ORGANICALLY GROWN. The plants and trees grown here at St. Lawrence Nurseries are managed by organic methods. Because we are committed to preserving the health of the air, water, and soil, we use no herbicides, fungicides or pesticides. Instead of artificial fertilizers, we rely on mulch, manure, and cover crops to boost soil and plant health. Rather than using tractors, we hand-plant, hand-weed and hand-dig all of our stock. Our trees, inspected twice a year by authorities from the New York State Department of Agriculture, have always remained exceptionally disease-free.

WHAT OUR TREES ARE NOT. Our trees are not like the trees that you often see lined up at your local garden center in springtime: large, beefy specimens taller than your head, grown in a favorable climate (Zones 5 - 7) and pushed with nitrogen fertilizers. Heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers produces a "top-heavy'' tree with a disproportionately small root, which is then machine-dug (often cutting or damaging roots in the process) and shipped, first from grower to wholesaler, then from wholesaler to retailer — a journey which often leaves the tree water-stressed. The root is encased in fertilizer-enhanced potting soil and wrapped in burlap or potted, making it impossible to determine the condition of the tree's root system. Although trees should be planted when they are dormant, garden centers often sell them in full leaf. Trees sold in this way are almost never covered by a guarantee.

WHAT OUR TREES ARE. Our trees are grown here in a northern climate (Zone 3) because we are growing trees for northern climates. Trees that are marginally hardy (unable to withstand -30^o to -40^o F) will not survive our winters, and if we cannot grow it here, we don't sell it. However, trees grow more slowly in cold locations with short growing seasons, and nurseries are not exempt from this law of nature. We do not "push'' our trees with artificial fertilizers, but use natural methods to encourage an optimum growth rate. The result is a smaller, but "tougher'' tree with a more balanced proportion of root to top, which will establish itself well and harden off properly before winter. If you live in Zone 3 or 4, you've probably been disappointed before by trees that were proclaimed to be "cold hardy." Where was the tree grown? A tree that has been through -40^o F winters has proven itself to be truly "cold hardy".  This means that a tree from our nursery will grow for you even if you live in a severely cold climate, whereas a tree from a conventional nursery located in a warmer growing zone may winterkill or simply "survive'' without much growth or fruit. Hardy trees are our specialty.

GUARANTEE. As your supplier, our job is to ship you a healthy plant that is true to name and claim. As the customer, your job is proper planting, mulching and regular watering of the plant, and protection from mice, rabbits, deer and other plant-munching creatures. If a plant dies anytime within its first growing season, contact us. We will work with you to determine the fairest course of action. If it seems that the plant did not survive in spite of proper care on your part, we will replace it at no charge. In some cases, we may ask you to pay for shipping or offer to split the cost of replacement with you. Tell us what went wrong, and we'll try to help you figure out what you can do to guarantee success with the next planting.