Comments regarding Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company

Ordered one Cortland semi-dwarf apple tree last spring (2010) just to try them out--my first time ever planting trees, so I was surprised to see the whip. My husband thought I was insane, sticking what looked like a bare branch in the ground, but over the summer, it grew, and branched out, and wintered nicely. This spring (1 year from planting), it's leafed out and is healthy as can be. Don't be scared off by your whips!

Last fall, I ordered a Red Rome Beauty semi-dwarf apple tree also, since the Zestar semi-dwarf I'd tried to order in the spring was sold out. I was a little perturbed since I didn't find out until they shipped it and I would have replaced the Zestar with a different apple tree if I'd known, but the customer service rep (Brenda) said they would comp me half of the shipping cost towards my next order. So in the fall, I ordered the Rome and, sure enough, got half my shipping comped. Nicely done, guys!

The Rome hasn't leafed out yet, but I'm giving it another couple of weeks before declaring it dead. I've been in touch with Stark Bros' awesome customer service and have been assured that, if it doesn't grow, they will send a free replacement. I'll update on the situation as it develops.

Finally, this spring (2011) I ordered the strawberry patio kit/25 Everbearer strawberries, a Northcountry blueberry bush, and 3 Heritage raspberry plants. About 15/25 strawberry plants have made it and are leafing out green (the diminished number of survivors has to do with my potting technique, I think, since they were definitely all alive when they arrived), the blueberry is growing SWIFTLY and beautifully in the pot where I'm growing it, and the raspberry plants are hopefully doing their thing--can't tell anything from them yet.

To sum it up--customer service has been great and swift to respond, and the products are great too. I'm so anxious to get them all bearing, but fruit takes patience!

I just received my second order from Stark Bros, the previous order was last fall. On a whole I would have to say that their prices are somewhat "salty", especially for their "supreme" class of trees which upon examination seem to be the same size as standard trees from other nurseries. But on the other hand I suppose you get what you pay for - both orders shipped extremely fast, trees all had great root systems, the potted trees were very nice (especially the paw paw's which are often very small from other companies), and freight was free due to the size of my order. All trees from the fall and spring order are starting to bud - all in all a good experience. Thank you!

So far so good- background: Hi I am a pretty advanced Gardner and use mail order catalogs about 4-6 times a year
*first time trying Starkbros because of 2 positive Tx reviews on here
*after reading many of the horror stories decided to post a happy ending story
***Review so far: ordered from Tx zone b on 3/30/11 3 trees. Bubblegum Plum™ Dwarf, 2-N-1 Cherry Semi-Dwarf, Shiro Plum Standard
*shipped 4/4/11 and got here today 7th, which is super fast based on past experience
* Cherry tree potted, big root ball, super good graft(s) and bud action - 3 nice branches *like WAY better than what I expected... (s-because I see more than one, but then again it could just be a knot :p )
* Bubble gum - many branches, arrived dormant but obviously alive on tips and scratch root test, graft looks very good Big roots
* Shiro - is a whip, but very much alive, was very hard to find union, *which is a very good thing looks professional like done by monk-masters in japan or something* and roots very big so have hopes for this one.
*no obvious signs of mold, bad grafts, root rot or diseases, but lets face it only time will tell on diseases or bad grafts X.x
----------so far they are great!!! ordered three more trees before spring shipping closes, hope they are good as well. will be tracking progress here and on my blog.

I just received my order today, April 6th. one peach and one cherry tree. I was a little mad at 1st because my order was to be shipped
on the 4th. that would be Monday. They shipped early on the 1st.
Good that they can get orders out early, but all that means is
my trees sat in a UPS hub for the weekend before being sent.

That being said, the trees arrived in great condition. The roots on
both trees are huge! The peach tree had a lot of little branches
that were pruned very nice, the cherry only had 1 little branch but
very healthy.

I planted them today in not so good conditions, it was raining
but I felt like I needed to get them in the ground at once.

Didn't have time today to take photos but I will this weekend and
you can tell me what you think.

I will order from them again.

Posted on March 26, 2011, updated March 28, 2011
I thought for a long time whether to rate Stark Bros as neutral or negative, but decided that my experience was, on balance, negative, or at least after more than a month it still grates on me.

I bought two apple trees from Stark Bros, which promised "professional pruning" for both trees with a long explanation about how the tree would be carefully shaped for perfect form, vigorous growth and maximum fruit production.

What I got was two sad, skinny, 3' long sticks attached to small root balls. There was not even a hint of a branch anywhere on either tree. As I wrote in my note to their customer service, my dog could have pruned the tree better than their "experts," just by gnawing off anything that stuck out. These were not cheap, either-- they were $27 each, plus shipping.

Assuming that they live, which I doubt, it is going to take many years to make even a small tree out of them, and who knows how long before they can bear fruit. They are truly pathetic specimens-- they make Charlie Brown's Christmas tree look wonderful.

