Bare root guaranteeUpdated 9 months ago

We continuously check the quality of our plants and they are regularly inspected by DEFRA – this ensures that they are of the best quality when they leave us.
 
The plants covered by this Bare Root Guarantee will have the product code prefix of BR in the product listing. This includes plants like Magnolias, Hibiscus and more. The only exceptions to the BR code rule are the more frost-sensitive varieties, such as Dahlias and Begonias. We are unable to cover these as they require additional protection during the colder months to enable them to thrive.

For bare rooted plants, we often use cold storage to keep them dormant, so please do not worry if they arrive without foliage, even in warmer conditions – once soaked and planted out, they’ll quickly start to grow.

These plants are carefully moisture controlled whilst in storage, so they may appear to be quite dry at first – this is to prevent premature growth prior to delivery and is completely normal.

If you purchase plants during their main planting period and they fail to thrive, please get in touch and we can offer either a replacement or a credit note to the value of the item, depending on stock availability.

There are two main planting seasons for the bare rooted plants that we supply: September to December and January to June. Due to our strict quality standards, we guarantee our bare rooted plants delivered within these times to grow with you.

For those varieties delivered between September and December, this contact period runs until the end of the first March following receipt. For those varieties delivered between January and June, the contact period runs until the end of the first July following receipt.
 
We do not require bare rooted plants to be returned, but our team will ask for photographs of the plants concerned. For larger items like trees, or bigger shrubs, our team may also request a bark test photograph to establish the health of the plant. This is so that we can liaise with our suppliers in the case of any batch-wide issues.

For lower value packs of bulbs, we will often pack extras. These extra freebies are not covered by the Guarantee, only the number stated in the description. For example, if you receive 6 bulbs instead of 4: only 4 will be covered. The reason for the extras, is to ensure your ultimate success.
 
Some people can find bare rooted plants need a little more work than potted stock, so if you’ve not got much time to spend in the garden, you may wish to choose our potted, ready growing options instead.