How We Ship Plants

Ordering a plant online takes a little faith. You can't walk the aisles, feel the soil, or pick the one you want by hand, so we do all of that for you. Every plant we ship is grown on our own nursery, hand-picked the day it heads out, and packed to travel safely to your door. Here's exactly how it gets from our benches to your yard.

From Our Nursery to Your Door in Four Steps

1. Grown with care. Your plant is raised right here on our nursery, given the light, water, and feeding it needs to leave our benches strong and healthy, not shipped in cold from a warehouse.
2. Hand-picked to ship. When your order comes in, our team hand-selects your plant and gives it a once-over. Anything that isn't up to our standard doesn't get boxed.
3. Packed to travel. We secure the pot so soil stays put, protect the foliage, and box each plant to take the bumps of a cross-country trip. Plants are living cargo, and we pack them like it.
4. Delivered to your door. Your plant ships out and arrives ready to go in the ground, backed by our 30-day guarantee.

How We Pack a Living Plant

A plant is not a normal package, so we don't pack it like one. The root ball and pot are secured so soil doesn't shift loose in transit, the stems and leaves are cushioned, and the box is sized to hold everything snug. Larger trees and shrubs get extra bracing so they arrive upright and intact. Our goal is simple: you open the box and the plant looks like it just came off the bench.

Where and When We Ship

We currently ship to 34 states across the eastern and central U.S., reaching as far west as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Check the map below to see if we deliver to your area, and if your state isn't in our zone, the site will let you know at checkout.

Shipping cost: Orders over $99 ship free. Orders under $99 ship for a flat rate of $24.95.

Transit time: Orders ship via FedEx and usually arrive within 1 to 3 business days of leaving our nursery. You'll get a tracking number by email as soon as your order is on its way.

Weather holds: Cold snaps are hard on plants. During periods of extreme cold, we may briefly hold your order rather than send a plant into a freeze that could damage it in transit. It's a short wait in the name of a healthy plant, and we'll always get it moving as soon as conditions are safe.

Our 30-Day Plant Guarantee

We stand behind every plant we send. If your plant arrives damaged, or doesn't make it within 30 days of delivery, email our customer service team at custserv@gardengoodsdirect.com with your order number and a couple of photos. We'll send a one-time replacement to make it right; you just cover the shipping on the replacement.

When Your Plants Arrive

A little attention in the first hour goes a long way. When your box lands:

1. Open it right away. Unbox your plant as soon as it arrives, even if you won't plant it for a few days. Plants don't like sitting in the dark.
2. Remove the packaging. Take off any tape, sleeves, or bracing we used to protect it in transit.
3. Check the soil and water. Feel the soil. If it's dry, give it a drink. A travel-weary plant is often just thirsty.
4. Give it a few days to settle. Set it in a spot with the right light and let it recover from the trip before planting. A little droop after shipping is normal and usually bounces right back.

Ready to add something new to the yard? Browse the full plant catalog.

Shipping FAQs