• DirectGardening

DirectGardening

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Overview

DirectGardening has a rating of 1.6 stars from 399 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about DirectGardening most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and dead plants problems. DirectGardening ranks 106th among Plants sites.

  • Service
    52
  • Value
    47
  • Shipping
    49
  • Returns
    38
  • Quality
    46
107
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How would you rate DirectGardening?
Top Positive Review

“Yellow holiday cactii great starter plant and new modern packaging came in good shape even with our”

Robert G.
4/23/20

3 beautiful starter cactus plants with 4 to 5 stalks in soil that has already started to divide at top of the hard to find Yellow color cactii blooms. New modern day packaging in heavy duty green plastic bag with each cactii in their own celluloid preformed envelope that kept pot firmly in place, lightweight, and no paper to unpack. Completely happy - I did not expect blooming size, but will bloom nicely this holiday season. Like the bonus bulbs. Saw so many bad reviews, but completely satisfied here.

Top Critical Review

“Don't buy here”

Jim R.
4/17/20

Terrible retailer. Their stock was crap, packaged poorly and had to be replaced. And their customer service is worse. They may have cheap prices, but you get what you pay for. If looking here - stay away!

Reviews (399)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (97) credit card (40) plastic bag (25)
Thumbnail of user lillyl57
California
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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October 11th, 2021

Good: They keep their promises, and replaced the plants without issues. Plants are very reasonably priced. Compared $8 with $25 at other places.
Bad: Takes forever to get the plants. All shipping materials need to be kept in order to return the item. Returned shipping is on the buyer (cost me over $10 to return).
Ugly: The first shipment arrived dead, the replacement was alive but not that much better.
Conclusion: I am giving them 3 stars to account for the combination of dead plants (1 star) and returns (4 stars). Buy at your own risk. There are people with 5 stars experiences with this company, so it's like buying a lottery ticket. If you are patient and willing to take the chance...

Tip for consumers:
Don't!!

Products used:
Plants

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jimr569
California
1 review
3 helpful votes
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April 17th, 2020

Terrible retailer. Their stock was crap, packaged poorly and had to be replaced. And their customer service is worse. They may have cheap prices, but you get what you pay for. If looking here - stay away!

Thumbnail of user cm895
New York
1 review
5 helpful votes
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September 17th, 2021

Is there a way we can sue this company for stealing our monies?
How many customers ave they fooled of taking monies and delivering trash.
I mailed the original shipping label for replacement as per their policies after sending me trash dead plants last June. They emailed me and replied replacement will be this fall.
Then they sent a card with a different response that they will mail replacement on Spring 2022.
In other words after ordering on March, they will probably send after a year. Maybe never and they are laughing their way to the bank.

Products used:
Nothing

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user tuyenv4
Michigan
1 review
5 helpful votes
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November 25th, 2021

I brought 3 Giant Asian Pear from Direct Gardening
Last year, on there website it's said this Pear tree produced 3 pounds per fruit and they're self fruit. The tree doing good, but they have thorn and leaves are very small and the leaves color is purple and red. I messaged them but they never answer my question they just give an excuse. I'm thinking it was a Bradford pear. They're dishonest. Do not buy from this place

Tip for consumers:
Stay away

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user markm2908
Ohio
3 reviews
8 helpful votes
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February 18th, 2021

They don't stand behind thier products that they ship even when they send the wrong items. These guys have the worst customer service I've ever had the pleasure trying to deal with. I order privet hedge they sent Siberian elm and won't stand behind it because it been over a year nobody can tell the have the wrong items in that time frame when they sell root stock? They refuse too make it right so I'm gonna have to deliver these back in person I guess!

Tip for consumers:
It’s not worth it go somewhere local or more reputable online these guys are shady

Products used:
Bought privet hedge received Siberian elm

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user josephk720
Ohio
1 review
13 helpful votes
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July 17th, 2020

They waited until July to send my March order. It takes a week or more to get an email response from them and they don't list a phone number. I asked for a refund or for them to actually ship my order countless times between April and May. Of course no refund and I'm never given shipping information. I had already given up on them and disputed the charge by the time plants arrived dried up and dead. Worthless and a waste of time.

