In eBay listings and elsewhere, I have occasionally seen a note that plants with soil around the root ball cannot be shipped in or out of certain States in the United States. Does anyone have a list of which States have these laws? Or, is the information possibly incorrect?
I have received plants with soil around the roots (potted plants) from major catalog suppliers, so apparently Florida does not have the prohibition against soil crossing the State lines with plants.
I don't like to ship bare root plants (except for dormant bulbs, succulents, and some vines, etc., that are not harmed by being bare root for several days). I think it puts added stress on the plant during shipment. The plant, I think, is more likely to survive and grow if its root system is not disturbed by rinsing all the dirt off prior to shipping, but I think the recommended guidelines on DG suggest that the soil be removed prior to shipping plant trades and plant SASE offers?
I would appreciate any ino anyone has on the issue of whether soil can be shipped around the root balls of plants.
Jeremy
Question about laws: Which States prohibit shipping soil?
jeremy i think that potting soil can be sent. i just don't think you are supposed to send "yard dirt" because of the possibility of contamination. and plants that i have received bare rooted IF they are wrapped correctly have done fine. what does everyone else think about the bare root vs. potting soil? unless the plant is a seedling or a new cutting i send most of my plants bare root so i would like some feedback on this. barb
The only concern within the first 49 states is from the asexual ("fungal") generation of the protist 'Phytophthora ramorum', also called 'Sudden Oak Death' or SOD. Despite its name it affects many woody plants.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/pramorum/
I'll go to work tomorrow and see if I can get a copy of anything official from the DMM.
(Domestic Mailing Manual)
Darn! I wish I had computer access at work...I could answer this now!
SOD sounds just a wee scarey!!
i know i try to ship bare root as places like Canada cant take any dirt on them. i also know companies ship with dirt but they have all those certificates.
there are a few i have shipped with dirt to the lower 49 states but most of my stuff gets sent bare root with plastic wrap and paper towels around the roots.
i would hate to think i sent a fungus or some bug to someone that would cause damage to their state.
I do believe California is on the bare roots only list.
Actually, shipping bareroot is the best way. Soil can contain fungi, diseases, and pests. Many nurseries ship plants in a soiless mix, which can resemble soil, so that may be what you're getting. If they are shipped in soil by a major nursery, please remember, nurseries take more precautions to prevent disease and pests. We common gardeners often do not.
If the roots are properly washed and wrapped, plants will be fine bareroot. When shipping to me, I hope everyone ships bareroot, with only a few exceptions for very sensitive plants. I do not want to take the risk of someone sending me a disease or pest I don't want. For instance, I don't have fire ants, and I don't want 'em. Chances are, if you send me something with soil, you'll probably see (and feel) a mound of fireants in it. But what if there's just one in that particular spot? What if it has eggs? Then I'll have fireants here for the first time ever. No thanks!
Most nurseries I've ordered from ship bareroot for the reasons stated above. It's also cheaper, as soil can weigh a lot if you like to do large trades, like I do. And I'm trading for plants, not soil. I'd prefer more plants in the box instead of a bunch of soil that may contaminate my gardens.
The recommended guidelines here at DG were put together by experienced gardeners/traders. They've "been there, done that". It's best to follow the guidelines. Please, if we ever trade, do not send me any soil.
NancyAnn
Whenever I trade w/ someone and I'm sending something w/ soil I let them know ahead of time that their shipment will contain soil. I also do my best to repot everything in fresh soil right before it is shipped.
A lot of the trades I've done I've wished had arrived in soil because they were not packaged well and soil would have helped them quite a bit. I could have washed away the soil (and any bugs w/ it) myself. However, a plant w/ soil and no pot is worse than bareroot when not packaged properly...I've gotten them too! I swear it slid off the shovel and into the box.
California is the hardest state to ship in or out of. My in-laws live there. If you've never visited CA, they stop you at the state line and ask if you're bringing in fruit, veggies, plants, or animals.
As far as I know we don't have to worry about such things up here in the North...our winters kill lots of things that would otherwise take over.