Our Promise to You

Planting a tree is an investment in your home, your community, and the future of our planet. Getting your hands dirty is a powerful way to connect with our mission of planting a healthier world. That’s why we stand behind the health of the trees we ship. Our goal is to ensure your trees arrive healthy and ready to be planted, while providing guidance and support to help them thrive.

A successful outcome is a shared commitment: we deliver a healthy tree, and you provide the care it needs to establish strong roots and grow well.

What Our Guarantee Covers

14-Day Arrival Protection (DOA & Shipping Damage)

If your tree arrives dead on arrival (DOA) or has visible shipping damage, please notify us within 14 days of confirmed delivery.

  • At the discretion of the Arbor Day Foundation, we will provide a complete replacement or refund.
  • No additional shipping fees apply.
  • Photos may be requested so we can assess the issue and improve quality going forward.

This reporting window helps us determine whether an issue occurred in transit or after delivery, allowing us to better support customers and improve the health of future shipments.

Please note: Many of our trees ship when they’re dormant (asleep), which means they are not actively growing. So, don’t be alarmed if your new tree is leafless or has yellow needles. Some trees may arrive with spots on their leaves due to shipping stress, and that’s okay too. A small scratch in the bark should reveal a living layer of green.

60-Day Healthy Delivery Guarantee

If your tree does not survive within the first 60 days after delivery, our team is here to help review the situation and determine the best resolution.

  • Our team may request photos and additional information to help us evaluate the claim.
  • If the Arbor Day Foundation determines a replacement or refund is appropriate, a $14.99 shipping and handling fee (plus applicable taxes) may apply to replacement orders.

This guarantee is designed to support healthy delivery while encouraging the proper planting and care practices that help trees succeed long-term.

What’s Not Covered

To keep this policy fair, sustainable, and focused on healthy delivery, the following situations are not covered under this guarantee:

  • Customer neglect or accidental damage, including failure to water, mowing, trimming, or other physical damage after delivery.
  • Failure to follow recommended soaking, planting, or care guidelines. This includes not utilizing recommended soil and not following the required soaking guidelines for bare-root trees (3–5 hours prior to planting).
  • Damage caused by deer, rabbits, pets, rodents, insects, or other wildlife.
  • Promotional, free, giveaway, or bonus items.
  • Items planted or shipped outside their recommended horticultural growing zone.
  • Purchases made for resale or other commercial purposes.
  • Refunds are limited to the original purchase price of the transaction and do not include any post-transaction costs incurred.

Additional Exclusions

The Healthy Delivery Guarantee is intended to ensure that your tree arrives healthy and viable. It does not cover losses resulting from conditions outside the Arbor Day Foundation’s control, including but not limited to:

  • Extreme weather events, including drought, flooding, excessive rainfall, hail, wildfire, high winds, or unusual temperature fluctuations.
  • Acts of nature or environmental conditions that occur after delivery.
  • Site conditions such as poor soil drainage, soil quality issues, or improper planting locations.
  • Transplant shock, dormancy, or seasonal appearance changes that are normal parts of a tree’s establishment process.

This guarantee is designed to support healthy delivery while encouraging the proper planting and care practices that help trees succeed long-term.

How to Request Help

Contact our Member Support Services Team within the guarantee window by visiting Contact Us | Arbor Day Foundation for assistance with assessing your tree health and processing a replacement or refund where applicable.

Rooted in a Bigger Mission

Every tree matters. When you plant with the Arbor Day Foundation, you’re growing a better future from your own home while joining millions in a larger mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

Our guarantee reflects that commitment: to deliver healthy trees, provide thoughtful support, and help set every planting up for success. By working together, we can help ensure that every tree can grow, thrive, and provide benefits for generations to come.