Stark Bros. responded to my e-mail with their stock answer that they have a one time replacement offer if my two twigs die, which I appreciate, but are they just going to send me two more pathetic little branchless sticks? That isn't very reassuring.

I strongly believe that their advertising was deceptive, and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I have ordered fruit trees from several other mail order companies, and never been stuck with anything so pitiful or so far out of line with what was promised.

"On Mar 28, 2011 7:50 AM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

It's always disheartening to read a negative review here on the Garden Watchdog, but we do appreciate you stating your honest opinion about your Stark Bro's experience. Without this kind of insight, we do not have the opportunity to correct our mistakes or make changes for better service to our customers. Sincerely: thank you.

If you have not been asked already: which 2 apple trees did you order? It's true that some trees grow more vigorously than others, but at the price you quoted, yours definitely should have been our most vigorous, well-branched & 4-5 ft. tall. i.e.- our "supreme" trees. (Most of our regular apple trees start at $22.99: http://www.starkbros.com/products/trees/apple-trees.) It is unacceptable for you to pay $27/tree and receive unbranched twigs! Your frustration is completely understandable.

And you are right, we DO state that we professionally pre-prune all of our trees before shipping. We believe this is vital to the trees' transplant survival and overall health. We fully stand behind this principle because, as a mail order nursery, we know what kind of things can both benefit and harm a tree when it's transplanted. We pre-prune every tree because our heart goal is YOUR success as a grower. These are the main reasons we pre-prune: http://growingwithstarkbros.com/?p=1843

Many of us in the office are not privy to viewing each tree before it ships, but we were fortunate enough to have an overall look at our tree crop last fall: [HYPERLINK@www.facebook.com] These photos do not represent our entire inventory, discernibly, but they are a good representation of our 2010/2011 tree crop. And now knowing you received your trees without branches, with only their main leaders, is discouraging in light of them.
: (

There are a couple of things we can and will do for you:

1. You are privy to replacement trees whether the ones you received live, or not. See, our replacement policy covers each item 1 time, for 1 year, *for any reason.* Your dissatisfaction with the way they arrived is enough to warrant you replacements now, if you so choose. That's completely up to you.

2. Because apple trees may have different growth patterns, we would probably encourage you to allow your trees to grow 1 year-- to use most of your under-warranty time to let those roots sink in and take off. With fertilizer, you could see your trees' growth double within the year. We do understand the risks with this approach, one being lost time should the trees not grow well for you. Should at any time you decide the trees are not meeting your expectations within that year, you can simply call (800.325.4180) or email (info@starkbros.com), and we will book replacements for you at that time.

We take pride in our business and in the success of those who grow our products (YOU). We appreciate you letting us know when we do not meet your -- and even our own -- standards for quality. Truly, we have nothing to offer if not quality products! Please let us know if you will give our trees a second try, either with immediate replacements or by waiting out the year and seeing how the trees grow. We'd like to ask for a chance to redeem our name in your mind.

Thank you again for your review.

Sincerely,

Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

http://www.starkbros.com
info@starkbros.com
800.325.4180
http://www.facebook.com/starkbros.co
"

I normally try to buy from local nurseries, but I could not find a source where I felt comfortable with the labeling.. I was afraid I would end up with standard as opposed to semi dwarf, etc. So, I turned to the net and after considerable planning and research I ordered 27 trees from Stark Bros... Apple, Peach, Pair, Cherry, Plum, Almond, and Paw Paw. I received the order around Feb 19th and had them in the ground the next day. Now, one month later, I have growth on all trees except for the Paw Paw (I think they will still be fine). The Almond Trees and Apple Trees where even better than I expected and the Peach, Pair, Plum, and Cherry I would rate a 8 out of 10. Most of the trees I would give a ten, but I had two that were a little smaller than I expected, but they seem to be doing great so no complaints from me. They were well packaged and arrived a couple of days ahead of schedule. I will order from them again next year.

I just received my small order of 25 strawberry plants and 3 raspberry canes. Everything was still moist, packed well with moist paper, and most of the strawberries were showing signs of sprouting already! Thank you Stark Bros! I'll update with the progress of my plants. The raspberries go in the ground tonight and I've made a bunch of hanging baskets and one patio pot of strawberries... can't wait!

Placed small order for just three Prime ARK 45 Blackberry plants...Received them in 5 days by UPS.

Plants looked good considering the time spend traveling around in a UPS truck.

Complaint:
The plants were severly root-bound. I did my best to separate the mess of roots prior to planting them.

I have emailed them about it to see how their customer service responds.

