How to Purchase Trees Online

Take advantage of the smart resources available on the Internet to buy trees online. Seek out information about the particular varieties of trees that will grow best in your area and order them for timely delivery from reliable Web retailers.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trees

1. Get the right tree for your needs and site: Research local favorites to provide shade, flowers or fruit in your particular garden, keeping in mind whether your soil tends to be dry, wet or perfect for planting.

2. Search your favorite gardening sites, consult local cooperative extension services online, and look for additional commercial sites with color catalogs and more buying options to purchase trees online. Information is plentiful on the Internet - if you cannot find enough specifics at one site, do not be satisfied until you find the specific tree(s) you are seeking.

3. Know how to read the information provided by educational and commercial Web sites. Learn about variety names because these reliably produce a tree of predictable size and features.

4. Compare varieties available, tree sizes and types (bare root or container grown), prices, shipping costs, time of delivery and warranties from several vendors. Bare-root trees can be safely shipped great distances, but container-grown trees can be expensive to ship and may suffer dehydration in very distant transits.

5. Buy from Internet sites that are secure - look for logos you can trust such as Better Business Bureau. Ask friends for their online sources and consult garden chats on the subject.

Tips & Warnings

• Try trees native to your area as well as trees from areas around the world with similar geography and weather.
• Narrow your choices to two or three trees - that makes research and shopping easier.
• Be sure your Web source offers timely delivery tracking services, including immediate return for plants that arrive damaged.