On Mon, 29 May 2006 19:11:05 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote
(in article ):

The message et
from Sacha Hubbard contains these words:


Just a bit of mild curiosity and a small personal survey. ;-) What does
the panel think is a reasonable time in which to take back a dead plant and
expect a replacement? Some nurseries have definite policies on this,
I know
but I'd like to have an idea of customers' reactions for my own curiosity's
sake. We had someone bring back a Weigela today which she'd had for a year
and had taken to Berkshire where it has died. We did replace it and on the
whole, I'd say we tend to do that sort of thing but it would never have
occurred to me to bring back a year old plant for replacement!

I have bought plants from several places which offer a one year
guarantee, but it isn't a selling point to me. I often buy plants
knowing they are marginally hardy. The rule of thumb is not to give up
on growing a plant until I've killed it several times.

I suspect that's the mark of a true and experienced gardener, as opposed to
someone who isn't very experienced and/or thinks plants will thrive
everywhere and last for ever.

I've never bothered to take a dead plant back. Not because they don't
die on me, but because

A) It was a gamble
B) by the time they die I've often forgotten where I got it
C) I buy plants far afield and it's not worth making a long distance
return trip for the sake of a few pounds.

The latter point often astonishes us. People will drive several miles to
replace something that cost them 75p - and I do mean right out of their way,
not in a sort of "we were just passing, so we thought........"

The only time I can recall complaining, was when a 56lb consignment
of narcissi came up the following spring and turned out not to be not
the variety I ordered.


Yes, I think most of us would complain at that! We heard the story of a very
elderly gent who had bought a Magnolia campbellii (not from us, thank
goodness!) who was furious when it finally flowers and turned out to be
entirely the wrong one. His anger was compounded by the fact that he was so
old that he felt there was no point in buying another one of the type which
he'd wanted!


--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
email address on web site