds!
Burgess, now this place in horrible. I ordered in March and they sent my order is April right after we had a foot of snow fall. I could not plant anything so I put them in a cool dry place but removed all live plants and put them with my veggie seedlings. In zone 4, planting season is not until after May 15. I was told by Burgess that they ship according to your area ( I asked them in an email and this is what I was told when checking on my order).
Upon checking my order this is what I found.
Tulip tree broken in three spots. Sent many emails asking if tree would live they said maybe. Tree is dead!!!! I put it in a bucket of water trying to get sparks of life and nothing. I have planted it to see just maybe it will grow but so far nothing.
Bulbs were moldy and so was the roots of the climbing rose. Sent email and they said I had 14 days to return the items if I wanted a refund. Here is the problem with that, by the time I could get a response from Burgess the 14 days were up. I told them that they had horrible customer service and was told "sorry your not happy"
I cleaned all the mold off of the bulbs and the roots. Stored everything until I could plant.
Live plants leaves stapled to the cardboard. Why would they staple the leaves to the cardboard?
I planted everything after May 15. It is now June 8 and here is how it has gone.
Oriental Flamingo poppy - no signs of life
Hummingbird vines (4) - no signs of life
Vesuvius Champion - one of two dead
Giant Primrose - one of three dead (died right away)
Windflowers - all bulbs were moldy but cleaned them up. No signs of life. Planted something else there as the bulbs all rotten in the ground. I went looking for them and they all rotted away. Ordered 12 and received 10.
Peacock Orchids - ordered 6, received 5 and they came moldy and so far, no signs of life.
Freesias - no signs of life (came short as well. Ordered 5, received 4)
Climbing Angel Face Rose - roots came moldy and plant seems dead. Rose is dead. Had to pull it up.
Blue Light Clematis - seemed dead upon arrival and guess what, so far no signs of life.
Now here is another problem. I ordered a perennial garden and did not receive any items in their list. I received some things I never heard of and some that were walk on me plants. I did not want walk on me plants! I did not plan to walk on my garden! I know that it was said that it was their choice but come on. Nothing on the list was received! They sent me poppies but never said what kind! I love poppies but what kind of poppies were they. They had mold all over them as well. I only planted three of the five items that were shipped and only two of those items have grown. Once again sent email and they said "sorry your not happy but you do have 14 days to return the items". 14 days were up!!!
I planned my garden around everything I bought and now had to go spend more money that I did not have to fill in the holes.
Happy with Direct Gardening and Four Seasons but very disappointed with Burgess. Don't order from them! I am not sure if I want to bother with getting replacements after reading what i have read. Lesson learned!
I thought about adding all this to my blog but not sure if I should. Would it be right or wrong to add it? I use the flowers that I grow for my photography and add them to my blog. I try to have different flowers photos to sell on my blog and at market.
D
.
On June 14th, 2011, darlaolsen changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
I am changing my rate for Direct Gardening to a positive one. They have made good on the plant that was shipped wrong. I ordered a plant that should have came in a 2 1/2 pot but came as a tuber, no pot. Thank you!
They also gave me the information to Burgess and Four Seasons I will need to get a fast turn around on the replacements that I will be asking for from these two companies. I also found out that Direct Gardening just does business with Burgess and Four Seasons.
My experience with Direct Gardening has been a good one. I have not had any problems with their customer Service.
D |
| Positive | meadowsshay
(1 review) | On Jun 10, 2011, meadowsshay Savannah, GA wrote: Posted on June 10, 2011, updated June 10, 2011
Posted on June 3, 2011, updated June 10, 2011
I live in Savannah, Ga and placed an order on May 19th, 2011. I haven't received my order yet, but I will let you know how the situation progresses. I'm staying optimistic.
On June 10th, 2011, meadowsshay changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
I received my order on June 8th and it was exactly what I expected it to be, a couple of dormant trees. I soaked and planted them and I am waiting on them to grow. I am pleased with my purchase because I only payed around $20.00 and the order arrived in an timely manner. I even emailed them around May 27th and they emailed me back that day. So overall, it was a good experience. Now I just need for my trees to grow!
On June 10th, 2011, meadowsshay added the following:
I would also just like to add that I do not work for Direct Gardening, nor am I affiliated with them in any way. I'm sure there are bitter individuals that would speculate such. I hope you all have a positive experience as well. And for those of you who didn't, well that sucks......cry babies.... :D |
| Positive | svetlana7e
(1 review) | On Jun 8, 2011, svetlana7e Aliso Viejo, CA wrote: I placed two orders with Direct Gardening totaling $135. The orders placed on 5/15 and 5/23. The orders were sent in 5 separate bags. First two received 6/3 and remaining 3 on 6/7. Not too bad. I was very happy and pleased with my order:
Strawberries were in excellent quality with healthy roots and new fresh leaves.