Thumbnail of user borhana
California
1 review
7 helpful votes
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November 19th, 2019

I wanted to rate this as ZERO. I ordered my plants and within 15 hours I called to cancel the order. They said that they can't cancel the order over the phone, I have to send them cancellation request via email. I did so. I remember that it said processing time is around 2 weeks. But all on a sudden, 2 days later I received an email that mentioned my order is been shipped. Surprisingly I received my order within very short time. Both of the plants were tiny dried broken sticks with fragile/brittle roots. They came in a plastic bag without any hard box, without any stick to protect the stem from breaking. I thought their plants are comparatively cheaper than others. But what ever I spent is a total wastage of money and time.

Thumbnail of user chazb13
Massachusetts
1 review
7 helpful votes
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September 5th, 2020

I ordered 24 Hemlock plants, paid $70.00, they sent me 8! 1/3 of the order. They substituted plants that don't work, won't live in my zone, which is how WE selected our plants. Total rip off company, I should have read the reviews first! Just want to say thanks for SCREWING US!
Chaz

Thumbnail of user kevinm595
Michigan
1 review
2 helpful votes
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June 11th, 2018

Waited a month for trees I liked so much good price. Hello red flag! Finally got them looked a kid pulled then out of the ground no roots and they were BONE DRY. They won't answer the phone always busy bull$#*!! They steal people money the tricky way. They are sending u plants. Never buy from this place. Buyer beware!

Thumbnail of user dianneh44
Oregon
1 review
1 helpful vote
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May 26th, 2018

This site must survive because people like me didn't read their reviews. When I opened the order for crimson thyme (placed a month ago), I found a small brown, brittle, and very dead root. Never trust a nursery who thinks living things can live for weeks in a plastic bag with no moisture, soil, or light.

Thumbnail of user marilynj45
Ohio
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 6th, 2018

Direct Gardening shipped me 6 bare root Fairy Roses. One was dark brown and had been dead for some time. Two were 3 inches instead of the 8-10 inch size offered.

They charged me $9.99 to ship me... among other things... a dead shrub. When I requested a shipping refund... they refused.

Do not deal with this firm. They are not reputable people.

Thumbnail of user robertg1473
Michigan
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
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April 23rd, 2020

3 beautiful starter cactus plants with 4 to 5 stalks in soil that has already started to divide at top of the hard to find Yellow color cactii blooms.
New modern day packaging in heavy duty green plastic bag with each cactii in their own celluloid preformed envelope that kept pot firmly in place, lightweight, and no paper to unpack. Completely happy - I did not expect blooming size, but will bloom nicely this holiday season. Like the bonus bulbs.
Saw so many bad reviews, but completely satisfied here.

Thumbnail of user armenm6
Tennessee
3 reviews
12 helpful votes
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April 22nd, 2020

The worst experience ever. Getting in touch is impossible. Order was placed almost a month ago. No email confirmation, no shipping updates. It's like this company doesn't even exists. Emails are not never answered.
Scammers big time! Be aware and stay away!

Thumbnail of user cyz
New York
1 review
4 helpful votes
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April 8th, 2020

Poor quality product (twigs sold as trees, etc), not shipping all ordered, not responding to emails, their phone always busy (practically no phone). So, better be safe than sorry. Never order anything from this co/site. Rating should ZERO!

Thumbnail of user pamb501
North Carolina
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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May 18th, 2020

Direct Gardening has absolutely no customer service. Website says 1-2 days shipping. Wish I had read similar reviews before ordering. Don't waste your time or money. If I could give 0 stars I would because that is what I received from them, o.

Thumbnail of user katym69
North Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 18th, 2020

Ordered from three other online sources. All have arrived 3 weeks ago. Customer care email simply sends the same response every time. No answers. 4 weeks later, nothing. Will never buy from this site again.

Thumbnail of user rutha97
Oregon
8 reviews
22 helpful votes
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May 20th, 2020

Premium prices for tiny bits of planting materials. Most arrived bare root and dried out. The ornamental grass ($16!) was a one inch plug that was so rootbound it will never flourish. Their return policy is impossible so you are just throwing your money away. Great product descriptions but don't trust their deer resistant recommendations. I spent a few hundred dollars on plant debris!