"On Mar 15, 2011 8:12 AM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Thank you for your feedback! Just checking in to make sure you were able to contact our Customer Service Team successfully. Please know you are always welcomed to contact us via phone, email, Facebook or Twitter. :)

800.325.4180
info@starkbros.com
http://www.facebook.com/starkbros.co
http://www.twitter.com/stark_bros
"

Yesterday, UPS delivered a surecrop and blackgold cherry tree to my house. When it arrived I noticed one of the boxes was bent in the middle. After opening it I discovered the blackgold cherry tree was broken in half and the trunk was split below the break.Immediatly I e-mailed Starks to explain what had happened and to see what could be done about it because the tree was still plantable but about 3ft. shorter. The people at Starks got back to me within 1 hour and assured me that even though it was not there fault (they didn't bend the box in half)they would be sending me a new tree asap. By the way, both trees had large root systems and appeared to be healthy As far as I am concerned I will be ordering from them again.

The customer service is exceptionally. I ordered several trees and strawberries. The trees arrived on time almost to the estimated day in excellent condition. I ordered several cherry trees, a miniature peach, and a pear tree. All arrived in great shape minus one of the cherries had a slightly broken branch from shipping. I say branch but since they pre-prune the trees it is more like a smaller lower pruned branch as the rest is well pruned for shipping. Anyway seems no harm done. I have planted them all and will update after the growing season as to how they are doing but from the ordering experience, to the follow-up postcard a week after they arrived you can tell they take customer service very seriously. I am very pleased with them and would highly recommend them to anyone without reserve.

I recently ordered a premium dwarf golden delicious apple tree from them. It arrived quickly, the roots were wrapped well and still very moist. The tree was long, and pruned before shipping. It has a very straight shape. I just planted it recently so I don't know how it will grow yet but I would be very surprised if it wasn't a healthy tree. Also I thought their prices were reasonable and when I spoke with a customer service agent before purchasing she was very helpful. I could definitely order from them again!

I've been quite pleased with Stark Brothers. Their trees arrive in good condition and all but one has flourished for me. The one exception (a dwarf Moonglow pear) I suspect is dying of New Mexico caliche rather than a nursery problem since it had been healthy for four years after I planted it and only last year developed problems (leaf fall, failure to thrive, etc.).

My Stark Bros. orders: I have purchased Honeysweet, Moonglow & Seckel pears---and just ordered another Moonglow to replace the sickly one---plus a colonnade peach that produces wonderful full-sized "haven" type peaches on a narrow, easy to pick tree. After a year, the Stark trees have been as robust and nearly as large as local nursery trees that I've bought in pots.

I DO usually can up my bareroots for six months or so because in my climate (arid, high desert), planting trees in the fall to give them the winter to develop deeper roots seems to help them resist our very strong spring winds.

I have ordered 2 apricot, 1 peach, 3 plum , 2 Asian pears and 1 sour cherry.
All the trees grew wonderfully except the sour cherry which died and they replaced. The replacement is growing good but slow.
Two of the plums and the two Asian pears produced a good crop of juicy sweet fruit only two years after I planted them - amazing.
The white flesh peach survived a nasty winter and produced an enormous crop after heavy thinning - I gave away bags of peaches to relatives. You can't beat stark brothers fruit trees.

I have ordered many fruit trees from Stark Bros throughout several years. I am very pleased with the service and quality of trees they offer. While most grew well, the few trees that have been lost were promptly replaced. I plan to order more next planting season. Thanks for the great service!

"On Aug 31, 2010 8:32 AM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Thank you for the encouraging words! We're glad you hear your fruit trees are doing well, and that our replacement policy met your satisfaction. If you ever have any questions, you know how to reach us! And if it's more convenient, you can shoot us questions on our Facebook Wall, as well.

Best wishes for your fruit growing!

800.325.4180
info@starkbros.com
facebook.com/starkbros.co
"

I'm trying to figure out how to winter mine and keep it looking nice. Any help out there????? I have mine in mostly sun and it is going crazy in a pot. I water every day it is hot and make sure it doesn't get dried out. So far it looks wonderful and is doing fantastic. For the one lady who said water once a week you need to water way more than that. Please help if anyone knows how to keep it over the winter in Stanwood, WA my house get's cold and I'm scared I'm going to loose it. It looks so wonderful now I'd hate to loose it at this point. Thanks

"On Aug 31, 2010 8:38 AM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Which tree are you growing? If it needs a warm average climate, we advise bringing the pot inside for the fall/winter. Place the pot in a sunny, indoor area, but not directly in the sunlight. (Direct sunlight through glass could hurt the tree.)

If you'd like more specific advice, our Customer Service Team would be more than happy to help you find a solution! You can reach them via email (info@starkbros.com) or by phone (800.325.4180) during normal business hours. "

Posted on July 27, 2010, updated July 27, 2010
Not a comment on the company. I can say that in the past (many purchases, but all over 10 years ago) Stark Brothers has been a good source and has treated me well. They even replaced one tree three times.

