FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you tell me more about your company?
We are a family business with more than 65 years of experience in the nursery industry. Our inventory and contacts in the market are vast, so we can almost always find you the type and quantity of plant you need at a fair price.
What credit cards do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, and Discover.
When is my credit card charged?
Your credit card will be charged when your order is submitted on our website, regardless of the ship date you have requested.
What method will be used to ship my items?
USPS Priority or common carrier for large orders.
When are shipping costs determined?
We estimate shipping costs at checkout based on your location. Once we have the order prepared, that estimate may be adjusted, which will result in either a credit or an additional charge depending on what the final shipping cost was determined to be.
Will I receive a notification when my order ships?
Yes, you should receive an email to the email address you provide, and that email should provide a tracking number.
Are all orders shipped in one shipment?
Based on logistical needs, we may ship orders in multiple shipments.
What if I think I didn't receive my order or if the order I received is incorrect?
Please promptly email customerservice@tennesseewholesalenursery.com so we can investigate any concerns about damaged, delayed, incorrect, or missing orders. We will always respond as quickly as possible, usually within 24 hours. Note that while we usually ship orders within 7-10 business days of ordering, shipping may not occur until plants go dormant and are "bare root"; also, weather can cause additional delays. While we assume no liability for USPS losing an order, if, after review, it appears that USPS has lost your order, we can provide information on filing a claim with USPS.
What do you mean by "dormant" or "bare root"?
A plant is "dormant" or "bare root" when it has lost its foliage (leaves and stems) for the season. This is a natural state of rest for the plant caused by cooler temperatures and shorter days. As noted above, we ship plants during this dormant period. Trust us; you would not want a fully bloomed plant shipped to you in a box! With the appropriate care, they should bloom beautifully when Spring comes.
What if I open my package and I think my plants are dead?
It is likely the plants are not dead, just dormant. We ship fresh plants shortly after digging them. We ship dormant, bare-root plants that are not in bloom or flowering when we ship them.
Also below is a picture of how to do the "scratch test," which is an excellent way to see if your plants are alive but dormant or dead.
Below are some pictures of what various plants look like when shipped dormant and what they will look like when they bloom after proper care.
What if I can't plant my plants right away?
Would you mind trying and planting your plants as soon as possible? Generally, if you cannot plant them right away, store them in a cool place and leave the plastic on the roots. Water the roots at least once a week and then cover them with the plastic they come packaged in. Do not expose them to freezing temperature or extreme heat.
Below is some additional information about how to care for various plants if you cannot plant them right away after receiving them from us.
How Do You Dig and Ship Plants?
We dig every plant fresh and then ship them by dipping roots in terra sorb (a moisture-rich gel), and we surround them with moisture protectant plastic. We then put all plants in corrugated boxes. All plants packaged are by the American Nurseryman Association Standards, and they should survive at least ten days in transit.
Can I pick up an order instead of you shipping it to me?
Usually, if you would like to pick up an order, please make a note in the comments, and we will call you to coordinate the pickup (and refund shipping if appropriate).
Do you offer coupons and specials?
Sometimes. You can sign up for our newsletter to take advantage. You can also visit this page for more info.
Your plants are grown in Tennessee. Do you ship plants throughout the USA, including places with different climates?
We ship to 49 states (everywhere but New York). We have seed sources for all USA climate zones, so our plants can grow warmer or colder than in Tennessee.
- Must I sign To Get My Order?
(A) Yes we require signature delivery due to the rules and regulations from our card prosessing company having such high theft rates for packages left at homes without anyone being present. This is manditory for all people placing orders using a credit card.
Can you tell me what you do to keep my information secure?
Yes. We use encryption tools to protect account information. We also do not see your credit card number when an order is placed. We are not aware of any hacking or fraudulent activity on our websites.
I need help finding out what plants to buy.
Feel free to check out our Plant Finder page for potential guidance.
Can I cancel an order?
Usually not. If you want to try to cancel an order, let us know immediately by sending an email to customerservice@tennesseewholesalenursery.com or calling us at 931-692-4252. If we see your cancellation and stop the order before it goes to our fulfillment center, we can cancel it, but we will charge a 20 percent fee. Otherwise, the order cannot be canceled, and you will be charged the total amount. Orders usually go to our fulfillment center within one hour of being placed.
Can I refuse an order?
We accept no liability for refused orders. We encourage our customers to contact us at customerservice@tennesseewholesalenursery.com to discuss any issues or concerns with orders placed.
We ship Bare Root Stock when dormant - plants do not have leaves, foliage, or blooms.
Below (left) is an example of how our bare root crepe myrtles or trees will look when we ship them. They will be dormant, without foliage. Plant these trees in cool weather and the Spring (right). Here's a picture of how these trees will look (when planted and cared for properly) the following Spring.