Thumbnail of user dianeb110
New York
5 reviews
15 helpful votes
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September 10th, 2016

Spring of 2017 - Direct gardening sent me replacement plants. They have been in water, in a warm sunny space for at least 3 weeks. Absolutely NO change - the new plants are also dead. This company needs to change its name... Direct Dead Twigs... would be appropriate.
Don't waste your money.

Thumbnail of user mjt8
Maryland
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
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September 19th, 2019

Baffled this place still operates.

Requested a cancellation after customer service refused to provide order status. When asked to speak to someone in charge, rep actually had the audacity to say that the person in their US facility in charge of handling plants only accepts hand-written notes. I remained polite amidst my frustration but my number as since been blocked.

Sorry if you've been similarly Had. Just remember these people have to look at themselves in the mirror each morning. Report them, move on, and don't let this sour the very hobby that allows us to momentarily forget that these soulless people exist

Thumbnail of user gigis25
Connecticut
1 review
8 helpful votes
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July 25th, 2020

Ordered perennials in April, plants arrived July 22 NOT dormant, DEAD or ROTTED from over watering due to a pathetic attempt to keep plants alive. I have contacted company via email repeatedly. At first they denied receiving my order... I emailed them my receipt. They are refusing to refund. I am out just over $100, zero plants to plant, my client has a lovely 100 ft row of dirt in her front yard. She is so not happy. Seriously, shop elsewhere. Clearly this a fly by night website, designed to cash in & then screw.

Thumbnail of user lisat615
Pennsylvania
1 review
4 helpful votes
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April 19th, 2020

Last summer I ordered 2 climbing roses, 1 ground cover rose and 1 hardy hibiscus. They all arrived except for one and a plant I didn't order. I had to mail back the label sticker but got to keep the wrong plant. DG replaced the missing plant quickly. All of the plants came as roots. I planted them. This year they're all doing great, better than the plants I purchased at local stores. I definitely will buy from Direct Gardening again.

Thumbnail of user ranjanp3
Georgia
1 review
8 helpful votes
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November 10th, 2015

They are people whom u never want to deal with will send u dead plants will then ask for such complicated way of returning anything which is bad also will not cancel your order even though its not shipped

Thumbnail of user vickieg79
Florida
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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July 21st, 2020

I have been ordering from Direct Gardening for almost 20 years and everything has grown well. If you have a problem with your purchase, they will make it right. Just send the dead plant back and they will replace it. It's sad reading everyone's reviews. Perhaps you were not patient enough. My last purchase included a clematis. When it arrived it was just a nub with roots. I wondered if it would live but I planted it and it is growing well.

Thumbnail of user philr197
GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 5th, 2021
Verified purchase

I purchased begonia and geranium plugs at the beginning of the year - I was more than delighted with my purchased - a young lady called Hannah added to my overall positive experience -
The plugs were delivered as anticipated - they grew well - they provided a great show of colour from mid July to DAte. In fact I am preparing beds for spring and am having to dig up begonnias in full bloom. More than pleased with my purchases.
Will be ordering more for next year

Products used:
Plants

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user corinneh18
Georgia
1 review
7 helpful votes
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May 22nd, 2018

Ok, I read the reviews AFTER I placed a huge order, and started to get wicked nervous with all the bad reviews.
The biggest negative, was that it took 5+ weeks to get here because their hydrangeas were on back order. But WOW, was it worth the wait.
I received my order today, and am so happy! Everything is ready to go, my bulbs and tubers are dry, smooth, and dormant, and all my roots are moist and ready to plant. Lots of green showing, lots of happy buds, healthy plants! My rose stalk is green and gorgeous and it's roots are healthy.
Online ordering is for patient planters, you're going to have to wait a little while for those gorgeous picture plants, you get roots and a few leaves on stems when you order online, I expected this. What I didn't expect was for every one of my 30 privet bushes to have healthy, happy buds on them, THANK YOU!

I will most definitely be ordering from you guys again!

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