However, this comment relates to a previous comment concerning mixing cultivars of grapes causing them to be corrupted. This is silly nonsense. When growing grapes, one can even mix cultivars to increase pollination (just as in apples). One cultivar of grape cannot change the fruit another produces. It will only change the genetics of the seeds inside the fruit. If the seed is grown, it will not be the same as the parent, but that is irrelevant. If one orders a green seedless table grape and it grows into a purple seeded wine grape, one has received the wrong cultivar - no two ways about it.

On the other hand, viruses can be spread from plant to plant and indeed can affect the quality of the fruit, perhaps even the color and fertility somewhat. They are not going to change one kind of grape into another though. Also, wine grapes such as 'Concord' are often not even the same species of plant as many seedless table grapes, and a virus certainly is not going to change one species into another.

There are crops which cross-pollination can alter. Most any crop that is a seed will be such. Corn, Sorghum, and any other grass grains are good examples, as are some nuts from trees, and any Legume (such as peanuts, beans, peas, etc.). The seed inside the fruit is derived from genetic material from both the mother plant and the father (pollen source) plant, and thus the seed will probably show characteristics from both parents. The husk or shell that is the fruit surrounding the seed will not be affected though (except perhaps the size and shape due to the seeds inside), but in these cases that is not the part we are using. Nearly all fruit are derived from the mother plant, and the pollen plant has no affect on the makeup of the fruit. The fruit formed before the enclosed ovules were even pollinated. There are rare cases where a fruit-like structure is derived from the developing seed, but this doesn't apply to grapes.

"On Aug 9, 2010 1:19 PM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Thanks for taking the time to share your input on the subject of mixed cultivators! Our Greenhouse Manager made the following comments, in addition to your own:

"Not all legumes outcross (require an outside pollinator), and our two favorites (soybeans and peanuts) are good examples. With soybeans, they are receptive to outside pollen during the day, and if no pollination event occurs, then they self-pollinate as the flowers close. Peanuts are only self-pollinated.

... In flowering plants, fruit initiation depends on seed set, suggesting some fertilization-dependent seed and pollen-derived signals that are required for both fruit initiation and later development. For example, we know that fruit shape, form, and growth are modified by differences in the genetic composition of seeds and even the number of seeds (increased # of pollination events, so greater signal to female plant). It should also be noted that various phytohormones (ones the plants make themselves) are required for proper development of both fruit and seeds, and since both developing seeds and pollen contain these hormones, there's some interaction going on there between the two.

It is true that if you plant a Flame Seedless Grape next to another seeded variety, one will not become the other through outcrossing events. If the seedless happens to suddenly start bearing seeded fruit, then what you're seeing is most likely a mutant (and aggressive) part of the plant that out-competed the seedless parts.

Generally speaking though, it works like this with outcrossing plants: pollen parent is crossed with ovule (egg) parent to produce lots and lots of seeds within the fruits. Lots of variability here with the seeds, but there's essentially no variability in the fruit either parent produces. The variability produced from sexual reproduction won't be seen until you assess that variation in the seed population (called F1 generation) and so on..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Regarding Stark Bro's one-year Promise of Satisfaction: we absolutely take responsibility for and will replace anything that, based on our shipping error, does not grow true to variety. If we shipped the wrong plant and it takes 2-3 years to determine the fruit, we will replace that plant when it begins to bear (the wrong) fruit. We do stand behind our products, but more importantly, we promise to get you the product you paid for - or you won't pay. : )

Please let us know if you have any other specific questions regarding any of our policies (or products)! Our Customer Service Team can be reached via email (info@starkbros.com) or phone (800.325.4180) during normal business hours."

I have purchased from Stark Bros. quite a few times. The only thing I have been disappointed in was the grapes. I ordered all the different varieties of seedless grapes they offered and EVERY single one of them turned out to be regular concord grapes. I contacted them and they tried to tell me that they got seeds because I planted them too close to a seeded variety. They sent me a 1 time replacement which I have my doubts about. I probably will end up with seeded concords...again. I won't buy from them again if I can't be sure that I am actually getting the cultivars I pay for...so now after 4 years wasted growing their grapes I am again searching for seedless grapes.

"On Jun 28, 2010 8:30 AM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Thank you for posting about your experience with our seedless grapes. Your frustration is very understandable! If we went to the grocery store and purchased any seedless variety of fruit, we would expect to get home and enjoy the fruit without the hassle of seeds - it's what we paid to enjoy! Anything less would warrant disappointment and probably a trip back to the grocer.

