Gardens Alive: Expensive natural gardening goods - watch for deals!
Written: Apr 09 '04 (Updated Nov 08 '04)
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Since I have had the time to work from home, I have been able to take up gardening. I had a very productive plot last year and am expanding into berries this year. I got a catalog from Gardens Alive and checked out their web site.
MERCHANDISE
You can find just about everything for gardening here. There is a special emphasis on natural and organic products and solutions for gardening problems. Why spread pesticide on your lawn to kill grubs when you can spread a small worm that will eat the grub? Since we have small children, I appreciate their dedication to natural products.
In addition to gardening supplies, you can also buy live plants.
THE WEB SITE
The web site is attractive visually but poorly organized. It can be hard at times to find what you want and you can end up paging around for quite a while. I find it is much easier to shop through the free catalog you can request on line.
My biggest gripe is that the product descriptions can be lacking. This seems to be especially true for live items. I ordered three blueberry plants and had no idea what size they were when they would be shipped. I also had no idea when they would be shipped. Some catalogs hold live plants until it is appropriate to plant them in your zone. Other sites ship live plants right away which can then die from frost on the way. I was hesitant to purchase without this information - but the price was so low - $19.99 for three plants - I decided to take the risk.
WHAT I GOT
I ordered three blueberry plants but didn't know what to expect when they arrived. They arrived in 4 inch pots and were each about 12 inches tall - just stems, no leaves. Considering that the blueberry plants need to reach a certain size to make a crop of berries that is worth the effort, these are several years away from true production. Still, at three plants for $19.99, the price was fair considering the prices in my local nurseries.
STEALS AND DEALS
This site has loads of special offers and if you are interested in making a purchase, you should definitely sign up for email specials. The site recently offered a $20 off anything coupon. Additionally, you can join their club - for a fee - and then get a discount on future purchases.
SHIPPING
I ordered three live blueberry plants. They showed up on my doorstep about three weeks after I ordered them with no warning. I did not get an email notifying me of shipping.
My main complaint is the lack of warning when the shipment was to occur. New England weather is very variable in early April. Snow is possible, as are balmy, sunny days. If the box had been left on my doorstep in below freezing weather and I didn't get it until evening, the plants could have died. If I had an email notification about shipping - I might have been more prepared.
PACKAGING
The three plants each came in a plastic pot. Each plastic pot was wrapped in a plastic bag to hold the soil in. The plants were shipped in a dormant state - meaning they have no leaves, just some shoots, and look half-dead when the arrive. Each plant came in a cardboard sleeve to protect the stems. The three plants were then packaged in a sturdy cardboard box. The plants arrived unharmed and actually began to sprout leaves within a couple of days with some watering.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
My experience with this store was just okay. The lack of information was the worst part. I did not have any product details when I placed my order and did not get e-mail notification of shipment. The plants arrived in good shape - but there was some luck involved. I am going to recommend the site because everything worked out but can only offer 3 stars.
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Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? blueberry plants
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