Asparagus roots were great, they are shooting already.
Gooseberry was semi-dormant condition with bare roots with little fresh new leaves. Good quality
Rhubarb roots were excellent, fresh and healthy.
Sweet leave plant was in the pot, greet about 5 inch tall packed in box to preserve it.
Carnations plants were bare roots, but in plastic bag with moist soil and lots of green leaves.
Dewberries, red currant, another gooseberry came in dormant condition, but you can see green tiny leaves. They are soaking in the water right now ready to be planted.
I am very happy with plants mentioning above. I have to admit that three berries (boysenberry and tayberry) came in dead. One of them had mold and when I did scratch test, it was all brown inside. Little disappointment, but not a big loss. I did not bother to return them, I just do not want to deal with hassle, pay money for shipping and spend time to ship it back. My time is more valuable, so I opted not to deal with return. It did not spoil my overall impression about the company because the option of returning is there.
I see that a lot people complain and upset about the company, but I set my expectations at the beginning: (1) yes, there can be substantial delay because of the weather (hot or cold). I am in CA, but plants that I ordered in March from other nurseries were not sent till May because in March east coast still had snow. (2) Purchase of life plants is a gamble. They are picky and they do die and their lives depends on a lot of external factors; ordering on-line is not a safest way to buy life plants (3) Most of the plants will be dormant and will look like dead sticks; this is necessary conditions to preserve pant in shipment. If you want a tree with green leaves and do not look dead, better shop at your local nursery, but price will be according to "appearance of life" as well.
Overall, yes, my three items were dead and I suffer the loss, but I am very happy with other items and DG offers unique plants that I cannot find anywhere else. Also, the prices are very low that allows me to take a risk to receive dead plant. If I want 100% guarantee with zero risk, I shop a local nursery, but it cost me much more. There is always a trade off. Placed my third order today and set my expectations straight – it could happen that my order will arrive in fall because it is getting to hot to ship life plans.
P.S. got a lot of free flowers bulbs from DG. Not sure if they grow, but don’t really care, it was free and nice gesture from DG.
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| Positive | Tigermuse
(1 review) | On Jun 3, 2011, Tigermuse Salt Lake City, UT wrote: Thanks Direct Gardening,
I received my items and free gifts before I paid my credit card statement. All items were as described at directgardening.com. I don't understand what all the whining is about. It could just be Americana-itis. An anal disorder for the impossible to please.
Tigermuse |
| Positive | herrerojulia
(1 review) | On Jun 3, 2011, herrerojulia Sharpsburg, GA wrote: Posted on May 25, 2011, updated June 3, 2011
After reading all this comments I was afraid that I will receive dead plants. I waited less then 4 weeks to receive my order, even decided do not worry too much thinking that it will arrive dead anyway, also ordered it from another company just in case.
Today my order arrived and amasingly, butterfly bush was planted in tiny pot with good root system and green leaves, I was very pleased, after all this comments I expected the worst. Purple smoke tree was dormant but not dead, I scratched to check - it is green. I planted it. Let see if it grow... Free shamrocks bulbs were also alive, one even started to grow.
I agree that waiting time is tremendous, no way to know shipping date, that is what make people to worry. Knowing all of that, I decided to order seaberries. Let it arrive in a month or even in autumn, I don't care because, I simply can not find seaberries nowhere else but I know that is worth it to have them. I had much worth expirience on e-bay, when ordered there gooseberries expensive and received for that price just tiny leaves started to propagate. Here I didn't pay for the same service such amount of money, I really like prices, I can wait and care for plants. I understand that, probably, I am taking some chances, probably, plants can die also, but - I will ask for replacement, simply I want to have seaberries. Amasingly, plants today were not bad.
On June 3rd, 2011, herrerojulia added the following:
Today I received my second order, I placed it at May,19, received today June 3. In three weeks so far, better then first time. And I still give positive rating. Seaberries are in pots, with leaves and healty root system, gooseberries start wake up: there are new roots growth and green buds, also test showed that plants are green.
