SECTION 1: How Greenwood Nursery Communicates

At Greenwood Nursery, we talk to our customers the way a knowledgeable friend at the garden center would — warm, genuine, and genuinely excited about plants. We're based in McMinnville, TN, the nursery capital of the world, and that heritage shows in everything we say. We know our plants because we grow and handle them ourselves, and we want every customer to feel that expertise behind every answer, without ever sounding stiff or corporate about it.

Our voice is approachable first, expert second. We use plant-lover language naturally — words like "hardening off," "bare-root," "establishing," and "Zone 7a" feel at home in our responses, but we always take a breath to explain them if a customer might be newer to gardening. We're honest about growing conditions: if a plant is a stretch for someone's zone or climate, we say so, and we'll often suggest a better-suited alternative rather than just making the sale. The customer's success with their plant is always more important than the transaction.

SECTION 2: Shipping Policies for Live Plants

Shipping live plants is genuinely different from shipping a book or a pair of shoes — these are living things, and every decision we make about packaging and timing is designed to get them to you in the best shape possible. Here's exactly how we do it, and what you can expect.

When We Ship

We ship orders Monday through Wednesday only. This is intentional — it keeps your plants from sitting in a hot or cold distribution center over a weekend when no one is moving them forward. Orders placed by Tuesday at noon CT are eligible for that same week's shipping window. Orders placed after Tuesday noon will ship the following Monday–Wednesday window. You'll receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as your order leaves our greenhouse.

Note: Orders placed Thursday through Sunday will ship the following Monday–Wednesday. This is not a delay — it's how we protect your plants in transit.

Shipping Zones & Transit Times

We ship to the contiguous 48 states. Standard transit time is 2–5 business days depending on your distance from McMinnville, TN. Most Southeast and Midwest customers receive orders in 2–3 days; Pacific Northwest and Northeast customers should expect 4–5 days.

We do not currently ship to the following states:

• Alaska & Hawaii — transit times are too long and conditions too unpredictable to guarantee plant health.

Packaging

Every plant that leaves our facility is packaged with care. Here's what we do for each plant type:

• Root balls are wrapped in moist growing medium and secured in plastic or breathable wrapping to retain moisture without causing rot.
• Stems and foliage are gently supported and cushioned to prevent breakage during handling.
• Pots are secured to prevent tipping and soil loss.

Seasonal Shipping Conditions & Expectations for Bare-Root Trees and Shrubs

Condition A: Dormant Season Shipping (Late Fall through Early Spring)

• Plant Status: Plants are fully dormant (no active foliage or flowers).
• Shipping Health: Bare-root shipping is ideal during dormancy.
• Benefits: Dormant bare-root plants travel exceptionally well, experience minimal transit stress, and establish root systems faster once planted in early spring.

Condition B: Active Growing Season Shipping (Late Spring through Summer)

• Plant Status: Plants are actively growing and leafed out during transit.
• Expected Appearance Upon Arrival: Plants may exhibit temporary transit stress, including leaf wilt, foliage yellowing, or leaf drop.
• Health Assessment: Leaf wilt or leaf drop during active-season shipping is a normal, temporary stress reaction and does not mean the plant is dead or damaged.
• Recovery & Care Procedure: When planted in soil at the proper depth (root collar) and watered thoroughly, the plant will focus energy on root establishment and produce fresh new foliage.

Expected Arrival Condition

Here's the honest truth: even a perfectly packed, perfectly shipped plant may look a little rough when it arrives. Wilted leaves, slight yellowing at the tips, or a generally droopy appearance are completely normal responses to the stress of being in a box for a few days. This does not mean your plant is dying. Follow our After-Delivery Care Instructions (Section 3 below) and give your plant 1–2 weeks to bounce back. The vast majority of plants that arrive looking stressed recover fully and go on to thrive.

Tip: Think of it like jet lag for plants. A little rest, some water, and indirect light, and they're usually back to themselves within a week or two.

Shipping Delays

Once a package leaves our facility, it's in the hands of the carrier. We are not responsible for delays caused by the carrier, weather events, or other circumstances outside our control. However, we understand that a delayed plant can mean a stressed or damaged plant — and we won't leave you holding that bag. If your plant arrives in unacceptable condition that appears related to a transit delay, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos and we will make it right. See our Return & Replacement Policy for full details.

