How Nature Hills Ships Plants Safely to You

More Than Just Packing Plants In A Box!
Temperatures & Shipping Conditions
Prepping Your Plants For The Journey
Improved Packaging
Streamlining Logistics For Speed and Efficiency
Plant Sentry™
What To Expect When You Open Your Box
Bareroot Plants
Container Plants
Securely. Confidently. Responsibly.

When it comes to shipping live plants, spring and fall bulbs, and bare-root plants, ensuring their safety and health is a priority! Proper shipping methods protect plants during transit but also maintain their viable and aesthetic appeal.

So let Nature Hills walk you through how we’ve improved shipping practices and how to keep plants safe throughout the process.

More Than Just Packing Plants In A Box!

Here is all that is involved before, during, and after your plants are shipped to keep them safe and viable!

Temperatures & Shipping Conditions

Weather is a fickle being, and when it comes to live plants, the health and safety of your product is our number one priority!

Before we ship, careful attention to the temperatures that your plant will endure during its entire journey are scrutinized!
Freezing temperatures, excessive heat, and hold-ups that extend your plant's time in packaging, all impact the health of your order.
We will not ship into a natural disaster (blizzards, heat waves, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, tornado damage, etc.). Instead, we will keep your plant safely at the nursery, growing where it will be cared for until your area is safe. Not to mention, this keeps delivery drivers safe too!
Even if a plant ships through a single state experiencing extreme weather, and it cannot be rerouted around the problem area, then your order will be held to ensure you receive a stress-free plant!
Dormant plants, such as fall-planted bulbs or bareroot plant material, must wait to be shipped in cooler fall temperatures. Unless they will experience arctic conditions that can still damage them in an unheated truck. These dormant plants also cannot ship to you until your region is cool enough in the autumn to keep them dormant for the winter. Read more about bareroot plants in our #ProPlantTips For Care!

We only ship when every step of the way from nursery to your doorstep is safe for your plant.

Prepping Your Plants For The Journey

A lot goes into preparing your order before it heads out of the nursery!

Our landscaping material is grown outside in the elements so it is ready for the rigorous conditions of your yard. Enduring everything that mother nature has in store for them. This creates a stronger plant ready for all weather conditions.

Nature Hills sells quality plant stock, with mature root systems that are older and better rooted in their pots than box store nursery stock. Making our plants able to establish in your landscape faster!

Preparing a plant to ship involves days of special care to get it ready to be in a box and on a truck for a few days.

Nature Hills typically has nurseries around the country, growing plants in a growing zone or region similar to where they will be shipping to. But in some situations, such as Citrus that need year-round consistent warmth, some plants do need to ship from farther away. Sometimes across the United States.

A good long watering to thoroughly hydrate the plant's roots
Increased air humidity so the foliage does not dry out en route
Cooling the plant to slow down its metabolism and not need as much moisture or sun
Sometimes the plants are sprayed with anti-desiccant to slow moisture evaporation
Carefully securing long branches, limbs, and side growth to prevent breakage. Shrubs are gently tied up.
The tops of young trees are given a small snip to encourage side-branching once planted.

infographic about prepping plants for shipping

Improved Packaging

Our team has engineered the best method of boxing plants to prevent them from becoming damaged during the short time they ship to you! The days of the old “mail order” companies shipping many very small plants in the same box are long gone!

Your plants are typically wrapped in plastic bags to prevent excess moisture loss during transit. Potted plants also have the bag tied around the container to prevent soil from spilling should the box become turned upside down or laid on its side.

We wrap the roots of bareroot plants and bulbs in moisture-retentive materials, like damp paper towels, shredded newspaper, bark chips, or sphagnum moss, to prevent dehydration. These are then wrapped in plastic bags to prevent drying out.

Dormant Bareroot is much easier to ship because there is no need to keep leaves and flowers safe during shipping! They cost less too!

Innovative packaging and shipping materials offer maximum protection so they arrive in good condition! The foundation of safe plant shipping starts with selecting appropriate packaging materials.

Sturdy, breathable boxes are crucial for live plants, as they allow proper airflow while providing structural integrity. These shipping boxes are heavy-duty corrugated boxes! No flimsy material here!
Your container or bareroot bag is stapled into the box, or the container is secured into a smaller box that is then stapled into the sturdy shipping box. That way plants stay put and don’t bounce around inside their shipping container.
Plants and trees with long branches and lots of leaves are further wrapped and secured to prevent damage.
Further insulation, moisture-retentive packing paper, and/or wrapping is added depending on that plant's unique needs.

