Small pieces ship UPS or FedEx Ground and large ones ship by freight on a pallet. Many of our orders are living plants or heavy sculptures, so how they travel matters. Here is how your order ships, what it costs and what to do the day it arrives.
Small and medium pieces: UPS or FedEx Ground
Most items ship UPS or FedEx Ground from our distribution center. Allow 2–4 weeks for in-stock items unless we tell you otherwise. Items ordered together may ship separately.
Live boxwood up to about 42 inches ships this way, packed upright in a custom box built for the plant’s weight. Mature specimens weigh 65 to 80 pounds. Live plants ship early in the week, so they never sit in a depot over a weekend.
Large pieces: freight
Live cones and spirals over about 42 inches, and any large sculpture, travel by LTL freight on a pallet or in a crate. Plants ride upright and braced, with moisture-retaining packing. The carrier calls you to arrange a delivery window.
Freight cost depends on the build. On large custom work we give you an estimated quote up front and confirm the final cost when the piece is ready to ship. These charges can apply:
- Crate construction or pallet preparation
- Tailgate lift at delivery, if you have no way to unload a pallet. The carrier bills this, so tell us in advance.
When the design allows, we build large topiaries in sections that ship in standard boxes instead. That usually costs less than freight and avoids the tailgate lift. The piece is then assembled on site.
The day it arrives
- Inspect before you sign. If there is damage, note it on every copy of the delivery receipt, keep your copy and refuse the shipment. If the driver will not let you inspect, refuse it as well.
- Report damage within 24 hours at 866-306-1020, and keep all the packaging.
- Live plants: unpack them promptly, water deeply and read the care card in the box. The longer version is our receiving and care FAQ.
- Residential freight: someone must be there to sign. A commercial address is easier for freight if you have one. Gated communities and missed windows can carry carrier charges.
Measuring and sizes
We measure plant heights from the soil line to the top of the plant. Sculpture dimensions are the frame’s true height, width and depth, listed on each product page. If you are between sizes or unsure what fits your space, ask us before you order. A question is easier than returning a 70-pound plant.
Shipping costs and coverage
We deliver to the continental U.S. Cart shipping covers parcel-sized pieces. Freight pieces show their delivery cost in the quote for the piece, so nothing is hidden in the price. Sales tax is calculated at checkout.
Planters
Our large planters ship like the big sculptures: by LTL freight, on a pallet, with the carrier calling to arrange a window.
We do not charge planter freight when you order. We work out the cost with the maker and agree it with you before the planter ships, so nothing is taken until you have the figure.
Decide where your planter is going before it arrives. One person cannot move a planter three feet across a garden once it is off the pallet. Tell us if the route crosses soft ground or a narrow gate.
Inspect glazed pottery before you sign, like anything else. Fine surface crazing on a high-gloss glaze is part of the finish, not damage. What the finishes do explains how to tell the two apart.
