Beware of Spring-Time Nursery + Landscaping Scams

It's almost spring, and most of us have thoughts of cleaning and planting! But the Colorado Department of Agriculture is warning folks to be wary of nursery stock and landscaping scams!

Apparently it is very common for nursery stock (trees, shrubs, perennial plants and turf grass sod) to be included for “free” with the cost of exorbitant planting and landscaping costs.

The Department of Ag says:

If nursery stock is offered for ‘free’ it likely does not meet the States’ minimum standard. Consumers run the risk of paying for installation services and winding up with poor quality or soon to be dead trees and shrubs.

According to the Colorado Nursery Act:

• State law requires that all people who sell trees, shrubs, turfgrass sod and other perennial plants be registered to do so and that the plant material they sell meet standards that help give this plant material a “leg up” and increase likelihood of survivability.

Here's some of the standards the department recommends looking for when you're shopping:

• Trees – the larger the root ball the tree has, the better its chances of surviving transplant and adding long term value to a landscape.  Nursery industry best practices and state law dictate standards for deciduous and coniferous trees.   Deciduous trees are those that loose there leaves each autumn; for every caliper inch of trunk width measured at 6” above soil line there needs to be at least 10 inches of root ball to match.  Similar standards exist for coniferous trees.
• Woody plants and perennials shall not be sold with insect or disease infestations.
• Turfgrass sod shall not be sold if it contains more than three weeds in a 6 x 6 foot (or 36 square foot) area.

You can even check with the CDA to make sure the company you're buying from is registered to sell nursery stock at 303-239-4154 or by visiting the Colorado Department of Agriculture website.