Streamlining Logistics For Speed and Efficiency

Fast and efficient, Nature Hills has improved shipping potted plants and bareroot products to reduce the risk of plant damage! We also strive to negotiate shipping costs to further save you money!

Working with reliable shipping carriers ensures that plants spend less time in transit - further ensuring plant safety during transit.

Clearly labeling packages with "Perishable" or "Live Plants" alerts handlers to take extra care. Monitoring the shipment's progress with tracking tools allows sellers and buyers to anticipate delivery and address any delays promptly.

We then send you your tracking number and continue updating your order in your online account for you to monitor at your convenience. Letting you know when your order has arrived at their destination.

Plant Sentry™

Nature Hills employs Plant Sentry™ to protect our ecosystems by preventing any plant that we sell from being shipped into any state that has a restriction. Stopping the spread of harmful insects, disease, or plants that are invasive in those restricted states. Plant Sentry™ is a one-of-a-kind database that stays on top of the latest information in regulatory compliance when transporting plants.

Plant Sentry™ helps us remain compliant with all State and Federal regulations set up to help protect plants during the growing and shipping process.

What To Expect When You Open Your Box

Immediately open your box and inspect your plants. Then follow our Planting Support Guide regarding how to give your new plants the best welcome possible and get them planted the right way.

Give our customer service team a call for any concerns or questions.

Note: Leaf drop and a few snapped branch tips will not be detrimental nor impact your plant's ability to grow once you get them planted. Major damage includes snapped trunks, damage to more than half of the branches, or damage to the root ball that leads to the main root system being broken from the trunk/stem, or the root ball dislodging from the container and drying out completely during shipping.

Bareroot Plants

Simply snip off any broken branches with clean, sharp shears and move your plant into a cool area away from the sun and elements until you can plant it. Once you are ready to plant, remove the packing material, soak the roots well to prepare them for transitioning into the ground.

Container Plants

A few dropped leaves due to shipping is normal and a few branches with broken ends is to be expected. Some loosened or dislodged soil is also expected after a bumpy journey in a truck. Simply pack the soil back into place and begin soaking your container if you plan on planting within the next 24 hours.

Securely. Confidently. Responsibly.

Shipping live plants requires thoughtful preparation and careful execution to ensure they arrive safe and thriving! Every plant Nature Hills Nursery ships is of the finest quality and your order will be carefully handled and shipped to ensure that you receive a healthy product!

E-commerce purchases from Nature Hills Online Plant Nursery bring a new level of quality and size to our customers who prefer shopping from the comfort of their own homes 24 hours a day.

By using proper packaging, growing quality plants, ensuring optimal conditions, and prioritizing fast delivery, Nature Hills is doing everything to ensure that your plants reach their destination in perfect health!

Happy Planting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Nature Hills package live trees and shrubs to survive shipping?

Nature Hills goes well beyond basic boxing by carefully monitoring temperature conditions along every step of the shipping route, holding orders at the nursery during extreme weather events like blizzards, heat waves, or natural disasters rather than risking plant health in transit. Plants grown outdoors at the nursery are already acclimated to real-world conditions before they are prepped and packaged for shipment, and dormant bareroot material is only shipped when fall temperatures in your specific region are cool enough to keep plants safely dormant. When your order arrives, inspect it promptly, unbox plants immediately, and get them into the ground or a temporary holding spot with water as soon as possible for the best results.

How do online nurseries keep bare root plants alive during transit?

Bare root plants must be shipped during specific windows when temperatures align with their dormancy requirements, typically in fall when regional conditions are cool enough to keep them dormant but before arctic cold sets in that can damage unprotected roots in an unheated delivery truck. Reputable nurseries like Nature Hills monitor the entire shipping route, not just the destination, and will hold orders if any point along the journey presents dangerous temperature extremes or weather events like blizzards or heat waves. When your bare root order arrives, unpack it promptly, inspect the roots for moisture and viability, and get them into the ground or into temporary storage as quickly as possible to minimize stress.

How does Nature Hills select the right plants for your specific grow zone?

