Tracy, I ordered this year and last year both. Last year their stuff wasn't very good and most of the plants that were bareroot never came to life. This year I just ordered potted shrubs. Mine are fine except for some rust on the leaves and the packaging was excellent. Now that the shrubs are finally planted they are growing and getting new leaves so I'm sure they are going to be fine. I sent them an email to tell them how much happier I was and to inform them of the rust. I never heard a word back from them.

Whats wrong with your shrubs?

MeMo

Memo: They were supposed to arrive bareroot, as said on their site. Instead, they came in galloon pots with leaves and branches on them. And during transport the leaves dried up and the branches wilted. So now I have a pile of mush.

I kept them both in the shade and watered well, hoping they would bounce back. After two weeks, I didn't see any growth whatsoever. I planted them, in hopes that they would grow. But still nothing.

Tracy

Oh, Tracy, that is so disapointing. Mine as I said were very moist when I received them. Actually probably too moist because I think that may have been what caused the rust. I planted mine about a week ago after leaving them in their pots in the shade for two weeks. I'm getting new growth on them already. In another week or so I'll cut back the rusted parts and hope for the best. I'd try giving them a call or you could try calling Parks Seeds. When I ordered last year I had trouble using a gift certificate on the website. Since the GC was from Park Seeds I called them to see if it was transferable. It was. She ended up just taking my order for the Wholesale division and was very helpful. So maybe that's who you should try to contact. They must be all the same place, judging from my experience with them. I hope they'll at least send you some replacements.

MeMo

My order last year consisted of only bare root roses; they all broke dormancy and thrived, so I didn't hesitate to order again.

This year, my Park's order came while I was in Arkansas for a week after the birth of a brand new Grandson. Although we spoke on the phone everyday, my husband and daughter still at the house didn't mention I'd had a package arrive, (well, there was that swell new baby to discuss...) so it sat in the box for an additional 5 days before one of them thought to open it. Even then, they didn't unwrap the bare root stock, *except* for the rose. LSS, the Purple Poppy was a goner, (rotted), but everything else looks like it's going to be fine. Even the bare root Fourth of July rose, which DH unwrapped to um, "look at" but didn't realize it needed to be watered or planted, is breaking dormancy after soaking for four days. I was very impressed with the potted plants. I was surprised that the toad lilly came in such a big pot, and they were all just fine even after being closed up in a dark, humid box for over a week!

Maybe the people at Park's had received complaints last year from customers whose orders had arrived on the dry side and they were trying to overcompensate?

I purchased a hydrangea and some dianthus during the sale. They took 9 days in transit to get here and were completely dried out and dying by the time they arrived during a heat wave -- only a few yellowed leaves and crispy stems remained. After much watering and coddling, the hydrangea is looking good, but the dianthus haven't bounced back. I was disappointed in the method of shipping (DHL, which delivers to the post office, then the post office handles the box like 3rd class and doesn't hurry to deliver), especially considering the very high shipping charge for the quantity of plants I received. Also, they were out of stock on about half of what I ordered but charged my credit card for the full amount, in 2 separate charges. I asked for a refund 2 weeks ago and it still hasn't shown up on my card. Also, the packing slip said the unshipped items were backordered, so I called but was informed they had been cancelled, not backordered. Two calls to customer service later, with only half the plants I ordered and an incorrect charge on my card, I have to say, I wasn't very happy with this (my 1st) purchase from them. I don't think I'll be ordering from them again. I think the end result is one semi-healthy hydrangea that ended up costing about what I would've paid at a local nursery, when you factor in shipping.

Re reaching them -- I called the phone number on my packing slip and had no problem reaching them. It's getting them to do what needs doing that I've had a problem with.

I ordered from Park's Wholesale last year (end of May) for the first time...

I initially contacted them by email because I didn't get a shipping notication after waiting 3 weeks. Within a few days they responded that they had lost my order -- but had then found it and they'd be processing it soon. About 2 weeks after that I received my package (in early July), but several plants I had ordered weren't sent, and several plants I received were basically rotted and dead, so I contacted them again. After a few days they replied that the plants were no longer available and that it was MY FAULT for having ordered so late in the season (remember that THEY lost my order?!).

I complained to them again via email and they eventually responded that they would give me a credit for two of the dead plants on my next order, but only if I ordered by phone.

They lost me as a customer. And I will also never again order from Park's or Wayside Gardens (same companies).