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Free offers Dead on Arrival

StifynStifyn Posts: 26

Is it just my bad luck or are a lot of the free offers via Thompson and Morgan dead on arrival? Just received 4 very crispy geraniums! Last year I received 48 free lavenders, with at least 40 of them dead. Appreciate they are free, but don't see the point. Would worry about buying plants from them if the success rate of my offers are anything to go by.

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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Most people are unhappy with T&M, but if they have roots, it's worth putting them in pots, they will probably grow, but be very slow. Just put in a sheltered spot, not in full sun where they may dry out.

    I only ever buy bare roots or plugs from J. Parkers, and only from their sales, they always look DEO, but potted up they soon shoot out. Worth a try?
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • I've had quite a lot of success with both T&M and J. Parker this year, although like Lyn I only ever buy things which are on special offer and I do expect to have to lavish plenty of TLC on them.

    Of this year's 30 free lavenders from T&M I still have 28 going strong having been potted up twice so far. I'm now wondering where I'm going to put them all as I expected to lose rather more!

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I grew lavender from seeds, now have 2 dozen plants that I need to pot on and plant somewhere!

    i think T&M and Parkers are fine but as SG says, you do need to lavish TLC on them, but if you can get 30 plants for a few quid, it's worth the wait to us poor old souls! 

    I have fantastic, huge, Acer, Deutzia, Amalanchier x 3, hydrangea vanilla fraise, thornless roses, and many more all very, very cheap from Parkers, most only 1.99, all only three to fours years old at the most, I wouldn't be without them.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • I just got a citrus tree from Thompson and Morgan as a free offer. It arrived very poorly, dead leaves, not looking good. I potted it up and have noticed today I have some new leaves sprouting. Not the best but at least it has life in it.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    Do you cut those right down in Spring as well as the vanilla fraise, Verdun?

    it is very pretty, I love the colour change.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    Think I'm right in saying you have to pay P&P for these plants.

    Seems to me like T&M have a vast overstock of whatever plant it may be which are too poor to sell. These would normally go on the dump, but they've spotted an opportunity to not dump the plants but get the public to pay P&P to have what may be termed 'their rubbish' posted to them.

    I have bought from T&M some yrs ago and not very impressed.

    I try to buy plants in 2L pots, then you usually have a good strong young plant which (depending on variety) you can likely split or get lots of cutting from


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Verdun wrote (see)

    Lyn, first year for me with them. However, I cut them hard back when planted and, yes,,will do same this autumn.  They flower on mew wood......(did I say mew wood?  A CATastrophe???image) Hydrangeas never really appealed to me except for the white ones but these paniculatas are lovely

    I thought you only cut them back hard in Spring, Verdun? I suppose as you are that bit warmer it's ok.h

    i am not that keen on them but they do fill a big space with no maintenance apart from a Spring hair cut. I have 44 here.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I think you are right there Pete, the postage is 6.00 quite a lot really.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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