Today's NY Times has an article about the fact that aspens in some western
states are dying of an unknown disease. Perhaps that is part of the
problem? You don't say where you live. Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/sc...h/26aspen.html. If it doesn't
work, I can copy the text and send that, if you're interested.
helco

"C" wrote in message
news:qDwRg.33119$cz3.11592@edtnps82...
I will most likely plant the trees by myself. It's the principle of it
that bugs me! They aren't that hard to plant, but I thought that if I pay
them to plant them, then it makes it easier for warranty claims.

Unfortunately, I wasn't knowledgeable enough on the trees to question that
they were put in the ground with yellow leaves. I did see them planting
them with bare roots - it wasn't until I went back to the bill of sale
(when I knew they were dieing), that I identified that they were supposed
to be potted. It goes to show how much of a gardener I am......

Chris




"madgardener" wrote in message
...
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...................