Since you are a fellow fruit grower, you know the difficulties (and rewards) that come from "growing your own." Those of us who set out to cultivate the fruits of our own labor, are the same people who deal with plant diseases, harmful pests, critters, Mother Nature's whims, etc. There's no easy grocery shopping for us! There is a viral disease that spreads from black raspberries to any other color raspberry, if planted within 75 ft. of the other berries. It is also true that a seeded variety of grape will corrupt any seed-less variety, if planted within too close in proximity. While this is not the only way or reason that seedless grapes develop seeds, it is probably the most common. Stark Bro's promises to deliver not only the plant(s) purchased, but also the quality expected... and we are very sorry to know that your grapes did not meet your expectations!

For the multitude of reasons that make fruit-growing so precarious, we offer our Promise of Satisfaction: if for any reason what you receive does not meet your complete satisfaction - be it the fault of Stark's cultivation, shipping, Mother Nature, etc. - we will reship anything, one time and free of charge, within a year of the original purchase. Please keep us updated and informed on your replacement grapes! We are, with you, hoping for the best; but if there are any consistent issues with the types of grapes you receive, we covet your input and feedback. Please feel free to contact us at info@starkbros.com or at 800.325.4180. We aim to always satisfy our customers by providing them with the quality they should expect! "

I had ordered and received a Henry Lauder's Walking Stick from Starks late last spring. It did not survive the winter. I e-mailed them about this, and they sent a replacement for it right away as it was within a year of the order. The plant that I received was even NICER than the original one. I am very happy with this company and will continue to order from them. Thanks a BUNCH, Starks!

"On Aug 9, 2010 1:26 PM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

You're more than welcome! : )"

I ordered 3 dwarf apple trees this year from Stark. They arrived last week in good condition. A bit smaller than I had hoped, but the price was right and the selection was great. I can't wait to see how they do!

Ordered 2 dwarf pink ladys, 1 dwarf granny smith, and a dwarf Carolina Belle peach. All four trees arrived about 2 weeks later. (I had modified the order once and that pushed the ship date back a bit). All four trees were larger than I had expected. From root to tip they were about 5 feet long. There were chalk marks to indicate planting depth. I am a week out from planting and they all have leaves and are looking very good.

Ordered a pair of Stark Crimson Spire apples a few years ago. Both are doing quite well, including blooming the spring they arrived. Am please with the ease of ordering, the customer service when I had an issue and the quality of the product.

Would definitely order from them again.

I made my first order from Stark Brothers and was amazed at the 100 Eversweet Strawberry Plants they sent. I've ordered several strawberry plants from different nurseries but nothing can compare to the plants they sent me. I received them on a Friday evening and planted them Saturday morning. By Sunday evening several were sprouting already. I was a little nervous ordering them so late in the season. I will without a doubt buy more strawberry plants from them in the future.

Ordered several grapevines and 2 pawpaws last year. While they were small, they're quite healthy a year later.

Posted on April 28, 2010, updated May 8, 2010
Posted on March 16, 2010, updated April 28, 2010
After 40 years of dealing with this company, I continue to be amased by the quality of plants offered. My 4 apple trees that just arrived were large which I am use to getting from them, but the root system on them this year was perfect. In my 40 years of gardening and growing produce I have never seen better. My farm has more than 80 different fruit trees from them, some put in the ground 40 years ago and they continue to supply us with fresh apples, cherries, pears, and peaches. Great people to deal with, and the quality of their products speaks volumnes.

4/26 - ordered a Snow Fountains Weeping Cherry Tree by phone. Very curtious, and knowledgeable. I love that I was able to track my order. Recieved my 4.5 ft. tree on 5/6. Had 4 weeping branches full of buds. I can't say enough about how well this transaction went from beginning to end.

Posted on April 26, 2010, updated May 5, 2010
Ordered 2 in 1 classic pie apple tree last week and rec'd today...tree was very well packed & has a great root system.

Looks pretty thick compared to 2 apple trees ordered from another nursery (their cherry & plums trees were very well branched though).

Very pleased with order..will order again!

Posted on April 12, 2010, updated May 3, 2010
I placed my first order with Stark Bro's over 15 years ago. Sadly, the following described experience has been the most frustrating I can remember ever having with any company.

Placed order on March 13.

Order confirmation showed the scheduled ship date as on or around March 23rd.

Order confirmation was missing two lines of address information that I had entered when I placed the order (business name, and address line 2).

I notified Stark Bro’s of the address omission problem on March 18th and was told that it had been updated and that “The order should reach your address safely”.

Six days after the delivery date I saw that my order had not yet shipped.

On the morning of March 29 I contacted Stark Bro’s to ask why the order still showed a ship date of March 23 but had not yet shipped. I also asked for a revised shipping date.

No reply, but on the morning of March 30 I saw online that the order status had changed to “processing” and showed as shipped by the US Postal Service with no tracking number or actual ship date available.

On the evening of March 30 I received a reply to my email of the previous morning stating that the order had been sent to packing. No reason for the delay was given, nor was any reason given for why the order was shown as having shipped via USPS without any tracking when I had paid for UPS with tracking.

