Q: How will my order be shipped? A: Everything you order from Wayside is carefully hand-packed here at our facility and sent to you by United Parcel Service or the US Postal Service, depending upon which, in our experience, gives the most reliable delivery to your area for the types of products you have ordered.
Accessories - Accessory orders will be processed, packed and shipped promptly.
Perennials/Shrubs/Trees - Live plant goods are shipped at the proper planting time for your region. If you are placing your order by telephone, the customer service representative will be able to tell you when your zone opens for shipping and therefore give you an idea when yours will arrive. If you are ordering via our Web site, please click here to view our current shipping schedule.
Annuals - To help ensure that plants are not damaged in transit, due to cool temperatures and are ready for transplant upon delivery, we do hold all annual shipments until after the last frost date for each hardiness zone.
Gift Certificates - E-mail Gift Certificates are processed and mailed within 24 business hours. Paper Gift Certificates are processed within 48 business hours and are mailed by USPS Priority Mail with a normal transit time of 2 to 3 business days.
Q: My shipment has arrived but I'm not ready to plant! A: We ship your plants to you at the best time for planting in your area; the sooner you can get them in the ground after arrival, the more successful you will be. We recommend that you prepare your soil and planting beds ahead of time so that you are ready to plant just as soon as your plants arrive.
Be sure to open the shipping carton immediately upon arrival to promote air circulation, and then review the instructions included. If you are not able to plant immediately, keep the opened carton in a cool place protected from direct sun. Complete instructions for preparing soil, planting and growing are included with each shipment.
Q: What is the proper planting time for my area?
Proper planting time is based on USDA recommendations and is subject to change based on weather conditions and plant situations. Click here for our current shipping schedule.
Q: If I specify express shipping when will my order arrive? A: When all items reserved are on-hand, normal in-house processing time is two to three business days. Our express shipping service is USPS Priority Mail with a normal transit time of two to three business days, which is in addition to in-house processing time. If you have reserved an item not yet in from our growers or your zone has not yet opened proper planting, your order would be held until all items reserved are on-hand and/or planting is proper in you area.
Q: What does "in stock and reserved" mean? A: All products labeled "in stock and reserved" are in the last phase of processing. These products are being prepared for shipping and should leave our facility within two to three business days. However, please note that processing time may be extended during the busiest part of our spring and fall seasons.
Q: The plants I have received have no green growth. How long will it take for them to start growing? A: Experienced gardeners know that many plants get the best start and suffer the least shock if planted while they are "sleeping" in the dormant state. In the case of trees and shrubs, this is before leaves and flowers appear; in the case of herbacious perennials, this is before top growth starts to break dormancy and shows signs of growth. But rest assured that plenty of activity is taking place below the ground where the all-important root system is developing!
Q: When will my plants start blooming? How big will they get? A: Each plant description on our Web site and in our catalog include height and width (or spacing) and bloom season. For most bulbs, this is the size of healthy plants and their bloom period in the first season of growth. For perennials, this is the size, as a rule, after 3 years of growth. Usually you can expect a few blooms from newly planted perennials the first year, but peak blooming won't appear until the second or third year. For shrubs and trees, unless stated otherwise, the size given is what you should expect after 3 to 5 years. In most cases, the photographs on our Web site and in our catalog illustrate mature plants at peak bloom.
Q: Why is the container size of the plant I received different from what was stated on your website? A: Due to inconsistencies in industry standards, pot size advertised and pot size shipped may vary slightly.
