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Buying Yew on eBay

M FentM Fent Posts: 166

Any opinions on this listing on eBay? I'm wanting to plant a hedge and having looked around online, Yew is pretty expensive and these work out cheaper than most. Does the plant look reseaonably healthy to the more experienced eye? Would be good to get a bargain sometime!! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bare-Root-Yew-Plants-Taxus-/262687872021?hash=item3d296ad415:g:2PMAAOSwnbZYDN1v 

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,158

    How many for the money, I can't see that anywhere

    Last edited: 24 October 2016 19:08:26



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • M FentM Fent Posts: 166

    Very true, ive bought plants off ebay before and most have thrived. It's just such a big purchase for me and would be put off if they turned out to be duds. all part of the fun i guess.

  • M FentM Fent Posts: 166

    Its for 35 plants nut

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 36,185

    I've had a look at the listing and I would be a little hesitant buying these. The seller has ony sold three items - over a year ago - and none of the items were garden related. I am not saying that there would be anything wrong but that is the sort of thing that would put me off. I buy loads of plants on eBay and have a list of buyers with whom I am happy to deal. I would like to have seen something other than electrical items in the three items sold.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,081

    I personally wouldn't. I'd use one of the reputable online specialists.

    At least you'll have some insurance if they all turn up dried out and useless. image 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Somewhere like hedgesdirect are the same price and more reliable. And guaranteed. 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • M FentM Fent Posts: 166

    thanks all for the replies. Hedges Direct are selling similar size bare root plants but for £1.30 ish more per plant. I did message the seller and they said that they had purchased too many when planting their hedge last year and had planted these spare plants while they found a place for them but decided they didnt need them hence the sale. Thoughts gardeners??

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 36,185

    The final decision rests with you M Fent.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • I'd only get plants off ebay from a proper nursery--many smaller ones do trade there and sell good quality plants. The main issue with any hedge is that you want a set of uniform specimens otherwise the mature hedge will look very irregular as the clones grow at different rates. So, in my opinion it's worth the extra investment up front, but you will need to take good care of them--they can suffer invisibly in the following summer if not sufficiently watered, and then some units may die off.

    Another thing to be aware of is how you want to use your hedge. Yew is not so good if it is going at the back of a border, for instance, since the roots are toxic to many other plants and you will need to insert a strong plastic barrier about 18 inches deep into the soil to prevent the roots invading forwards. Some other hedging plants are more 'userfriendly'!

  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,393
    hogweed says:

    Somewhere like hedgesdirect are the same price and more reliable. And guaranteed. 

    See original post

    I have bought from hedgesdirect, not yew  but other mixed hedging and it was all good quality, well grown plants and of the sizes stated.  I would recommend them.

    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
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