Also here are updates for my first odrer: all free shamrocks are growing nice, butterfly bush is healthy and growing, smoke tree I am still waiting. It is green inside, planted less then week ago, I am still positive. I am happy so far and will order again from this company, in autumn. |
| Positive | TRAYB2
(1 review) | On Jun 2, 2011, TRAYB2 Cumberland, MD wrote: I received my first order a little over 2 wks, after i e-mailed asking where it was at. I placed a second order the day after the first one and am still waitin on it. (bout a week later so far ). Anyway the main reason i'm writing is to offer advise. i have ordered plants/shrubs/trees from a few diff. companies. More than a few looked like dead sticks to me, but i planted them anyway. A month later, nothing. I understand some are shipped dormant, but im no green thumb and impatient, which brings me to the point. I bought 2 rose bushes, planted them and nothing. So i dug them up and (1 was black) (thinking they might be dead) i put them in a 8 gallon bucket full of rain water. To my surprise they started budding within 2 wks just from sitting in water! (So i replanted them! ) i have since done this with other stubborn shrubs i THOUGHT were dead. GO FIGURE! Anyway if u get to this point, give it a shot and see what happens! In my case, instead of getting thrown away they got revived and replanted instead of replaced!
As far as DG i'll have to wait and see, but i did inform them that shipping in plastic JUST DON'T CUT IT, due to damaged roots and such and shipping should be done in a timely and organized manner. If not, sooner or later it's gonna bite u in the ass and ur gonna have to cancell christmas! HAPPY GARDENING! |
| Positive | capecoddie
(1 review) | On Jun 1, 2011, capecoddie South Dennis, MA wrote: Posted on June 1, 2011, updated June 1, 2011
I ordered plants from Direct Gardening on May 5, 2011 and received my order on May 31, 2011. It took correct time that was noted and informed on there website. When I had questions they were very pleasant to me and answered me to the fullest and my liking. The plants came just like I had expected, in normal and great condition with some even in better condition then anticipated. I will be and have even already planted my plants and the plants seem very happy and healthy in there new home:)
"Processing Time" means (like all web sites) time to get there money collected and gather items for the current order to satisfaction. Then items get placed into the shipment department for proper shipping packaging that will scheduled for shipment. They take pride and do not send plants in bad weather that may cause them to get delayed and be out of ground and/or water more then desired time that they can handle. Then once ready and OK to go out, the regular shipment methods (like everyone should know) is on average 7-14 "business days" EXCLUDING weekends and holidays.
If people want there plants as soon as possible with NO patience, then just go to your local nursery and buy them at higher cost to you. Otherwise be patient and you will be very satisfied with Direct Gardening and there items for sale.
On June 1st, 2011, capecoddie added the following:
I just placed another order today on June 1, 2011 for more plants since I was SO happy with the way this company items turn out.
I will up date once my next order comes in and/or to tell about my plants progress in their new home:) |
| Positive | Jesica
(1 review) | On May 31, 2011, Jesica Valley Stream, NY wrote: This is the first time I've ordered from this company. The order took about a month. When I called them, they was nice to me and also they respond on my emails quickly. From the negative comments I read on sites, I was really nervous about the quality of product or if I would even receive anything at all! Well, my order arrived today and I am happy with what I received. Some of them has mold, but some already showing signs of budding. I read the instruct. and put them to the water for overnight. I'm happy with the experience with Direct Gardening so far.
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| Positive | beckicz
(1 review) | On May 31, 2011, beckicz Trenton, NJ wrote: I placed my order on 4/19/11, and contacted the company immediately to confirm how each of my plants would be sent (as plants, bareroot, bulbs, etc). I received a response and telephone call promptly and they also explained to me the shipping process.
My order was shipped on 5/11/11, and was received by 5/18/11. I was concerned seeing a plastic bag on my porch, but still felt assured since they have their 1-year warranty on their plants. When I opened the bag, I saw a lot of healthy root systems and some sticks with little green buds trying to make their way. I soaked them for a few days before planting them. They have been in the ground for about 2 and a half weeks so far, and everything is thriving and growing a lot better then I'd anticipated, my four rose of sharron trees have tons of buds and look very healthy, my 20 pink weiglas are also growing very well as well. I also ordered some fern leaf bleeding hearts which came as roots, so I quickly potted them up and their sprouting as well, even my asparagus has gone up.
Although the shipping did take a bit of time, I think their items and price were well worth the wait. In all honesty, I read the bad reviews and proceeded with my order anyway, because their price was so economical, I would not have been able to acomplish nearly as much with my landscape without their incredible pricing. I will be ordering from them again! |
| Positive | jackiehansen123
(1 review) | On May 27, 2011, jackiehansen123 Spanish Fork, UT wrote: I found this website and could not believe the prices! They are amazing and pretty close to what my friend gets as a bare root wholesaler. I placed my order on May 3, 2011 and received my plants on May 27th. I actually grew a little concerned when I did not hear from them because they don't send out a shipping notice, but I just emailed them and found out that my order had already been shipped. When my plants arrived a few days later, I was a little surprised that they were just in a plastic bag, but amazingly they were in great shape--especially with being shipped from Illinois to Utah. They are soaking right now and look great. One tree did come a little smaller than it should have been, but I emailed the company and they are sending a replacement. The rest of the plants were thick stemmed with vigorous roots. We'll see how they do when they come out of dormancy, but they look pretty promising.
