Comments regarding National Arbor Day Foundation

I also joined because of the free ten trees offer. I agree that it can be hard to read the paint-spot identifiers on this collection. Each tree has a different color of paint dabbed on the slender trunk. An enclosure matches the paint color to the tree variety.On the other hand, my father and I have had good luck with our plants. We are in the coastal Carolinas (Zone 8). We have had our best success by planting the saplings in plastic pots for the first season or two, keeping them in sheltered locations, then transplanting them to their permanent homes in the fall. If you aren't any a big hurry and don't mind waiting for the saplings to reach a viable size, the plants are real bargains. Their catalog gives a good description of the trees available, including zone, shipping and final size, desired conditions, etc. t doesn't hurt, as you say, to believe in their cause. Their $15 annual membership results in a bi-monthly newsletter. As with membership in many other non-profits, it also results in routine "offers" for plants in exchange for further donations. Some of these are financially worthwhile; some aren't.

We joined the foundation and were sent a catalog which stated that they would not ship to a few states, including Arizona. We cancelled or subscription and we are disappointed that they did not disclose this information before we joined. They did refund our money, at least they promised too; haven't received it back yet. We did not like the fact that they solicited us and then took the subscription order without informing us we could not order any plants or trees from them.

I joined because I love trees and believe in their cause, but also because of the ten free trees. My trees arrived (in Wisconsin) the end of March 1996. They looked like they were in good condition, moist and sealed in a plastic bag. Unfortunately the bag was frozen to the side of my mailbox because it was only 10 degrees outside (which is almost normal for March.) Also there was still 3 feet of frost in the ground (which is also almost normal). I would think an organization like this could plan their shipments better. [update September 7, 1996]Of the ten free trees I received in March, only one is still alive.

I placed an order with them several years ago. Approximately half the shipment was DOA, wrong, or both. All were small seedlings, some were just barely rooted cuttings. Most were bareroot in extremis - bare, untreated roots without protective or moisture retentive packaging. Those that were dead were replaced, but the replacements were in the same sorry state. Only a few of the seedlings have survived.