SECTION 3: After-Delivery Care Instructions

Getting your plant off to the right start after shipping is one of the most important things you can do for its long-term success. These instructions apply to nearly all the plants we ship. For species-specific care, refer to the care card included in your shipment or the individual product page.

First 24 Hours

1. Unbox immediately. Don't let the plant sit in the box any longer than necessary — it needs air, light, and water.
2. Water thoroughly. Give the root ball a deep drink right away. You want water to flow freely out of the drainage holes.
3. Place in indirect light. Even if you're growing a full-sun plant, put it in bright but indirect light for the first few days. It's been in the dark for a while, and jumping straight to direct sun will add stress on top of stress.
4. Do not fertilize yet. A freshly shipped plant has a stressed root system. Fertilizer right now can burn those tender roots. Wait at least 3–4 weeks before feeding.

Tip — Don't Panic About Wilting: If your plant looks wilted or sad on arrival, water it, give it indirect light, and check it again the next morning. Most plants look dramatically better within 24–48 hours of being unboxed and watered.

Weeks 1–2: Hardening Off

Over the first one to two weeks, gradually introduce your plant to its intended sun exposure. If it's going to live in full sun, start with two to three hours of direct sun per day and increase from there. This process is called "hardening off," and it prevents sunscald and transplant shock.

• Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Stick your finger an inch into the soil — if it's dry, water. If it's still moist, wait.
• Watch for new growth — emerging leaves or buds are the clearest signal that your plant has settled in and is recovering well.
• Avoid letting the plant sit in standing water during this period, as stressed roots are more susceptible to rot.

Planting Out

Wait until your plant looks stable and healthy before transplanting it into the ground or a permanent outdoor container. For most plants, this means 1–2 weeks after arrival. A plant that's still wilted or hasn't shown any new growth yet is not ready to be transplanted — give it more time.

• Avoid planting during extreme heat. If outdoor temps are consistently above 90°F, wait for a cooler stretch. Early morning planting on a mild day is ideal.
• Avoid planting before a frost. Check your local forecast and don't plant out if frost is expected within two weeks for tender plants.
• When you do plant out, dig a hole 2–3 times as wide as the root ball and set the plant at the same depth it was growing in the pot. Backfill with native soil, water deeply, and mulch around the base (keeping mulch away from the stem).

Watering After Planting

The number one killer of newly planted trees and shrubs is improper watering — usually either too little or too frequent and shallow. Follow this guidance through the first full growing season:

• Deep, infrequent watering is always better than frequent shallow watering. Deep watering encourages roots to grow downward, building drought tolerance. Shallow, frequent watering keeps roots near the surface where they're vulnerable.
• Newly planted trees and shrubs need approximately 1 inch of water per week — from rain, irrigation, or a combination — throughout their first full growing season.
• Perennials and smaller plants generally need the same weekly inch through their first summer, then can often get by on rainfall alone once established.
• Mulching 2–3 inches deep around your planting (not touching the stem) dramatically reduces watering needs by retaining soil moisture.

SECTION 4

Return & Replacement Policy

We stand behind every plant we ship. We also know that live
plants involve some unpredictability — in shipping, in growing conditions, and
in the variables of your specific yard and climate. Our policy is designed to
be fair and generous, and to keep the focus on getting you a healthy, thriving
plant.

30-Day Plant Guarantee

 All plants are covered by our 30-day
guarantee from the date of delivery. If something goes wrong within that
window, we want to know about it.

Dead or Severely Damaged on Arrival

 Contact us within 48 hours of delivery with clear photos of the plant
and the packaging. We will offer a replacement or a full refund. Please do not
discard the packaging until you've contacted us — it may be needed for a
carrier claim.

Plant Declines Within 30 Days

 If your plant was alive on arrival, you
followed our care instructions, and the plant still declined and died within 30
days of delivery, contact us with photos and a brief description of the care
you provided. We'll review and offer a replacement or refund at our discretion.
We'll always give you the benefit of the doubt when the evidence supports it.

