Ordering Problems

I place a large order and I get an error when checking out.
Large orders may exceed the 70 lb. weight limit for the US Postal Service.  To process your order, divide it up into smaller orders of less than 70 lb.  We will manually remove the extra handling charges from your total order.  Please note in the Special Instructions box that you have multiple orders .

Why did I not receive an email receipt or acknowledgement of my order?
SPAM and Virus Protection Programs prevent some of our emails (order acknowledgements, replies to questions) from reaching our customers. To ensure delivery to your inbox, please configure your e-mail or spam filters to accept incoming mail from the GrassEmporium.com domain. If you do not receive an order acknowledgement the next business day after placing your order, please check your junk mail folder.

Shipping 

When will my order ship?
Orders are shipped on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays depending upon when you order is received.  We attempt to ship all orders revieved on Wednesdays through Sunday on the following Monday or Tuesday.  Of course, express orders are shipped the next business day.

Why are orders only shipped on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday?
We want your plants to arrive in the quickest way, spending as little time as possible in transit.  We offer USPS Priority Mail as our standard shipping for delivery in 1 to 3 business days.  By shipping no later that Wednesday, your order should arrive on or before Saturday, not spending the weekend sitting on a truck.  Orders sent by Express Mail are shipped the next business day.

Why is USPS the only shipping option?
The USPS offers the best value in shipping.  There is no charge for pickup and no charge for Saturday delivery.

Are orders shipped year around?
We stop shipping orders placed on or after November 1 and resume on March 1 depending upon your planting Zone.  Preorders may be placed after November 1 (sometimes at great savings) and will be shipped the following spring at the appropriate time for your area.  For preorders, your credit card will NOT be charged until your order ships.  We ship preorders according to this general schedule:

USDA Zone 9 and above                                      March 1
USDA Zone 8                                                          April 1
USDA Zone 7&6                                                     April 15
USDA Zone 5                                                          May 1
USDA Zone 4                                                          May 15
USDA Zone 3                                                          May 31

Should my order be insured?
We have experienced very few incidents of lost or damaged orders shipped with the USPS.  However, The Grass Emporium can not assume responsibility for lost or damaged packages.  If you are concerned with the safe delivery of your order, you may choose to purchase shipping insurance when you check out.

Planting & Maintenence

When can I plant ornamental grasses and bamboo?
We grow all of our plants in containers, ready to plant.  Because they are well esablished in pots, they can be planted at any time during the growing season.  We never ship plants bare root.  Our shipping dates are from March 1 to November 1 (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays).

Are there any special instructions on planting ornamental grasses or bamboo?
Ornamental grasses and bamboo are easy to grow.  Full planting instructions are included with your order and the back side of our full color brochure.  As with any new plant, make sure that the soil stays MOIST not WET (unless it is a water or bog plant).  Let the soil dry out then water it thoroughly.  Apply mulch around the plant to help preserve moisture especially in hot climates.

Can ornamental grasses and bamboo be planted in containers?
Yes, although some look better than others.  Each plant in our on-line catalog has a recommendation.  Container grown plants offer you the flexibility to arrange them in various locations to add a different "look" to your yard or patio.
We strongly recommend that bamboo be container grown unless you install an in-ground barrier.  Most of our bamboo is a running variety and can spread rapidly to unintended areas of your yard.

What maintenance does ornamental grass and bamboo require?
Many varieties of ornamental grass are evergreen.  We suggest that you remove the dead leaves by gentle raking or hand pulling IF most of the color is intact.  Otherwise, you can cut the grass to within a few inches of the ground where is will regrow to its full height.
Many other grass are deciduous and will turn brown or tan after the first frost.  Since these grasses offer an interesting color and texture to the winter landscape, you should cut them to within 1/2 of the diameter from the ground in early spring before new shoots emerge.
Bamboo is evergreen in most climates UNLESS the acompanying plant tag notes otherwise.  Maintenance is limited to removing dead canes.  The leaf thatch that develops within the grove should remain to keep weeds down.

My bamboo is running out of control and there is no in-ground barrier, how can it be controlled?
Bamboo can be an agressive spreader and should be grown in containers if there is no in-ground barrier to keep it contained.  It can be somewhat controlled by mowing and stepping on new culms/shoot as they emerge.  Roundup will not kill most bamboo.  The most effective way to remove bamboo is to keep the area mowed so that no culms can emerge and by digging out the roots.