Our Shipping Season

Weather plays a big part in this business!  For this reason, we cannot ship all items year-’round.  Our seasons are as follows:

  • Seeds.  Seed orders can ship any time unless it is a seasonal seed such as Silver maple or we decide to take a vacation in winter.
  • Trees and Shrubs.  Unless noted in an item description as an all year item, the shipping season is:
    • Spring:  Mid to late March thru June
    • Summer:  In general, it is too risky to ship in July and August due to heat unless sent next-day or 2nd day UPS.  If you are close to Illinois, we may be able to make an exception for ground shipments.  Contact us.
    • Fall:  September 1 to early November.
    • Winter:  (mid November thru mid March) generally not possible due to ice and snow.
  • Perennials.  Unless noted in an item description as an all year item, the shipping season is:
    • Spring:  Mid to late March thru June
    • Summer: 
    • In general, it is too risky to ship in July and August due to heat unless sent next-day or 2nd day UPS.  If you are close to Illinois, we may be able to make an exception for ground shipments.  Contact us.
    • Fall:  September 1 to early November.
    • Winter:  November 15 thru March 15.  Tender perennials and those that can be damaged by hard freeze cannot be shipped during this period.  Plants shipped during this period will be dormant.
  • Plugs, liners, cuttings.  Please see the particular item listing for shipping seasons on cuttings.  For plugs and liners:
    • Spring:  March thru June
    • Summer:  In general, it is too risky to ship in July and August due to heat unless using Next Day or Two Day Air via UPS.  If you are close to Illinois, we may be able to make an exception for ground service.  Contact us.
    • Fall:  September 1 to early November.
    • Winter:  November 15 thru March 15.  Tender perennials and those that can be damaged by hard freeze cannot be shipped during this period.  Plants shipped during this period may be dormant.
  • Winter shutdown periods.  We generally shut down for two weeks in November, most of December and the first two weeks in January.  No one will be in the office during shutdown.