Buying: mail order plants

This advice on buying through mail order is for trees, shrubs, perennials, alpines, annuals

Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They are generally easy to grow from seed or can be bought as young plants from garden centres. Annuals are ideal for growing in summer containers and filling gaps in borders. Some examples of annuals include sunflowers, cosmos, sweet peas and zinnia.

, herbs, bulbs

These are fleshy, rounded, underground storage organs, usually sold and planted while dormant. Examples include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. The term is often used to cover other underground storage organs, including corms, tubers and rhizomes.

, fruit and vegetables.

If you've never bought plants by mail order, here's what to expect;

• Mail order plant season is usually October to March, but some companies offer containerised stock all year round. See websites and catalogues for details
• Autumn is the ideal time for delivery of bare root trees and shrubs plus spring-flowering bulbs
  

  These are fleshy, rounded, underground storage organs, usually sold and planted while dormant. Examples include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. The term is often used to cover other underground storage organs, including corms, tubers and rhizomes.

  , so plan ahead in the summer for your requirements
• Annuals
  

  Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They are generally easy to grow from seed or can be bought as young plants from garden centres. Annuals are ideal for growing in summer containers and filling gaps in borders. Some examples of annuals include sunflowers, cosmos, sweet peas and zinnia.

  , perennials and summer-flowering bulbs are delivered in spring. A good pastime in winter is to trawl catalogues and be inspired

Selecting and buying plants by mail order is not always straightforward. The following are points worth considering:

• Size: Check what size plants are offered. Bear in mind that smaller plants may establish more quickly than larger plants
• Unpack your plants immediately on delivery
• Plant as soon as possible: Aim to plant as soon as possible after delivery particularly with tree and shrub planting. Keep container-grown plants well-watered and protect bare-root
  

  These have been lifted from the ground while dormant, with little or no soil around their roots. Various plants may be available bare root, including fruit trees, hedging plants and some perennials. They are generally cheaper than plants in containers, but are only available in winter/early spring, while dormant

  plants and bulbs
  

  These are fleshy, rounded, underground storage organs, usually sold and planted while dormant. Examples include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. The term is often used to cover other underground storage organs, including corms, tubers and rhizomes.

  from frost in a frost-proof shed or similar environment. Lacking this, consider checking plant roots are moist and repack with sufficient packing (e.g. straw) to exclude frost until planting is possible
• Bare-root plants: Ensure bare-root plants do not dry out if weather conditions are not favourable for planting. Unwrap packaging and stand roots in a bucket of moist compost
  

  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:

  
  • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

  to prevent desiccation. Keep in a frost-free place and plant as soon as possible once the weather conditions improve. Bare-root trees and shrubs can be heeled into a trench (dug deep enough to go below frozen soil and backfilled with unfrozen soil) until conditions improve
• Bulbs: Large-sized bulbs are usually the best choice as bigger bulbs produce the best plants. Bulbs should be firm and only just showing growth at the neck end. For more information see bulb planting
• Plug plants
  

  Seedlings or young plants grown singly in small modules, with the advantage that they can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance. Bedding plants and young veg plants are often sold as plug plants of various sizes, with smaller ones requiring more aftercare. They usually need to be potted up and grown on indoors until large enough to plant outside.

  : Seasonal bedding plants
  

  Bedding plants are usually colourful half-hardy, short-lived or annual plants, grown for displays in beds or containers. They may be changed seasonally, with spring, summer and winter bedding displays each using different plants of appropriate hardiness and flowering times.

  can be bought in bulk and grown on at home. The benefit of these is that their roots are not disturbed when potting-on. Water well on arrival and keep in frost-free conditions as small plants are more vulnerable to cold conditions. They will need hardening off before planting out

A few points to remember to avoid problems;

• The main drawback when buying plants via mail order is that you cannot see what you're buying. Always use nurseries with a good reputation. Try the RHS Plant Finder
• Good nurseries and mail order suppliers give a clear indication of the size of plants and/or pots - check these meet your needs before placing an order
• Delivery charges and a minimum spend should be taken into account
• Some of the plants on your order may be out of stock – placing an order doesn't guarantee availability
• Avoid ordering plants in the hot summer months
• If something goes wrong, write to the company and explain what happened. Check individual nurseries' refund policy and make sure you have carried out correct planting procedures and have chosen the right plant for the right place