Bare Root Plant Growth Guarantee
We are continuously checking the quality of our plants prior to shipping, as well as receiving regular inspections by DEFRA, to ensure that they are pest and disease free when they leave us.
Bare rooted plants are often stored in cold storage facilities to keep them dormant, so you don’t need to worry if they arrive without foliage, even in warmer conditions – once activated in your garden, they’ll quickly burst into life. These are carefully moisture and temperature controlled whilst in storage, so they may look quite dry on arrival – this is to prevent premature growth prior to planting on arrival.
We guarantee these bare root plants for a set timeframe of 3 months, from the date of receipt. This gives ample time for the plants to be inspected and planted and allows them time to settle out in the garden, too.
If these plants should fail to establish within this period, we will replace them free of charge, provided that they have been looked after correctly. If the plant is no longer available, we will issue a credit note to the value, or an alternative variety.
All you must do to claim this, is return the plant within 3 months, along with the original proof of purchase and plant label.
Please Click Here for our Returns Form to claim under this. There is no need to contact us if you're taking up this guarantee - simply make your return and our team will process your replacement or credit note as soon as your return arrives back here with us.
What’s not covered by the Bare Root Plant Growth Guarantee?
As we cover all the UK, with the climate being very diverse across the country, we can't cover plants that may be hardy in one region but not another.
For this reason, we are unable to cover frost-sensitive varieties such as dahlias and begonias, as they may require additional care and attention in some areas of the UK to thrive.
Many of these plants will be hardy, but it will depend on localised conditions such as soil, drainage and shelter – we just can’t guarantee them, as everyone’s gardens are different.
If looking specifically for plants which are covered by this bare root guarantee, then it is worth noting that bare root plants with the product code prefixes of DEAL, X, MSE and BULB are not covered. Only those plants with the BR prefix (excluding dahlias and begonias) are covered.
Conditions of the Bare Root Plant Growth Guarantee:
- No replacement can be given unless you return the original plant - we understand that this may not be convenient, but there are some very important reasons this is required which we'll explain here. We will absolutely do our part and replace or credit the plant, there is however an element of shared responsibility to this guarantee.
- We also need your proof of purchase (you can find this in your account) and the plant label so we can identify the exact batch of plants yours came from and trace back to source and the nursery that originally propagated this plant (again, this is a legal requirement).
- The guarantee is subject to the customer following the appropriate planting and care guidance specific to each plant. Please check our Customer Support Centre and Knowledge Hub .
- We will replace the plant free of charge but reserve the right to charge carriage at our standard rate for each replacement required. In most instances however we will not charge this - only where multiple plants are being handled.
- For large/oversized palletised shipments shipping will be charged at cost.
- Gardening Express do not cover the cost of the return of the failed plant as part of our shared responsibility ethos, just the value of the plant itself. We do not offer a collection service.
- Extreme climatic conditions may invalidate this guarantee. (e.g. Drought, extreme temperatures, abnormal weather conditions)
- THE STATUTORY RIGHTS OF THE CUSTOMER ARE NOT AFFECTED OR ALTERED BY THIS GUARANTEE.