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FAQ's
General Questions
What is the origin of the nursery name "Octoraro"? "Octoraro" in the original Lenni Lenape Native American language means "muddy river." Given that most of our plants are used for environmental restoration activities focused on improving water quality, we think it's an appropriate name for our nursery. Additionally, our nursery is located on the west branch of the Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Where is Kirkwood, Pennsylvania? Kirkwood is located in Southeast Lancaster County and north of the Maryland border. We are about 30 minutes from Lancaster, PA, one hour from Wilmington, DE and 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, PA and Baltimore, MD. Click here for directions. How long have you been in business? Octoraro Native Plant Nursery was established in 1990 under the original name of Octoraro Wetland Nurseries. Do you sell "retail" to individuals? No, we are a wholesale nursery selling to the environmental restoration "trade" including contractors, non-profit organizations, golf courses, government agencies and municipalities and school districts. We do provide plants to individuals enrolled in government conservation programs. Click here for a link to Retail Native Plant Sales.
Do you deliver? Yes, a minimum plant order for delivery is $500.00. Delivery costs are based on the size of the order and mileage to the final destination. Every effort is made to combine deliveries in the same geographic location to reduce freight costs. Deliveries in PA, DEL, MD, VA NJ and parts of NY are provided on our own trucks. An independent common carrier provides plant deliveries outside these areas. Can you ship plants via UPS? No, We can only ship our container grown trees and shrubs by truck. See above for more information. We do ship bioengineering material via UPS or Common Carrier. Click here for more information on Bioengineering Plants.
Do you sell "retail" to individuals? No, we are a wholesale nursery selling to the environmental restoration "trade" including contractors, non-profit organizations, golf courses, government agencies and municipalities, transportation departments and school districts. We do provide plants to individuals enrolled in government conservation programs. Click here for a link to Retail Native Plant Sales. What are the terms of payment for plant orders? Octoraro Native Plant Nursery (ONPN) is a wholesale nursery with a $250.00 minimum order. Payment is due upon receipt of plant material including Pennsylvania sales tax of 6% if sale occurs in PA. Customers with established credit may be extended terms of Net 30 days. A finance charge of 1.5% per month (18% annually) will be automatically added to all past due accounts. Holding fees may be charged for orders carried over to the following growing season (i.e. fall to spring). We accept company checks and credit cards (VISA, Master Card and American Express) What are the conditions of sale and do you offer any guarantees? All plants are guaranteed to be true to name and healthy upon receipt. All orders are subject to natural disasters, crop failures or conditions beyond our control. It is mutually agreed ONPN's total liability is limited to replacement or credit. Further, any disputed claims will be solved in the jurisdiction of the State of Pennsylvania, in the County of Lancaster. Because we have no control of any element of a planting project from design to installation, we cannot offer any guarantees of plant survival. Can I stop by, place an order and get my plants the same day? No, because we are wholesale we need to have a confirmed order from the customer and at least 48 hours notice to process the order and pull the plants for pick up. Orders are received by fax, email or via our website. How do I place and order? Orders can be placed in several ways. To place on order online click here. You can also fax in your order at 717-529-4099 or call in your order at 717-529-3160.  About our Plants
How is beachgrass grown and provided for my dune restoration project? Beachgrass is field grown, harvested and provided as a double culm bare root plant with tops cut to about 16" of top growth. What is the best time of year to plant beachgrass? Oct.15 - April 15 When do you begin and end harvesting plants? Oct 1 - May 1 How are the plants shipped to me? Generally UPS. Delivery on larger orders is an option. How should I maintain the plants if I can't get them all planted right away? Keep them cool under shade How deep do I plant beachgrass? 8" - 10" deep What is the recommended spacing for planting beachgrass? 18" on centers Do you sell beachgrass as rooted plugs? Beachgrass is field grown, harvested and provided as a double culm bare root plant with tops cut to about 16" of top growth. How long will it take to get beachgrass established after planting? 1 - 2 growing seasons depending on conditions. What kind of survival rates can I expect? 80-85% without unforeseen adverse weather conditions and proper installation.
