Just about every landscape company I know offers some type of a plant guarantee.
Most are a one-year or one growing season guarantee. This often includes the cost of plants and labor. Some offer more and some less. Consumers have come to expect these guarantees not only from landscapers but garden centers and nurseries. The advent of the large box stores selling plants with virtually unconditional guarantees have added to the consumer’s expectations.

Plants are not appliances they are living things. Once they depart the garden center/nursery or are planted in your garden by your landscaper there is a lot that can happen. Most of which is beyond the landscaper’s and the garden center/nurseries controls. Consumer bought and installed plants usually must survive the ride home sticking out of the trunk. Then the plants may sit for days before they are planted. Many times people tend to plant too deep. The professional has planted it properly but is at the mercy of the homeowner for watering properly.

Water issues kill most plants. In 18 years of landscaping I have never had a client acknowledge they forgot to water. I have had clients assume I instructed to water to little and drown the plants when they were in heavy poorly drained soil, killing the plants. Some people will not be as concerned for their new plants knowing they are covered by a guarantee.

Still a plant guarantee is expected and even demanded. What the buyer must understand is that it will affect the price of the work or purchase and that most companies will have stipulations regarding replacements. The buyer should always read and understand the agreement.

Most plant guarantees will not cover some of the following items. Plants damaged by deer or any other animals. Plants injured by lawn equipment, Chemically damaged plants, plants that have not been watered or watered too much. Storm damages and other physical damages. Most transplanted material. In most cases the plants demise is easy to tell. Sometimes we turn to the Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Lab for help.

While green industry people are troubled by guarantees and the “unfairness” in them. Most understand they are here to stay in some type of format. Both the professional and homeowner want the same end result. Success! Here is some advice.

When doing your own plantings use your Rutgers Cooperative Extension in your county. Send them a soil test. Ask them about proper sighting of plants. Do some research on the net or at the library. Then get your garden center/nursery professional’s advice on plant choice, location, habit, and deer resistance. When you engage a professional they will do this for you. Of course I would always advocate a comprehensive design prior to any planting.

After the plants are installed ask questions from your landscape or garden center/nursery professional about appropriate care and watering. If then something starts declining call and ask about what you can do to save it before it dies. Also have patience, some plants will go into distress after planting and may need time and TLC to thrive. I have had many plants “return from the dead” when we remove them and bring them back to our holding yard and just simply water them every day. Again it takes weeks not days for these changes to occur.  So use all possible resources at your disposal to insure that utilizing a plant guarantee will not be needed and the end results are healthy, properly located plants.