I think most of the negative reviews on here are directed at the processing and shipping lack of communication. I just had to contact the company when I had questions and thought they had pretty good customer service. The rest of the bad reviews are from people who do not know what bare root means and are expecting potted, green leafed plants (pretty funny). Bottom line--great price for bare-root plants, even if you have to wait 3.5 weeks.
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| Positive | bsanva
(1 review) | On May 26, 2011, bsanva Clarks Summit, PA wrote: I received these today, so it took a month and a half to receive my order.
The following items were requested on 4/15/2011 2:02:33 PM:
Item # Description............................. Quantity Price
6223 Cherry, Dwarf Flowering 6 $3.96
6163 Blueberry, Bluecrop Premium 1 $8.49
6168 Blueberry, Blue Crop Choice 1 $6.99
6845 Phlox, Tall 3 $4.99
3543 Apple, Gala Dwarf, (Reg. 1 for $29.99) 1 $14.99
5939 Kiwi Collection - (1 Female & 1 Male), ( 1 $9.25
6859 Hydrangea, Blue, (Reg. 1 for $5.95) 1 $4.99
6539 Raspberry, Thornless Canby 3 $8.99
4309 Magnolia, Hardy 3 $29.99
4309 Magnolia, Hardy 3 $29.99
4309 Magnolia, Hardy 3 $29.99
8633 Free giant double Peony 1 $0.00
Free Gifts as Earned Free
0000 Planting Instructions Handbook 1 Free
1281 4 Flowering Shamrock 1 Free
6297 3 Peacock Orchid Bulbs 1 Free
5643 3 Giant Ranunculus 1 Free
7837 3 Triplet Lily 1 Free
Shipping $9.99
Sales Tax $0.00
Total Charge $162.61
After 3 weeks I e-mailed them to check on my order. They didn't have any information. I tried calling, it was always busy. And when I saw all of the negative reviews on here I became quite worried. But as I read through them, I felt a little better. I wish I would have known ahead of time that it takes a month or more to receive your order, but I wasn't in a big hurry. And they are horrible about tracking your order. But the plants I received were nice. The potted plants were all green with healthy roots and the dormant ones are all in good condition. Like so many others who rated them, I was shocked that the plants arrived undamaged in nothing but a plastic bag. I did actually finally get through on the phone and they were polite, not helpful but polite.
Lots of negatives here, but the bottom line is that I could not have afforded to do the landscaping project I am doing with anyone else. The dormant plants do look like sticks, but that is what they are suppose to look like. I would absolutely buy from them again, but I would order over a month before I need them. |
| Positive | Wisc
(1 review) | On May 23, 2011, Wisc Algoma, WI wrote: Posted on April 13, 2011, updated May 23, 2011
Posted on April 8, 2011, updated April 13, 2011
Posted on April 8, 2011, updated April 8, 2011
The following items were requested on 3/16/2011 5:12:09 PM:
Item # Description............................. Quantity Price
4827 Wisteria Tree 1 $19.99
6857 Hydrangea Tree 2 $2.01
Free Gifts as Earned Free
0000 Planting Instructions Handbook 1 Free
1281 4 Flowering Shamrock 1 Free
6297 3 Peacock Orchid Bulbs 1 Free
Shipping $9.99
Sales Tax $0.00
Total Charge $31.99
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The money was taken out of my bank account on 3/18/2011
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On March 26, 2011 I sent:
Ordered ten days ago, but realize there's no way of knowing whether or not
my items have shipped...
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March 28, 2011 I got the following reply:
Thank you for your email. Your order is currently processing, which
typically takes 1-2 weeks. Upon completion your order will be scheduled to
ship based upon plant availability and weather.
Also, just as a reminder, once you receive your order be sure to hold onto
the original shipping label from the outside of the package for your one
year replacement guarantee.
Thank You
Customer Care Department
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Me on 3/29/2011:
So...will I receive notification once my product ships?
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Reply received on the same day:
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, we do not send out email shipping confirmations.
Thank you,
Customer Care Department
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Reply sent on 4/7/2011:
So, essentially I have no way of knowing when or if my plants are shipping? That seems a little off.