No Physical Returns

 We do not accept physical returns of
live plants. Please do not ship a plant back to us — we cannot accept, restock,
or use returned live plant material.

Replacements

 Replacement plants ship during the next
available Monday–Wednesday shipping window following approval of your claim.
We'll email you to confirm your replacement is on its way.

Refunds

 Approved refunds are processed within 5–7 business days back to your original payment
method. Depending on your bank or card issuer, it may take an additional few
days to appear on your statement.

How to Contact Us for a Claim

Email us at hello@greenwoodplants.com
with your order number, photos, and a brief description of what happened. The
more context you give us, the faster we can help. We aim to respond to all
claims within one business day.

SECTION 5: Planting Zone Guide for Common Questions

What Are USDA Hardiness Zones?

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides the United States into 13 zones (with half-zones labeled "a" and "b") based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. Each full zone represents a 10°F range, and each half-zone represents 5°F. Zone 1 is the coldest (northern Alaska) and Zone 13 is the warmest (tropical regions of Hawaii and Puerto Rico). Most of the continental U.S. falls between Zones 4 and 9.

Hardiness zones tell you whether a plant can survive your winters — they don't tell you everything about heat, humidity, soil, or summer conditions. But they're the most universally used and reliable starting point for plant selection, and they're what we use to rate every plant in our catalog.

Quick Zone Reference Guide

Below is a general overview of Zones 4 through 9, including average winter temperature ranges, common regions, and examples of Greenwood Nursery plants that thrive in each zone. Many plants are hardy across multiple zones — check individual product pages on our site for the full rated range.

• Zone 4 (–30°F to –20°F): Covers northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Montana, parts of New England, and high-elevation areas in the Rockies. Ideal Greenwood Nursery plants include highbush blueberry, hardy prairie roses, purple coneflower, native serviceberry (Amelanchier), spirea, and native asters.
• Zone 5 (–20°F to –10°F): Covers southern Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, coastal New England, Denver, CO, and the northern Plains. Ideal Greenwood Nursery plants include Eastern redbud, native black-eyed Susan, witch hazel, oakleaf hydrangea, wild blue indigo, and heritage apple varieties.
• Zone 6 (–10°F to 0°F): Covers Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, North Carolina, most of Tennessee (including McMinnville 6b), Kentucky, New Jersey, and Maryland. Ideal Greenwood Nursery plants include panicle hydrangea, Virginia sweetspire, American beautyberry, native azaleas, Joe Pye weed, and pawpaw trees.
• Zone 7 (0°F to 10°F): Covers Middle Tennessee (McMinnville 7a), Arkansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, the Virginia coast, Pacific Northwest lowlands, and parts of New Mexico. Ideal Greenwood Nursery plants include gardenia, crape myrtle, anise hyssop, butterfly bush, native passion vine, and cold-hardy camellias.
• Zone 8 (10°F to 20°F): Covers southern Texas, coastal Georgia and South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, and most of the Pacific Coast (from Portland to San Francisco). Ideal Greenwood Nursery plants include Southern magnolia, loropetalum, native muhly grass, yaupon holly, perennial lantana, and banana shrub.
• Zone 9 (20°F to 30°F): Covers central and coastal California, most of Florida, parts of the Texas Gulf Coast, and the coastal Pacific Northwest. Ideal Greenwood Nursery plants include dwarf bottlebrush, Texas sage (Leucophyllum), society garlic, cape plumbago, native coral honeysuckle, and hardy hibiscus.

Tip — Zones Are a Starting Point, Not the Whole Story:
A Zone 6 garden in humid Tennessee grows very differently from a Zone 6 garden in dry Colorado. Heat, humidity, rainfall, and soil type all matter alongside winter cold. When in doubt about whether a plant is right for your specific location, don't hesitate to ask us — we'll give you an honest answer based on what we know about how the plant actually performs, not just what the zone map says.

Greenwood Nursery | McMinnville, Tennessee | hello@greenwoodplants.com

This document is maintained for use in the Shopify Help Center and as an AI agent knowledge base. Last updated: May 15, 2026. All policies subject to change — this document supersedes any prior versio