“Caveat Emptor” or “Let the buyer beware.” A principal that every plant lover should be aware of if gardening is your passion. Very few people in our region know that quite a few of their plants were grown 4 hardiness zones below our region. It is estimated that a majority of all our plants in this region are grown in these southern climates. The question most wonder is “Why is this happening?” when these plants only make it to their 1-year warranty and then go into decline. 

Many of these trees and shrubs just refuse to grow once they are put in the ground. In a technical sense, the genetics of these plants do not belong in our region, so we must follow the money to find out why it is hard for these plants to establish. In the southern region, a grower can turn a plant around 2 to 3 times as fast due to the warmer weather in Arizona, North Florida, Texas or Tennessee. Which allows these plants to be purchased for a 30% to 50% discount to those grown in our hardiness zone by unscrupulous garden centers, landscapers, and commercial landscape contractors, all trying to drive up their profits and harm our beloved Ohio environment. 

The big boxes and some other green industry providers are chock-full of these plants. Entire landscape projects are full of plants that have difficulty establishing, as many of the developers are just interested in the lowest bid number. It is a shame that these trees over time will not provide shade for picnickers or a haven for birds. They all look normal when you see them in their youth in pots or in their tree form. There is no Federal law against shipping green goods across hardiness zones in America. 

The issue in your garden may not be your soil or your fertilizing schedule. You do have a green thumb!However, those wishing to enjoy gardening are being circumvented by the greed in our industry. You have the right when purchasing plants or a landscape to ask where your plants have been sourced. At Oakland Design and Nursery, we take pride in providing you with the best green goods. After 85 years, we know the best source for every single species of plants and trees in America and Canada. Because of this, we believe we have the lowest morbidity rate in the industry. Our trees and plants thrive in times that some others struggle. Happy Gardening and thanks for creating oxygen for our planet.