After having kept my eye out for the package in the mail all week, on April 2nd I received an email from Stark Bro’s stating that the order had shipped on April 1st via UPS and a tracking number was provided.

Upon looking up the UPS tracking number I saw that an attempt had been made to deliver the order that day, however the delivery address was incomplete.

The delivery address on the package was missing the information I had notified Stark Bro’s about and that I had been assured had been resolved two weeks prior.

After several hours on the phone with Stark Bro’s and UPS I managed to get the delivery driver to make another attempt to deliver the order at my location despite the absence of the two address fields that I had typed in when placing the order. The package finally arrived Friday night in a crushed box.

The trees were broken in half.

On Monday April 5, I emailed Stark Bro’s regarding the extensive problems with the loss of address information, unexplained delay and inaccurate shipping information, and the condition of the trees when they arrived.

I received no response until the afternoon of Friday April 9th. The response thanked me for identifying the multiple problems noted above and wished me success with my planting.

"On Apr 20, 2010 12:02 PM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

We are very sorry about your shipping experience. Because we are always looking for ways to better serve you, we really appreciate all feedback and suggestions sent to us. All issues and suggestions are passed along to upper management for consideration and review.

Every single order that we ship is covered by our Promise of Satisfaction: if for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your experience with Stark Bro's, within a year of shipment we will issue you free replacements or a full refund for the merchandise amount. We care very much about your growing success! Please contact our Customer Support Team by email at info@starkbros.com, or by phone at 800.325.4180, and we will stand by our guarantee."

I have had no problems with my orders from here. The last two:

Ordered a nice flame grape last spring ( 2009) and it was big and healthy on arrival. It climbed to the top of the pergola before winter. Now it's spreading nicely (by May 1).

This spring I ordered three roses and the arrival was timely. The packaging was sturdy--pots encased in plastic baggies tightly wrapped over the dirt, the bagged pots put inside sturdy cardboard inner boxes and then a shipping box. All were very moist upon arrival.

Plant size was what you'd expect from a 4 inch pot, and root system was fine on 2 of the 3. The 3rd was a bit undersized, but it seems healthy. Got them in the ground already in time for a good rain.

Posted on October 14, 2009, updated May 1, 2010
I have now ordered from them 4 times (waiting for the 4th to come) and all 3 times I have been pleased.

I ordered and planted some bare root fruit trees last spring along with 2 weeping cherry trees. 4 of the 5 are doing great and the 5th one is doing ok (just a little behind the others). I think it is more a product of drainage and not the quality from Starks.

I just received some blueberry plants and they look very healthy and were packaged extremely well.

I am very happy with their service and will order from them again.

I am originally from Wenatchee, Washington The 'Apple Capitol" of the United States. I know how to judge if an apple tree was well grown. I have a home orchard, and over 40 years of experience receiving and planting apple trees.

I recently ordered ONE apple tree from Stark Brothers -- the Company that heavily promotes its "legacy" of apple growing. I was shocked, and thoroughly disgusted by the POOR quality tree I received.

The tree had a root system which was so small, I doubt if this tree will survive, no matter how well it is taken care of. The longest piece of root is about FOUR inches long. the entire root mass of this $31.00 tree could fit into a two cup measuring cup!

This was supposed to be a "2 N 1"apple tree, with two different varities growing on the same root stock. What I received shows no indication of having an additional variety grafted onto the tree.

Additionally, the package was very poorly prepared for shipping. The single small tree was put into a plastic bag with no packing material and slopped into a huge cardboard box. There was nothing to prevent this tree from being slammed around inside the box.

All in all, this was THE poorest tree and the POOREST packing job I have ever seen in 40 years of growing apple trees.

I do not know how a Company that offers this incredibly POOR quality of product can stay in business!

"On May 6, 2010 3:47 PM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

We are very sorry to hear about the condition in which you received your 2-N-1 apple tree! From the way you described your experience, we completely understand why you feel dissatisfied. We pride ourselves on satisfying customers with quality trees, and our Promise of Satisfaction guarantees any products you receive from us up to one year from shipment. Please contact our Customer Support Team at info@starkbros.com, or by phone at 800.325.4180, and we will freely ship you another 2-N-1 apple tree to replace the original. At Stark Bro's, we strive to satisfy our customers with the highest quality trees and plants, and we will do everything we can to see that you receive one that meets your expectations!"

I purchased 3 apple trees and one cherry last year and was very happy with everything. My trees grew very well while a friends trees from a home improvement store died. Additionately one of the apple trees was run over by a pickup truck. This tree is the first one to bud this year and still doing very well. I'm wondering if I should run over the rest of them but we sold that truck. Due to this very good experience I purchased 3 more trees and 5 grape vines this year. When they got here they looked even better than the ones we got last year. I'm especially pleased with the grape vines.

