Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go:

The following are considerations to think about before you visit us out at the nursery. Being prepared for your visit will save you time and ensure our staff has all the information needed to help you make the best plant choices for your project.
-Exposure:

How sunny/shady is the area? Best if you have a sun hour estimate.
How windy/sheltered is the area? What direction does the wind come from? Wind typically comes from the northwest but wind tunnels can occur depending on surrounding buildings, natural areas and location so never assume!

-Drainage:

How wet/dry is the soil (usually) in the area?
How high/low is the area? Does water drain towards or away from the area?
Soil type? Usually some combination of: Clay = Poor drainage / Topsoil & Loam = Good Drainage / Sand = Excellent Drainage (can be dry) `
Additional water sources. Any downspouts, sump pump outlets in the area?
Seasonal drainage. Does the area tend to have standing water in early spring or after heavy rainfall? How long does it typically take to drain off? Is the standing water only present in spring?

-Landscape Specifications:

Is the property a “new build”? If so; there may be landscape specifications that you must follow/comply with. These are rules regarding minimum plant size and quantities required.
Often a deposit kept by your builder/developer will only be returned once landscape specs are met.
When a size requirement is given it is for the plant at time of planting (not mature size)
If you are not sure if you have landscape specifications or if you are unsure the sizing required by your neighborhood we recommend finding this information prior to visiting the nursery. We are unable to return/exchange plant material for not meeting landscape specifications.
While it is sometimes possible to find the necessary tree size in a potted tree we cannot guarantee availability. ***POTTED TREES ARE NEVER GUARANTEED TO BE A CERTAIN CALIPER SIZE (regardless of measurement taken at nursery by staff).
Only wire basket caliper trees are graded and guaranteed to meet certain caliper specifications.

-Approximate Space:

The more accurate the better but we will work with estimates.
How much space does the plant(s) have to spread out?
Are there any obstructions above the planting site (overhead powerlines or eaves casting shade for example)
What is the groundcover surrounding the area? (turf, decorative rock, fabric, mulch, etc.)
How many plants are you hoping to use in the space? Please note we will not work out how many of a certain plant will fit an area for you. We will happily provide the info you need to make these decisions (mature sizes).
Are there any obstructions that may interfere with loading the plants to the planting area? (gates, window wells, yard fixtures, etc.)

-What do you like?

Is there a certain “look” you are after? A favorite (or hated) colour or scent? While these descriptions are subjective and may mean different things to different people; knowing you would like a “tidy” yard or “cottage garden” can help us point you in the right direction.
Are there certain plants that you love? (even if they don’t grow here). While plant selection in Alberta can feel somewhat limiting we can usually find a substitute to serve the same “purpose” as that favorite plant. Knowing which plants you already love helps us guess what else may strike your fancy.
Sometimes you may not know how to describe what you are looking for. Feel free to bring pictures of plants you like in your neighborhood or pictures of an overall look you are trying to achieve. If we can identify a plant from a picture we will, if not we will try to assist you find a suitable substitution.
Remember our staff are here to help you find what works best for your situation. How much we can help is directly related to your input as the customer.

-How flexible are you?

What is your timeline like?
Are you willing to forgo planting until the specific plant you want becomes available or would you be open to suggestions based on the plants available at the moment? Prepare yourself for the possibility of having to wait on shipments if your wishes are very specific.
The last 2 seasons of increased demand have seen unprecedented shortages in certain plant products. While some plants can be very hard to source these days, we and our suppliers are working hard to keep other options/good substitutes available.

-Are you planting yourself or hiring a professional?

This information can be helpful when determining what size of plant to show you. Typically the large wire basket trees are installed by machine for example so if you are planting yourself we will try to direct you to plants that are more manageable.
While we do have working relationships with many area landscapers, please be advised that we cannot hold plant material to be picked up by a landscaper without payment. Wholesale pricing will not be made available for customers of landscapers.
If you would like to choose your own plants but your landscaper wants to use their wholesale account, the landscaper needs to accompany you and pay the invoice themselves.
Items chosen with our staff can be held for pick up by landscaper so long as they are paid for when you are here picking them out. Please have your landscaper’s complete company name.
Feel free to ask any of our staff if you need a recommendation for a landscape professional. We will do our best to provide a few options that match up with the services you are looking for.

-When to visit:

While we see the nursery full at all times of the day; we do find that the quiet times (relative) are typically around 1pm-5pm during weekdays and first thing in the morning on Saturdays.
There are times when the nursery is very busy and staff are required to prioritize checkouts. We appreciate your patience at these times and will get back out to helping in the lot as quickly as possible.

-Phoning the Nursery:

During the spring months our phone line is very busy. Not being able to get through is very common and we ask for your patience in this matter.
Due to the heavy phone traffic we are usually unable to offer pollination, site or species selection information over the phone. We apologize for any inconvenience. Customers calling for this kind of information will be directed to the website.
We ask that phone calls be reserved for specific questions about plants already purchased, wholesale inquiries, landscape professional recommendations or placing pre-paid orders. Generally email is a better way to get in touch for general info, please be prepared for a delay in email response.
Please do not call for advice on planting or species information for plants purchased elsewhere.

-Other info:

Please be advised that all operations take place outdoors. There is not an indoor area for customers. There is space outside that is covered/protected from rain but it is not heated or air conditioned. Staff take down order info outside then come in to print invoices. We recommend dressing for the weather and wearing footwear appropriate to visiting a farm.

Accessibility can be somewhat challenging for some in the sales lot (gravel/mud). If you require extra assistance accessing our lot please feel free to ask or call ahead to make arrangements. We do have a limited few motorized units that staff can use to show you around if necessary.
Refunds, exchanges and return options are very limited so please familiarize yourself with our Policy and feel free to discuss/inquire with a staff member before making your purchase.

-What we don’t do:

Design: while we can offer our opinion about what we like or think goes nicely together we are not able to help you design your yard/garden. We are here to provide you with the best information on the plants available so that you can make educated design decisions for yourself. Please do not take it personally if a staff member is declines to offer an opinion regarding design decisions.
Landscape material calculations: We will gladly assist in finding the information (amounts/sizes/etc.) you need to make these calculations but unfortunately we are too busy to actually do these calculations.
Pruning/Grafting Instruction: While our staff may be able to quickly show you/recommend a certain cut or pruning time on a specific plant we are unable to spend time explaining/demonstrating proper cuts and the recommended pruning for each species. In addition to time constraints there are many styles of pruning depending on your desired results. Therefore we generally decline when specialized pruning instruction is requested. If interested we are happy to recommend a pruning professional or instructors.
Wrapping trees with plastic: Our staff will always assist in loading and if tarping materials are provided by the customer we will assist with tarping and load securement. However please be aware that the safety of any load is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle. We are not responsible for damages or fines resulting from improperly loaded/secured material. We do not wrap trees with plastic wrap and do not supply such a product. We do recommend tarping especially if you have a long ways to go but we do not provide material for this. Our staff are happy to assist with any materials you have brought with you. Staff will also recommend a safe driving speed and may advise you to stay off the highway particularly if not tarping products. Failing to follow these recommendations can result plant injury or death. Flagging for loads extending beyond the back of vehicles is available upon request.