How do I order bioengineering plants for my project? Bioengineering plant material is harvested only on a project specific or custom order basis. Please fax us your plant requirements to 717-529-4099 and we will respond with a written quotation. (Note: Please read below about harvesting seasons and lead time for receiving your order). Return to Order Screen. What is bioengineering plant material? Bioengineering plant material is live stems harvested from dormant stock plants of species such as willows (Salix spp.)and shrub dogwoods (Cornus spp.). The material is then used in a variety of techniques to establish vegetation along eroded streambanks; pond and lake shorelines. In what forms is bioengineering plant material available? Bioengineering plant material is available in the following forms: When can I get bioengineering plant material for my project? This plant material is harvested once the stock plant has gone completely dormant; generally in early December through early spring or the end of March. Planting must occur while stems remain dormant. Due to high demand for this plant material and the time and labor required to harvest, please allow 30 days from time of order until shipment. If I receive my plants and cannot get the planted right away, how should I maintain them? Plant material should be held in a cool, shady area and kept moist and not allowed to dry out. If live stakes are not planted after more than a couple days, fresh cuts should be made to the end prior to installation as the plant may callous over and affect it's ability to absorb moisture and root properly. Live stakes can be maintained by putting them in a 5-gallon bucket with water for smaller quantities Where can I get additional information and specifications about bioengineering techniques? The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Engineering Field Handbook, Chapter 16, Streambank and Shoreline Protection.
How big is a Container Seedling and what size container is it grown in? Plant sizes vary by species. Oaks are generally slower growing and may range from 6-18" in height. Fast growing species such as ash, sycamore and tulip poplar may reach heights of 2-3'. Please note, however that Container Seedlings are not sold by height. The container size (SP4) is 3" square x 9" deep. How are Container Seedlings sold? Plants are sold in quantities of 25 plants per flat. Flat size is 15" square and 5" deep with a lip along the edge for ease of carrying. Can I break up a flat and "mix and match" plants in a flat? No, plants are only sold in full flat increments. Do I need to use a tree shelter with my Container Seedling planting? If you have problems with deer, rodents or aggressive weeds or herbaceous layer, it is recommended to use a tree shelter for tree species. Properly installed, a tree shelter will provide a degree of protection from deer browse, rodent damage and herbaceous competition for your new planting. Tree shelters are not recommended for shrubs species as they may inhibit the natural growth habit of the plants. Click here for more information about Tree Shelters.
What is the proper planting density for my plants?
I have trouble finding all the plants I want. How can I get the plants I want, when I want them? The supply of quality native plants continues to lag behind increased demand. Even as native plant nurseries continue to expand, the market is growing and diversifying at a far faster rate. If possible, inquire about "Contract Growing" your order. With adequate notice we can custom grow your order for you. If contract growing is not an option, we recommend ordering as early as possible. You can also be prepared with a list of possible substitutes that will work for your project. We generally plan our production schedule one to two years in advance of the current sales year. Do I need to fertilize my plants after planting? While selecting and using an appropriate fertilizer does not harm your plants, we spend a great deal of time and energy developing the best root system possible for our plants. They are generally planted in areas that receive little or no maintenance after planting and must adapt to the native soil conditions. Therefore, fertilizers are not absolutely necessary in our opinion. Do not to apply fertilizers beyond the end of July to prevent plants from "pushing" new growth into the fall when they need to harden off and enter their natural dormant state. Do you grow bare root or caliper size balled & burlaped (B&B) trees and/or shrubs? No, we grow our trees and shrubs in containers ranging from container seedlings (SP4-3" sq. x 9" deep) to #7 containers (pot-in-pot) from 12-18" to 8-10' in height. We believe container-grown plants offer the best opportunity for development and long-term survival for environmental restoration projects. What is the best time of year to plant woody plants? Successful tree and shrub plantings are achieved in both spring and fall. Early spring planting is best and prior to the end of June. Fall is an excellent time to plant woody trees and shrubs generally from mid-September until the ground freezes. Fall plantings are well insulated over winter and have access to available water for the spring flush. What is the best way to install my woody plants? Generally speaking you don't want to install your plant too deep or too high. Dig a hole that allows the top of the root ball from the container to match the grade of the existing soil. It is more important to dig (or auger) a hole wide enough for the plant. The hole should be about two times as wide as the root ball of the plant (so a plant grown in a 6" wide #1 container should be planted in a hole 12" wide). Loosen and free the roots and don't be afraid to spread them out in the hole during planting. The larger hole allows the plant to establish itself more quickly and also reduced herbaceous competition in the planting zone. The woody plants appeared to be dry when I received them. Why is that? We use a drip irrigation system that delivers just the right amount of water directly to the roots of the plants through small emitters. This system employs the best water conservation practices available and delivers the right amount of water to ensure the best growth. Because the water is delivered directly to the root growing area, the top of the pot is never wet. Additionally plants can and do develop problems from over watering from traditional overhead irrigation. If I receive my plants and cannot get the planted right away, how should I maintain them? This depends on the time of year. During warmer weather conditions, woody plants should be held in a cool, shady area with access to water. Monitor the plants daily and water as necessary depending on the time of year. Do you grow your woody plants from seed? Most plants are propagated from seed sources within our selling area or within our regional genotype. Exceptions include the cultivar Rhus aromatica “gro lo” and rooted cuttings of Salix spp. that are vegetatively propagated. |
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