C wrote:
I purchased 26 potted, 5 to 6', Swedish Aspen and paid to have them planted
in the spring. It was raining when they were planted, and it rained for
several days after. Even during the rain, the trees were beginning to drop
their leaves and die. Several months later, around half a dozen trees are
growing - only one is somewhat healthy.

The trees had yellow leaves when they were planted and they were BARE ROOT
(not potted as per my order). The trees were also chloritic when planted
(yellow leaves) because it was late in the season, and they had been keeping
them in cold/dark storage to keep them from pushing out their leaves.

The nursery has agreed to provide replacement trees for free (there is a 5
year guarantee on them), but they want me to pay the fees to plant them
again. I am upset that I am going to have to pay a second planting fee for
the following reasons:

1) I believe potted plants are more hardy than bare root plants, and if they
had delivered and planted what I ordered, there is a good chance most of
them would be alive. The lady at the nursery completely disagrees with this
statement. She has indicated that their potted trees are just bare root
trees that they stick in a pot that same spring. In my case, they simply
ran out of time to pot them. This sounds a bit odd to me because I thought
nursuries typically charge more money for potted plants and I was under the
assumption this was because the plants were rooted better and more likely to
establish themselves when transplanted.
2) The trees were dead & dieing within days of being planted. I suspect
they knew that a lot of the trees were not going to make it when they
planted them.

I am not a gardener. If my expectations of the nursery are too high because
of my ignorance, please set me straight. I got a little carried away when I
spoke to the owner of the nursery, and I may owe them an apology........

Thank you,
Chris




I have to ask you first....knowing that Aspens are yellow in the fall
only, why didn't you stop them from planting them right away? Aspens
are suckering plants. those great stands of them are one tree. not
many. if the trees were showing that they were dead and dying after
only days of planting, the nursery should guarantee them for at least
the first six months (barring that you kept them watered and such until
they showed they were establishing or dying). No, rather than chewing
out the nursery owner, take it to small claims court if you have to.
Are you able to plant the replacements yourself? have friends as
suggested to help? you shouldn't have to pay them to replant the trees
when they sold and planted sick or dying trees. check and see if they
have a simple guarantee. if they only guarantee for 30 days or even
half a year, you might only be able to get them to replace them. if
they only are libel to replace dead trees, go to the nursery, and pick
out good, healthy trees (fall is a great time to plant trees......)
bare root or potted, a $50 hole for a tree is the best, nothing deeper
than the tree's roots spread out, no mulch higher than three inches
around each tree, water well and if you HAVE to stake it, thread old
garden hose to keep from cutting into the young tree's bark and loose
enough to give a bit in the winds. Makes for a stronger tree in the
long run.

Check your bill of sales and see what rights you have. and are you
talking that now, since we're officially into fall, you've only started
asking for replacements now? well, get the trees out of them, and find
some friends to help plant them, or go into the phone book and call a
LANDSCAPER.............or two and get some prices. I'd rather pay a
landscaper to plant a tree or shrub than someone at a nursery. unless
this nursery has a landscape section of their business. if THAT'S the
case, take them to small claims and see if you have a leg to stand on
(or a trunk...g) I'm serious. and learn from this and don't let it
stop you from planting more trees and shrubs and perennials and annuals
and other stuff in the future. that's what makes gardening great and an
adventure.
madgardener who plants her own trees...................