When you order trees from the Arbor Day Foundation nursery or receive trees through your membership, they are guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we’ll replace them at no charge, Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting in your region. Each membership and nursery tree is guaranteed to grow, or we’ll replace it within six months of shipment. This does not apply to trees reserved through a tree distribution that are either mailed directly to you or picked up in person from an event.
Your trees may arrive dormant, and not actively growing. Deciduous trees often arrive without leaves, while most conifers will have needles. To confirm that the trees are alive, lightly scratch the seedling with your thumbnail. This should reveal a living layer of green — meaning your seedlings are alive and ready to be planted.
The Arbor Day Foundation is happy to provide a one-time refund or replacement per order for nursery and membership trees under the following terms and conditions:
- Our trees and shrubs are living things. They need to be planted at the correct depth, watered and cared for in a way that is appropriate for the species, and protected from the elements and animals.
- We’re here to provide you with the resources you need to plant and grow healthy trees and shrubs. However, to initiate your one-time free replacement or refund, please contact us. We may ask you to send images or documentation with your submission. Please note, replacements must be the same root type as the original items ordered.
- Trees sent to planting locations outside the recommended horticulture zones will not be guaranteed.
- Promotional items included in nursery orders and trees picked up in person from distribution events are not eligible for replacement.
Trees received through direct mail from a tree distribution event that arrive damaged may be eligible for a replacement. Please contact us within 10 days of receiving your tree to get the process started. You may be asked to send photos of your order as well.