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Sent today:
ou received an order from me on 3/16/2011. I have made multiple attempts to find out whether or not my order has shipped.
The Better Business Bureau informs consumers that by law, a company should ship your order within the time stated in its ads. If no time is promised, the company should ship your order within 30 days after receiving it. If the company is unable to ship within the promised time, they must give you an "option notice." This notice gives you the choice of agreeing to the delay or canceling your order and receiving a prompt refund.
We are presently 8 days away from the legal deadline for shipping my items. If I do not hear anything further from you regarding my order I will have no choice but to contact the Better Business Bureau, file a complaint. In the absence of timely resolution I will have no choice but to pursue legal action.
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Now I haven't heard anything back yet, and I certainly don't believe that it's asking too much to know when my plants will be shipping. I really am kicking myself for not doing my homework on this company first...Then I would have known that they currently hold a rating of D+ from the BBB and certainly would have chosen another company to purchase my plants from.
Lesson learned, and I'll update in the event that I hear anything from them or actually get my plants
On April 8th, 2011, Wisc added the following:
This afternoon I've received a reply:
Thank you for your e mail regarding your order. Your order has been sent and should arrive shortly.
As a reminder, please remember to save the shipping label located on the outside of the package for the duration of your 1 yr replacement guarantee.
Thank you,
Customer Care Department
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We'll see how long they take to show up...
On April 13th, 2011, Wisc added the following:
UPDATE:
Have exchanged several more emails with them regarding my order. In the end their customer service is horrible, and for the person oriented service they presently offer I would suggest firing everyone they have...then hiring a group of teenagers to work for minimum wage as that's the sort of actual service they offer.
A database and an email notification system would certainly ease the frustration of many MANY clients
That said, plants came today. They were in a red bag that resembled a biohazard bag. The trees are presently soaking...the free orchid bulbs look wonderful. The free shamrock bulbs I'm not so hopeful for. Will post more updates in the coming weeks. Whether or not I'm willing to endure their awful service for this product will ultimately depend upon whether or not these do so well.
On May 23rd, 2011, Wisc changed the rating from neutral to positive and added the following:
I've been contacted on these message boards by a representative for the company...she seems very willing to be helpful and more than willing to correct any issues that may arise.
That said, I've had no luck with the Orchid bulbs or the shamrock bulbs...I'm a bit dissappointed about the Orchid types but not really surprised in regards to the shamrocks (they were free so I don't really care about them all that much).
The Wisteria tree is presently showing no signs of life...which is essentially what I wanted more than anything else (it was also the most expensive item I purchased). I'll give it two more weeks and then send in for a replacement. It may end up having to be planted indoors because I'm not sure it will have enough time before fall to get established outdoors if a replacement is ordered. The Hydrangea trees though are screaming with life, they have small leaves on the lower branches and some bright green buds on the upper ones. I may see if this forum will support posting links to images later this week. They were smaller than I thought they'd be overall, but for less than three dollars a tree I can be patient. |
| Positive | markshelly
(2 reviews) | On May 19, 2011, markshelly Tipton, IN wrote: I ordered 6 bicolor butterfly bushes before I read the reviews on this site. Placed my order and thought afterwards crap forgot to check out to see if this is a reputable company, when I saw this site my heart about dropped because about 4 days after I placed my order my wife placed an order for the buy 1 get a 2nd for a penny for 10 of the standard butterfly bushes. 2 weeks go by and I started getting antsy. Tried calling to only get a busy signal, emailed after 3 weeks and told me my order was getting ready to be shipped. Well last week my wife gets her standard butterfly bushes and of course they are the dreaded "dead sticks". I did the scratch test and all were green. So I planted and even though its been pretty chilly the last week some of the bushes are starting to show signs of life 4-5 days later. After getting my wife's order and waiting 4-5 days and still nothing for my order I gave them a pretty hateful email wondering where the heck my order was at last night. Today I come home to a UPS box (wife's order came via standard mail carrier). Open it up and to my surprise I saw 6 potted and VERY green bicolor butterfly bushes with very good sized root masses, not to mention very carefully and nicely packaged.
Bottom line for me is the wait and lack of communication during the order process was absolutely ridiculous and in this day and age is totally uncalled for. I however did eventually receive my plants and so far seem to be satisfied with the quality and even pleasantly surprised with the potted bicolor plants. During the wait I even grew so impatient that I ordered more butterfly bushes from Bluestone Perennials, placed my order there on a Friday and had my plants Tuesday, I was more than happy with their service and will probably just use them in the future, but if you don't mind the wait and horrible communication you can get a good deal from Direct Gardening.
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