"PBarnes149" wrote in message
...
Has anyone out there purchased from them? I have my first house and yard
to
plant this year so I am curious about the different mail order catalogs I
get.
Thanks in advance for your help. Pat

Spring Hill has a bad reputation, some of it earned and some due to
ignorance, in my opinion. They were taken over several years ago by a
company that had poor customer service and many people had problems with
their orders - some not receiving plants in a timely manner and some
receiving poor quality stock. The other issue with them is that they show
mature plants in the catalog but ship very small plants. There is nothing
wrong with starting with small plants, but some people were mislead by the
pictures despite the descriptions that indicated that the plants were very
small.

About two years ago the parent company went bankrupt and sold off Spring
Hill to a group of employees. Since then I believe that the level of
customer service has improved. I live close to their facility and visit
often. The plants they sell are quite nice, if small, there is a good
selection, and the price is fair.

If you are looking for perennials or bare root roses or trees, I would
recommend them. Don't expect to get five, gallon size hostas for $3. You
will get small, bare root plants. The perennials will come in very small
pots or cell packs.

Another good source for plants by mail is Bluestone Perennials
(www.bluestoneperennials.com) I have also been to their facility in NE
Ohio, and have bought their plants by mail. They have excellent customer
service and healthy plants. However, the plants will be very small, but by
year two, the will have caught-up with the larger, more expensive plants
that you can get at the local nursery. The plants that Bluestone sells are
the same size as those sold by Spring Hill.

If you are in the vicinity, I would recommend that you visit Spring Hill's
display gardens and store near the junction of I70 and I75 in Ohio (near
Dayton). Here is a link to some pictures that I took:
http://groups.msn.com/laurelridgegar...pringhill.msnw