Nature Hills uses the Plant Sentry system to match plants to your specific growing zone, ensuring that what you order is proven to thrive in your local climate conditions. Each plant listing includes hardiness zone information so you can confirm compatibility before purchasing. Visit naturehills.com and enter your zip code or check your USDA hardiness zone to filter plants suited to your region before adding anything to your cart.

Do trees and shrubs from online nurseries survive shipping and establish well?

Yes, trees and shrubs from reputable online nurseries establish well when shipping is handled properly. Nature Hills monitors temperatures across every leg of the journey and will hold orders rather than ship through extreme heat, freezing conditions, or natural disasters to ensure plants arrive stress-free. Plants are grown outdoors in real conditions before shipping, which means they are already acclimated to the elements and ready to thrive in your yard. When your order arrives, unbox it promptly, water thoroughly, and get it into the ground or a suitable container as soon as possible.

How should you unbox and inspect a bare root plant when it arrives from Nature Hills?

When your bare root plant arrives from Nature Hills, open the box promptly and inspect the roots for firmness and moisture, as healthy bare root material should feel neither bone dry nor waterlogged. Check that the roots have not been damaged in transit and that any protective packing material, such as moist sawdust or paper, has kept them adequately hydrated. If you cannot plant immediately, keep the roots moist and store the plant in a cool, dark location for no more than a few days. Get your bare root plant into the ground or a temporary container as soon as possible to give it the best chance of successful establishment.

When is the best time to plant a tree or shrub after it arrives from an online nursery?

The best time to plant your tree or shrub is as soon as possible after it arrives, ideally within a day or two of delivery. Nature Hills ships plants timed to your region's optimal planting windows, so the conditions in your area should already be suitable when your order arrives. If you cannot plant immediately, keep container plants watered and in a sheltered spot out of direct wind and harsh sun. When you are ready to plant, dig your hole two to three times wider than the root ball, water thoroughly, and mulch around the base to help the roots establish.

How do you water a newly shipped tree, shrub, or perennial for the first time after delivery?

When your new tree, shrub, or perennial arrives, water it thoroughly right away, soaking the root zone until water drains freely from the container. For the first few weeks, check soil moisture every one to two days by pressing your finger two inches into the soil, and water whenever it feels dry at that depth. Newly shipped plants need consistent moisture to recover from transit stress and establish their roots, so never let the soil dry out completely during this critical window. Set a regular watering schedule and adjust based on your local rainfall and temperatures to give your plant the strongest possible start.

How can you tell if a shipped plant is dormant, stressed, or actually dead after arrival?

Dormant plants often look brown, bare, or lifeless but will have pliable stems and healthy root tissue that appears white or cream-colored when lightly scratched with a fingernail. Stressed plants may show wilting or yellowing leaves but will typically bounce back within a week or two of proper watering and adjustment to outdoor conditions. A truly dead plant will have brittle, snapping stems, dark or mushy roots, and no green tissue visible beneath the bark. If you are uncertain about your plant's condition after arrival, contact Nature Hills customer support right away with photos so the team can assess the situation and make it right.

Why do online nurseries ship some plants bare root instead of in containers?

Bare root shipping is used for dormant plants like fruit trees, roses, and perennials because the roots can travel safely without soil during their natural rest period, typically in late fall through early spring. Without the weight and bulk of containers and soil, bare root plants are far less expensive to ship and often establish faster in the ground since roots spread naturally into native soil rather than transitioning out of a container medium. Nature Hills holds bare root shipments until your region has cooled sufficiently in autumn to keep plants dormant, and will not ship if arctic conditions could damage unprotected roots in an unheated truck. When your bare root plants arrive, unpack them promptly, keep roots moist, and get them in the ground or into temporary storage as quickly as possible.

How has Nature Hills improved its shipping process so plants arrive healthier and ready to grow?

Nature Hills has improved its shipping process by carefully monitoring weather conditions at every step of transit, refusing to ship during extreme heat, freezing temperatures, or natural disasters to ensure plants arrive stress-free. Plants grown outdoors at the nursery are already acclimated to real-world conditions before they leave, and dormant bareroot and bulb material is only shipped when regional temperatures are appropriate for safe transit and establishment. Improved packaging and streamlined logistics further reduce time in the box. When your order arrives, unpack it promptly, inspect the roots and foliage, and get your plants into the ground or a container as soon as possible for the best results.

How Nature Hills Improved Plant Shipping!

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