Below is a picture of our shrubs shipped bare root
Here is a picture of the shrubs - packaged as they will look when received. The picture to the right is how, if taken care of, they will look the following spring.
Perennials at time of shipment
Those on the left are dormant and the right picture is how they will look the following spring when planted and cared for properly.
Ferns at time of shipment (left). Following season (right).
The picture below shows berry plants (left) in a dormant stage without leaves, blooms or berries. Plant as soon as you receive them and in the spring they will "green out" and produce (right).
Ground Cover Plants at time of shipment:
On the left is how the ground cover plant will look at shipment. On the right is how they will look the following spring!
Grass plugs at time of shipment:
We do not ship grasses in colder months due to the tops being gone. Also, we will not ship a grass species without being able to identify it, as these are grown in large fields with other species of carex and other grasses, it is best to wait for warmer months when positive identification is possible.
How To Store Bare Root Plants Until Planting Time
Trees & Shrubs (Including Fruit Trees, Berry Plants, and Native Plants also)
When you receive your trees or shrubs, you will need to open them right away and remove the plastic from the entire plant (except the root area).
It is best to plant Bare Root Trees & Shrubs within 1-2 days after receiving them, but there are other methods in case you do not have time for immediate planting. If you have a cool, moist area such as a basement or garage, leave the plants standing upright and leave plastic around the root system, and water thoroughly a couple of times a day (roots only). When you plant, it's always best to soak the roots, put water in the hole before planting (to add moisture in the deeper part of the soil before planting), and water again after planting. It's also advised to water each plant the first 4-5 days after it's planted, and they should do well on their own after this. We also recommend using a good fertilizer in the Fall so when the spring comes again, your trees & shrubs will be beautiful and ready to thrive.
Perennials, Ferns & Ground Covers
When we must store perennials, ferns & groundcovers, we maintain 38-42 degrees. Some nurseries use this year-round; the plants will be delicate for long periods without planting. This keeps them dormant. Also, if your order is a small one and you have a crisper drawer in the bottom section of your refrigerator, place them in their bags in the crisper drawer. This provides an adequate temperature for these types of plants. If you do not have room for cold storage, put it in your basement, garage, or cellar and remove it from the bags. Cover with potting soil and mist lightly with water every couple of days until you can plant them.
Wetland Plants & Live Stakes
If you have a pond, lake, or large trough, place the roots of the plants in water, and they will be fine for several days until planted. Ensure that you keep freshwater using your container, do not allow algae to grow or the water to become stagnant. Change water every few days. When submerged in a pond or lake, nothing needs to be changed, put roots in, and grow while being stored until planted.
Seeds
Seeds must be put in a dry area or placed in a refrigerator until planted. It is also advisable to check with your local USDA to check the ideal storage requirements for a particular seed. Different zones and climates will dictate the best ways to store.
All our bare root stock is dug fresh to order
We dig our perennials, take them to our shipping warehouse, spray them with wilt proof, and then dip them in terra sorb gel. Both are transparent, and you can not see them, but when you feel your bulbs, you will know the inside is in superior health and is soft, full of moisture, and pliable. We wrap the roots (or place them in plastic zip-lock bags) for a short shipping period of 3-4 days. The plastic seals in the moisture, which is further needed for transit, and we utilize peat most to aid in moisture retention.
Buying plants "bare root" is the most affordable way to order.
Planting bare-root plants, perennials, ferns & trees not only is less expensive to ship but also enables the customer to buy at a fraction of the expense of containerized plants. We can ship our bare root plants by FedEx, ups, or US mail for much cheaper than if you purchased container trees. You receive the same plants for a fraction of the price.
We Pack To Protect Your Plants
Every plant we ship is dug fresh a day before shipment. We dig your order, take it to the shipping warehouse, dip all roots in a moisture gel called Tera-sorb, and line the roots with paper. (In warmer months, we use a straw to keep the plants cool during transit, then wrap in heavy paper and containerize in corrugated pressure protectant cardboard boxes.) We band every box as well as tape to prevent damage during transportation.
What is Tera Sorb?
Terra Sorb is a super absorbent, potassium-based co-polymer gel that drastically increases the water holding capacity of the soil. It absorbs up to 200 times its weight in water and slowly releases it to nearby plants, perfect for transporting plants.
We take large tubs of Terra-sorb to the fields, dig your plants fresh, dip in terra sorb, take them directly to the shipping warehouse, and ship them out the following day. We do not leave bare root plants in the cooler like many other nurseries; we dig our stock fresh and ship it. This ensures that your plants will arrive in the best possible condition and will be much more likely to thrive than plants purchased at other nurseries which do not follow these steps.
We pack all plants in terra sorb gel (roots dipped) and lined with moisture-rich peat moss. Can you purchase bare rootstock in the dormant season and have the same results? Why pay 90% more for containerized plants?
SHOP FROM A PLACE YOU CAN TRUST, TENNESSEE WHOLESALE NURSERY
