Shipping and Pictures

Shipping and Pictures


Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping About the Trees, Trimming, and Packaging

Among the common questions asked, include what do the trees actually look like when we ship them, and how are they packed. Here are some poor but actual pictures that should help some of these questions. Yes, very true that many of these pictures are not beautiful magazine quality, but the point is that they should better give a real-life idea of some of the trees and plants that you will receive.

Almost everything we ship is bare-root. There are a few exceptions, like the Blueberries, but plan on most items being without soil or soil-media. There are several reasons for this. First, the state nursery inspector prefers we dont ship soil where insects or diseases might hide. Soil adds needless weight, which would increase the shipping costs, and it is very poor for keeping the roots moist and protected. What we do is carefully wrap the roots (and sometimes the stems) in wet shredded newspaper, and we add Terra-Sorb moisture absorbent. The terra-Sorb (which you can learn more about in the Other Item section) turns into a gel when moist, which helps keeps the newpaper moist and the humidity around the roots higher. It also absorbs excess water, reducing the leakage that might damage the package. Although no process is perfect, we have had very good success with this.

The plants are either dormant and pulled fresh out of cold storage, or are carefully lifted from the beds or containers, and prepared before packaging. If from the beds or containers, they are prepared which we refer to as being "trimmed for transport". The procedure is to carefully remove half to all of the leaves, which greatly reduces the stress the plants have during the shipment. Each tree and plant is handled a little differently, so one tree may arrive looking like a stick, whereas another may have all of the leaves left on. Many plants are then sprayed with a product called Wilt-Pruf, which is a moisture-loss preservative (yes, it's perfectly safe). Using Wilt-Pruf will vary also, but like the moisture absorbent around the roots, it adds another level of protection for the plants.

And speaking of protection, if your package ever arrives damaged, or should you have any concerns about your order, please contact us immediately! Most problems have to do with the package handling once picked up by the carrier, and it is your responsibility to let us know. Our warranty is very limited, and we do a good job of packing, but problems do arise as well.

"But they look like sticks". Far different than a magazine picture of colorful leaves, ripe juicy fruit, and huge merchantable trunks, the truth is that they look like sticks...

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping The Ameri-Willows, and all of the willows are fresh out of cold storage, otherwise they would be trimmed back before packaging.

The poplars and quaking aspen are held in cold storage, but if lifted from the beds, they would trimmed also.Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping If held in cold storage, they would ship like a stick, like this Redtwig Dogwood.

The Blueberries if not shipped dormant, would be sprayed with Wilt-Pruf.Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping The Buckeyes, Horsechestnut, Hickories, and Walnuts would look like this when shipped.

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping American Sycamore before and trimming. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping The Tulip Tree also gets trimmed before shipping. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping Sweetgum, and others ship best when there are no leaves, but they will resprout. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping A lot of trees and plants are trimmed before packing. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping The Evergreen Huckleberry is a container-shipped plant, and sprayed with Wilt-Pruf. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping The Camellia is shipped bareroot, but also sprayed.

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping The Coast Redwood is not trimmed or held in cold storage, and sometimes it gets sprayed with Wilt-Pruf, other times not, it depends...

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscapingThe Japanese Maples are typically held in cold storage, so the stems would be bare, and the Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping Ash is typically trimmed back before packing. Both would wilt badly and quickly if the leaves were not trimmed off.

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping Most of the willows, poplars, and aspen are shipped dormant as long as they are in the coolers. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping But once in the beds, they would be trimmed.

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping The Cherry Laurel, and the Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping Leyland Cypress are sprayed with Wilt-Pruf.

Italian Cypress, and the Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping Junipers are also treated with Wilt-Pruf.Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping Some evergreens like the Deador CedarEmpire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping and most conifers, will be held in cold storage, and may or may not be treated with Wilt-Pruf.

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscapingGenerally, the bed-growm Maples, and many items are trimmed. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

The Amur North Privet may be in cold storage until late spring, Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping and the Nikko Blue Hydrangea might also, but later from the beds they would be lifted and trimmed before packing. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscapingGardenias are trimmed and sprayed.

Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscapingPaulownia ships as a sprouting root-crown, fresh from cold storage. Empire National Nursery, fast growing trees and nursery plants for home garden landscaping

That pretty much covers everything... any questions?

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Last Update: 09/24/2008
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