Your plants have arrived!
They've spent a few days in a dark box, so the next 15 minutes matter most. This guide walks you through unboxing, planting and your one-year guarantee.
Open your box today. Please don't leave plants sealed overnight. They need light, air and a drink as soon as possible after delivery.
Unbox your plants
Every plant was watered, and its roots wrapped in a plastic bag, right before it left our nursery. Do these steps as soon as your box arrives.
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Open the box right away so your plant gets fresh air.
Cut the tape with a shallow blade so you don't nick leaves or branches. Lift the plant out by the pot, never by the trunk or stems. Larger trees come in oversize boxes, so grab a helper.
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Remove the plastic around the pot and roots.
Take off the plastic bag and any other packing materials. Check the bottom of the box too: some orders ship several plants together.
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Stand it upright in bright shade.
Pick a spot protected from wind and afternoon sun, like the east side of your house or under a tree.
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Water the roots until water drains from the bottom of the pot.
Aim the water at the soil, not the leaves, and water slowly so it soaks all the way through.
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If it falls over, stand it back up right away.
Put any spilled soil back on top of the roots so they stay covered and don't dry out.
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Water every 1 to 3 days, in the morning, until you're ready to plant.
Potted plants dry out fast, especially in heat and wind. Check the soil each morning, and water whenever the top inch feels dry.
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Check your order and snap a photo.
Match your plants to your packing slip. If anything arrived damaged, take a photo now and contact us. Damage on arrival is covered by a free replacement.
Watch: what to expect from your delivery
What's normal after shipping
Your plant has been traveling in the dark. A little stress is expected, and most plants perk up within a few days.
Totally normal
- A few dropped or yellow leaves
- Soil that shifted in the pot
- Drooping or soft leaves for a day or two
- Light scuffs on leaves or bark
- Fall and winter deliveries: deciduous trees and shrubs may arrive with few or no leaves. That's dormancy, not a problem.
Contact us if you see
- A snapped main trunk or leader
- A crushed or badly broken plant
- The wrong plant or a missing item
- No green under the bark (see the scratch test below)
The scratch test: dormant or dead? Gently scratch a small spot on a main stem with your fingernail. Green or moist underneath means it's alive. Not sure? Send us a photo and we'll tell you.
Plant it the right way
Plant within a few days if you can. Until then, keep plants in their pots in bright shade and water every 1 to 3 days in the morning.
Trees and shrubs in the ground
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Pick the right spot.
Match the sun and spacing on your plant's product page, and make sure it suits your growing zone.
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Dig wide, not deep.
Make the hole about twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than it.
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Remove the pot and loosen the roots.
If roots circle the outside of the root ball, gently tease them outward with your fingers so they grow into the new soil.
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Set the height.
The top of the root ball should sit level with the ground or slightly above it. Planting too deep is the most common cause of failure.
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Backfill and firm.
Refill with the soil you dug out, mixing in some compost if it's heavy clay. Press gently to remove air pockets, and don't pile soil on top of the root ball.
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Water deeply right away.
Soak the whole root zone slowly. A low ring of soil around the hole helps hold water where the roots are.
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Mulch.
Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the planting area, keeping it 2 to 3 inches away from the trunk.
Clay soil?
Plant slightly high, on a low mound, so water drains away from the roots.
Staking
Only stake in windy spots or for top-heavy trees, and remove stakes after the first growing season.
Hold the pruners
Only trim broken or dead branches for now. Heavy pruning can wait until the plant is established.
Other plant types
Patio and container plants (citrus, olives and more)
- Choose a pot a few inches wider than the nursery pot, with drainage holes.
- Use a quality potting mix, not garden soil, which packs down in containers.
- Set the plant at the same depth it grew in its nursery pot, then water until it drains.
- In colder zones, bring cold-sensitive plants indoors to a bright window before frost.
Houseplants
- Place in bright, indirect light, away from heat vents and cold drafts.
- Let your plant settle in its nursery pot for a week or two before repotting.
- Water when the top inch of soil is dry, and empty saucers so roots never sit in water.
Bulbs, perennials and grasses
- Plant at the depth and spacing listed on your product page.
- Perennials and grasses go in at the same depth they sat in the pot.
- Some perennials die back in fall and winter. That's normal; look for new growth from the crown in spring.
Water and care for the first season
Consistent water is the single biggest factor in how fast your plants settle in.
Water deeply
For new trees and shrubs, water deeply 2 to 3 times a week. Water more in heat and wind, less after rain.
Use the finger test
Before watering, feel 2 to 3 inches down. Dry means water; soggy means wait. Overwatering hurts as much as underwatering.
Fertilize later
Wait 4 to 6 weeks after planting, then use a slow-release, balanced fertilizer. Fertilizing too early can burn new roots.
Planting in fall or winter?
- Fall is a great time to plant: roots keep growing in cool soil.
- Keep watering until the ground freezes. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil.
- Water before a hard freeze, and keep a layer of mulch over the roots.
- Don't plant into frozen ground. Keep potted plants in a sheltered spot until you can.
Leaves yellowing, wilting or browning?
- Soggy soil: likely overwatering. Water less often and check drainage.
- Dry soil: water more deeply and consistently.
- Wilting right after planting: usually transplant shock. Keep the soil evenly moist and give it time.
- Still worried? Send us a photo. We're happy to help you troubleshoot.
Your One Year Guarantee
We stand behind every plant we ship with 365 days of coverage from your delivery date.
If your plant arrives damaged or fails to thrive within 30 days of delivery, we'll send a replacement at no cost.
If your plant doesn't survive between days 31 and 365, we'll replace it for 50% of the current retail price.
How to file a claim
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Contact us through our help page.
Go to our support page, or email or call us.
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Include three things.
Your order number, a clear photo of the plant, and a short note on what happened and where it was planted.
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We'll respond within 1–2 business days.
For claims after day 30, we'll send a secure payment link. Your replacement ships on the next available date for your zone.
What counts as a covered loss?
- Trees and shrubs: no green tissue under a light bark scratch on the main stem or trunk.
- Perennials and grasses: no live growth from the crown once the growing season has started in your zone.
- Evergreens: brown, brittle foliage throughout the whole plant with no live tissue left.
Plants that are dormant, stressed, slow to establish or in transplant shock aren't losses. Many plants take a full season to settle in.
What's not covered?
- Plants installed outside their recommended USDA hardiness zone
- Improper care, such as over- or under-watering, over-pruning, fertilizer burn, herbicide damage, or planting too deep or too shallow
- Severe weather, drought, freezes, animals, insects, disease, vandalism or accidents
- Plants moved or transplanted after the original planting
- Commercial landscaping or resale purchases (residential customers only)
- Indoor plants kept outdoors, or outdoor plants kept indoors, against their care instructions
- Plants in dormancy
The guarantee covers one replacement per plant within the 365-day window.
Applies to orders placed on or after September 4, 2026. Read the full guarantee terms.
Questions? We're happy to help.
Not sure if your plant is dormant, or how to plant it in your yard? Reach out and a real person on our team will help.
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