I ordered from Stark Brothers for the first time this year. The order came yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised!
I ordered 5 Apple tree's , 2 Pear tree's, 2 Blueberry Bushes and 3 raspberry bushes.
Four out of 5 of the apple tree's were good sized and had great roots. One was smaller and less of a root system, we will watch this one closely.
The blueberry bushes were not very big for the money but healthy and good roots also. Both Pear tree's look good, nice roots and little to no damage to any branches in shipping on all of the tree's.
I can't comment on the raspberries as i've never bought bareroot bushes before, but they look fine to my untrained eye.

March 17 I ordered 10 grapevines from Stark Bros. nursery. One and one half weeks later they arrived. They were exactly as advertised. Healthy, robust 2 yr. old plants. They all are leaved out now and looking good. I recommend Stark and will order from them again.

I have a Stark Blushing Golden apple tree that has never flowered or fruited in the seven years I have had it with six different blooming apples close by. It has also developed a very unusual gall- like enlargement where the topstock is grafted. It was determined this is a graft defect and or crown gall, and no fault of my own. Since stark changed ownership however they refused to help me even in any way, though I have both their tree tag, and proof of purchase. I am removing the defective tree

Many companies will work in good faith to help customers if a tree is defective or not true to name. STARK Bros. did not. If anyone gets a tree from them that turns out to be defective after their first growing season BEWARE that they may not stand behind their products. I was NOT asking or expecting a free tree, but an ounce of empathy, and maybe an offer to perhaps share some in a replacement would go a long way to avoid having to write this most unpleasant note. This is not a way to keep or get new customers.

Don Chilo
Colorado Springs, CO

"On Apr 21, 2010 9:33 AM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Stark Bro's stands behind our products, but more importantly, we stand behind our customers. We understand that planting and growing successfully is dependent upon many different factors, some of which are out of anyone's control. In light of this, we have a Promise of Satisfaction for all of our customers regarding every order: if for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your products or your experience with Stark Bro's, we will send you one-time free replacements or issue a full refund within a year of shipment.

We are very sorry to have lost your trust! It is true that Stark Bro's is under new ownership as of 2002. We firmly stand behind our guarantee for all orders placed under our new ownership. For orders placed with Stark Bro's prior to 2002, we promise to review each individual case when presented with the appropriate documentation. We encourage any customers who have issues with their products (purchased prior to 2002) to send us a copy of their proof of purchase, along with any other documentation they may have (i.e. - tags, pictures, etc.). All pictures of abnormal growths, deformities or diseases are reviewed by our Product Specialist for professional advice, and all of these concerns are reviewed on an individual, personal basis by upper management. Please feel free to send the documentation you have to our office! You can mail it to:

Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards
PO BOX 1800
Louisiana, MO
63353

You can also fax us at 573.754.8880, or email us at info@starkbros.com.

Thank you for your honest review, and we hope to do whatever we can to regain your faith and trust with Stark Bro's!"

My order with them has been pretty good. I tried to order once over the phone and the credit card did not go through, though I was not notified until 4 days later.

I tried again and it seems to be doing fine. My order finally shipped and I can track it.

The one thing that got me was that I ordered right before the free shipping deal, even though mine was shipped after they sent out the sale.

Another thing is that the red and black raspberry together sale is not any better than buying Heritage and Bristol seperate. In fact, you save about $5 buying a package of heritage and bristol than buying the package together deal they give you. What's up with that Stark Bros?

I will post again if my order was bad.

"On Apr 23, 2010 2:57 PM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Thanks for your review! In regards to the assortment of raspberries, we had a pricing glitch that was corrected on our http://www.starkbros.com website, and everything should reflect the same sale prices now! If you have not already, please feel free to contact our Customer Service department at info@starkbros.com or by phone at 800.325.4180, and we will resolve your pricing difference right away."

I've been oredering fruit trees from Stark Bros for over 8 years. They are by far and away the best mail order company for fruit trees period. They are always my main source for buying stock period. I've ordered from about every company out there and no one else compares as far as selection and quality of plants received.

Ordered Kwik Krop Balck Walnut.

Plant arrived with a dime sized hole in bark down to central core. Also, root stock was like a carrot with NO side roots.

Called Stark Bro's - they claimed thats how the trees roots are supposed to be. ( I think not). Also said the hole was caused by insect damage.

On the positive side they did offer to replace tree but I would have to pay shipping costs again ! They should have inspected the tree before being sent.

"On Mar 29, 2010 10:21 AM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

Thank you for sharing your honest experience with Stark Bros. We apologize for the condition of the tree you received - it is true that sometimes insects can get into the packing and damage the leads. We try to offer the highest quality plants to our customers but understand that dealing with green goods can be very tricky. This is why we cover your purchases with our one-year Guarantee. We want to make your growing experience the best it can be!

