Garden Catalogs

Garden seed catalogs introduce us to new varieties along with time-honored favorites. They invite us to start planning – pull out the notes from last year's garden, look at the successes and failures, remind us of what we wanted to do and help us begin anew this gardening season. They're the next best thing to having our own master gardener and all-purpose garden shop all rolled into one.

Home Garden Catalog Information

Many reputable seed, plant and bulb companies have garden catalogs that show vivid glossy photos of mature plants at peak conditions. Of course, they want you to see the best you can achieve. Keep in mind though that these plants are grown in perfect conditions, trimmed, and photographed when the flowers are at their best and in the perfect lighting to accentuate them. It's like dressing up for the family photo – everything is just perfect. Be aware that these are not the plants you're buying. Check the actual size of the plants being sent to you – root stocks, seedlings, 4-inch pots are typical sizes sent. Even when you buy seeds, the photos are of full-grown, perfect plants.

Storage before Shipping

An important factor when selecting a garden catalog to purchase from is how the plants are stored at the producers end. Many plants are packaged direct from the field the day they are shipped. Trees and bulbs in dormant stages may be stored, and would have specific needs for temperature and air circulation. Read the catalog for this important information.

Shipping Information

Read the shipping information carefully to find out how the products are being shipped. Are they packed with protection from damage during shipping and handling? If plants are shipped in pots, are you assured that the plant won't spill out, leaving the roots exposed. You should receive specific planting directions for each type of plant you purchase, whether potted plants, vegetable roots, herb seedlings or dormant bulbs or fruits.

Burpee seed catalog offers this information on all the plants and seeds they sell. They offer guarantees for the products and for safe ordering. You will be advised of the arrival date for shipments so you can be ready, with shovel in hand, to start planting. The Burpee seed catalog is among the best available for quality gardening supplies and plants, as well as excellent customer service.

Once you've looked through a few home garden catalogs, you'll start to see which ones provide the important information you need to make good choices for your garden. Another nice feature is that you now have a handy reference when you go to garden centers, arboretums, flower shows, parks or a gardening neighbor's yard. You'll be able to identify many plants and see exactly how they grow in a garden setting. And you'll have pictures to use in your gardening scrapbook or journal as a comparison to your own results.

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