Buying plants on line

I often buy plants online and so far have been very pleased.
Much cheaper than in garden centres and usually well packed, including roses and clematis.

anno I have so much of that in my garden I could give you loads of it.

I did an online plant shop some years ago and it took me ages to get the packaging undone.

I have bought several plants on-line recently; a Rowan tree, ivy leaf Geranium, Million Bells and Impatiens garden ready plugs, and even a baby Monkey puzzle tree and germinated seeds for a friend. They were all beautifully packed and healthy. They never send before a weekend, to avoid delays in transit.
I highly recommend this method of purchase.

I had some lovely clematis from a specialist company, and the plants were extremely well packed, I was very pleased.
Recently I had a new variety of a Daphne shrub from T & M, which was most disappointing. It was describe as having 2or3 branches off the main 10centimetre stem, but there were none. I did complain about this and received a full refund.
I also had 36 plug plants from them, which were packed in a flat box and were minute, about the size of the tip of my finger. I didn't expect them to be quite so small, but have potted them on and most of them seemed to be doing ok.
It is definitely the cheapest way to buy plants, I just object to the excessive postal charges.

I used to buy bedding plants occasionally from T&M, but had quite a few problems, so went over to Ebay instead. All of the plants I have bought have been lovingly packed and speedily delivered, and I've been able to buy things like welsh onions that simply aren't sold anymore.

anno your post made me go and look at plants on eBay. I have now purchased a very promising looking buddlia. I didn't even know I needed a buddlia. I'm amazed at how many sellers offer free postage. Crocus charge you 5.99, the price of another plant!

I like ebay because you can get more unusual plants without paying extortionate prices. I've sourced specific and special roses that I couldn't get anywhere else for special occasions and I wouldn't buy bedding and vegetable plants anywhere else.
Even tomato plants, which are very brittle stemmed, arrived safely.

I have been trying to find the perennial antirrhinum 'Pretty in Pink', as featured on BBC at Chelsea, but it doesn't seem to be available yet, even on line.

Didn't know eBay did free p&p, I will be having a look there.
Thanks

LOts of eBay sellers offer free P&P, but be careful, if you buy several items, it may be cheaper to go for a supplier that charges P&P.

I ordered 4 Ukulele picks today with free P&P they were £1:50 each , 4 would therefore have cost £6.
Another supplier wanted £1.02 each + 99p P&P, so it was cheaper to buy 4 at £1.02 and pay 99p postage at a total of £5.07. (and he had a higher rating)

shysal, I too was attracted by the perennial antirrhynum Pretty in Pink and would love to have it. However, I suspect it won't be in the catalogues until the next season. I hope it is available in seed form so that we can grow it for mass planting.

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's tracking down plants. Your wish is my command, ladies.

www.hardys-plants.co.uk/product.asp?plant=3025

Only £5, too.

If any of you fancy a trip to Hampshire, to my favourite nursery ever, they also have it in stock but don't do mail order. Longstock Nursery, part of the Leckford Estate, a beautiful walled garden with posh tearooms. Not far from Stockbridge. Be warned, take lots of money if you go there.

Two healthy looking and securely packaged agapanthus (one white and the other ice-blue) have arrived this morning by Royal Mail. If I plant them today, they may even flower this year. They do very well in my garden (as do the weeds) but these are going in pots in the meantime.

I'm hoping the Geums I've ordered will arrive today. My favourite nursery is twenty minutes away so it's worth paying the p&p and browsing online is easier on the feet!

I have ordered roses from David Austin Roses and fruit trees from Ken Muir, both companies supplied first rate plants the were very well packed.

It does make me smile when GN'ers mention distance etc (there, told you it did)

20 minutes away (as mentioned by merlot ) is considered practically next door here!

When we first moved to Tiptree, we moved from Enfield. I used to drive the 47 miles every day for 2 years. When we invited friends to stay for the weekend, they used to say things like, must get the car checked over first .

As I don't drive, EVERY nursery involves at least half-an-hour each way on the bus, the return journey weighed down with my purchases. It does make me think hard about whether I really want that plant.

As its open gardens season, I look forward to buying from gardeners who have grown the plants.

First village visited on Sunday, wonderful gardens and a 'booty' ( pun! Filled car boot!) of 6 big plants for £12. I was able to divide plants and share them with DSs. x

I've had very good quality roses from David Austin.
The RHS plant shop has been good too.

Slightly off piste, but if any of you are near David Austin Roses, their rose gardens are a fantastic spectacle (and free).

Oh I do like roses, sigh, and want them all!the only ones that perform well for me though are planted in pots,and they are all David Austin Roses, two are apricot , one pale pink and one yellow.Some years ago we had a drive that was flanked from top to bottom with Iceberg roses, they looked wonderful.

I have several pots filled with agapanthus, blue ones, they like to be packed in together and do really well.