Our Promise of Satisfaction here at Stark Bros states that if for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your order, within one year of shipment we will: refund you the full merchandise amount or will send you a one-time free replacement. That includes free shipping!

If you would still like your black walnut replaced, please feel free to email us at info@starkbros.com or call our Customer Support Team at 800.325.4180.
"

As I look at all these positive reviews, I am so sad to write a bad one. Last may I ordered a Canadice seedless grapevine, Typar tree circles, and a 2-N-1 classic pie semi-dwarf apple tree after I was referred to by another customer. I got the typar tree circles along with the Stark growing guide, but I have never received to this date my apple tree and grapevine. Rather than call and see what the matter was, I looked at other websites to see if they have better and cheaper stuff. So, last week on Thursday I ordered 3 trees, 2 grapevines, and 1 banana plant from Willis Orchard, I received my trees today. They were nice and healthy and significantly cheaper than the 2 plants I ordered from Stark Bro's. I am sad to write this review, as so many other customers had better experiences with this company, but I think people would want to think a 2nd time before they order more pricey plants from this company. Good thing they only charge the credit card when they ship.

"On Apr 7, 2010 5:00 PM, Stark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company responded with:

We are sorry you were dissatisfied with your experience with Stark Bro's! There are several possible reasons why you never received your grape and apple tree. Our Customer Support Team is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your order last Spring, and we extend our hours during our shipping seasons so that every concern or complaint can be quickly and satisfactorily addressed. We strive very hard to please our customers and give them the best growing experience possible. We would be happy to address your issues from last year if you would like to inquire at info@starkbros.com or call us at 800.325.4180."

We have bought nursery stock from Stark Bros. for at least 30 years. We've grown all the fruit that is hardy here in Zone 5a and tried some that are not. They of course did not flourish. We can't help experimenting though, because that is part of the fun of gardening. But be advised to take the hardiness zones listed in Starks Catalogue with a large grain of salt. Look around at what your neighbors grow and check with your local Master Gardeners, go to local orchards and see what your local Farmer's Marketers are growing. That is how to find out what will grow in your garden.

Our only problem with Starks is that they list plants for hardiness zones where they are will never bear fruit. Also many plants labeled as hardy in Zone 5 will not thrive here in the northern part of Zone 5. So a few things listed as Zone 5 hardy die back. Examples are the Chester Thornless Blackberry which dies back to the ground every winter and has never had a berry on it. The vines unfortunately are incredibly vigorous and are spreading wildly. They grow six feet tall every summer and die back completely to the ground every winter. If you live in our climate, get Prime Jim and Prime Jan Blackberries that bear on first year canes. But Only half of them get ripe before they freeze in the fall.

Well we figured we'd be safe only ordering trees for Zone 4, but not so. Their Reliance Peach and Intrepid Peach died the same winter they got old enough to bear fruit. Apricots? Forget it. They never fruit. The trees are hardier than peaches, and never die, but the flowers always freeze this far north as they bloom at least two weeks before our last killing frost. We got some apricots once in the last 35 years. By then we'd given up wasting spray on them, so they were wormy.

We bought a Pawpaw that they list as zone 4 hardy. It's not! It dies to the ground every single winter, even in mild winters, and gets six feet high again the next summer. It's at least 15 years old now and still trying.

American Persimmon fared even worse, and didn't even make it through the first winter. Hardy Kiwi? Nope; not hardy. The Carpathian Walnuts we bought are now great big shade trees. During the 25 years they've been growing we got 2 walnuts. The problem again is not the hardiness of the trees, but that the flowers always freeze.

I have no complaint about the products that really are hardy. We have wonderful apples and pears that have proven their quality. Everything we buy grows the first year, but you have to wait until the next spring to find out if they are really hardy.

This year is the first time I ordered from Starks on-line. It was a nightmare! I don't know if the problem was at their end or mine, though we have a slow dialup on a rural telephone line, but I have never had this problem ordering on-line from other businesses. It took me about an hour to check out. First it took about 20 minutes just to bring up the checkout page, Then they informed me I had to set up an account to order on-line because I don't have a clue what our customer number is or where to find it, and they don't tell you which number of the many numbers on your catalogue it is, or maybe it isn't there. I don't know where to find it. Apparently I made a typo on my repeat password entry, because nothing happened when I tried to continue. But they don't tell you what the problem is. Finally I simply re-entered everything and tried again. Their program changed the last four number of our zip-code and there was no way to correct it, unless I would start the entire checkout process again and waste another half hour. Since they ship UPS, hopefully they can find our place with only the first five zip-code numbers.

My warning to customers is that if you are on a slow dialup system, you are better off to get a catalogue and send in a paper order by snail mail. It will save you a lot of time. If the slow response is at their end however, something needs to be fixed.