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You are here: Willis Orchard Company > Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions - (FAQ)
About Us
Who are we?
Contact Us
How do I contact your company?
General
What does 'cal.' or 'caliper' mean?
Who is Paradise Palm Company?
What are chill hours?
How do I have a catalog mailed to me?
My plant is shorter than I ordered!
Can I place an order for pickup or visit your nursery?
What does B&B mean?
What can we ship to California?
Does Willis Orchard Company offer gift certificates?
Where are you located?
Methods of Payment
What payment methods do you accept?
What is my CVV2 number and how do I find it?
Minimum Order
What is the minimum order for Willis Orchard Co.?
Ordering Information
How do I place an order?
Is it possible to pre-order or to have an order delayed?
Return Policy
What happens if my plants arrive damaged?
How do I return a plant that dies within the first year?
Is there a restock or cancellation fee?
Shipping
What is the shipping cost?
Where can Willis Orchard Company ship?
Do we ship bare root or in containers?
When do trees begin shipping?
What service do you use to ship my plants?
How long does it take for an order to ship out?
When will Willis Orchard Company ship my order?
Soil Requirements
What is the best type of soil to use on my plants?
Watering
How often should I water my plants?
About Us
Who are we?
The owner, Jason Willis, has been in the nursery business for the past 17 years. A naturalist and conservationist at heart, he studied Environmental Horticultural Technology and began his career in nursery sales at a local wholesale nursery. Later he opened a containerized long leaf pine seedling nursery that grew nearly 1 million trees per year. As his interest in orchard stock grew, he moved into retail nursery sales and management. From there, Jason's passion for horticulture developed into Willis Orchard Company (and its sister company, Paradise Palms), an online source to supply consumers with quality nursery stock at affordable prices.
Throughout the years, Jason has learned that quality products, fair pricing, and outstanding customer service are the cornerstones of any successful business and he has worked hard to apply these precepts to Willis Orchard Company. To this end, he constantly strives to improve his product, and he has assembled a knowledgeable and dedicated support staff.
Here at Willis Orchard Company we want to earn your trust and business, and we believe you will notice the difference in the superior quality of product and services received from Willis Orchard Company compared to those of other companies. Thank you for choosing Willis Orchard Company to supply your nursery stock needs. We genuinely look forward to serving you.
Sincerely,
Jason Willis, Owner of Willis Orchard Company
Contact Us
How do I contact your company?
Our physical address is:
Willis Orchard Co., LLC.
200 McCormick Road
Cartersville, GA. 30120
Please call to schedule an appointment for pickup orders, as we operate primarily as a mail-order company.
Call us toll-free at: 1-866-586-6283 or 1-866-876-2945.
Our local phone number is: 229-324-3045.
If you would prefer to email us, email your questions to: orders@willisorchards.com.
If you email us: Please note that due to the volume of emails we receive daily, it may take up to 2-3 business days to receive a reply from us. If your concern is urgent, please call us.
General
What does 'cal.' or 'caliper' mean?
"Cal." stands for caliper; caliper measures the thickness at the base of the trunk of a tree. When a tree is said to have a 1/4" cal., that means the base of the trunk is 1/4" thick.
Who is Paradise Palm Company?
Paradise Palm Company is our sister niche company, specializing in palm trees. Some orders may show as being charged by "Paradise Palm Co," but not to worry, it's still Willis Orchards and you will receive your order as normal. Paradise Palm Company may be found at www.paradisepalmco.com.
What are chill hours?
Chill hours are number of hours below 40*F in the winter. A lack of chill hours is generally only a problem for very warm areas, such as Florida.
How do I have a catalog mailed to me?
Since we have no printed catalogs or other printed material, we cannot send one to you.
My plant is shorter than I ordered!
Check to see if it is pruned. Many of our trees and plants will be professionally pruned by up to 1/3rd, before shipping, for two reasons. First and most importantly, annual pruning is highly recommended by research experts because it helps the plant grow better once planted and promotes better branching structure that leads to better fruit production. Secondly, the maximum box height allowed by FedEx Home delivery is 108 inches (9 feet). So for example, orders of a single 7-8 foot tree, some pruning allows us to meet this height restriction and in turn allows you to receive your order at a reasonable shipping cost. However, there is the option to receive our larger trees via FedEx Freight delivery, without any pruning but at an additional cost. Call us for freight options or quotes.
Can I place an order for pickup or visit your nursery?
Yes! However, we are first and foremost a mail-order plant company. We are not generally open to the public. You can call us and schedule an appointment or pickup so that we can have someone on site to best serve you.
Please note that the minimum order for walk-in customers is $200.
What does B&B mean?
It stands for Balled and Burlapped, which is similar to a potted tree. The tree is grown in the field along with our bare-root trees. However, this tree is dug in a way that the soil around the root is spaded out of the ground and placed in a wire basket that has been lined with burlap. Then it's tied tightly with twine to secure the root-ball that has been formed. The roots are much less disturbed with this transplanting process.
What can we ship to California?
We are certified to ship bare root trees (100% void of soil) to California; however, due to the California Department of Agriculture regulations, there are some items that are prohibited to ship into the state. The items which are prohibited are: Peaches, Plums, Apricots, Cherries, Nectarines, Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, Hickory, Persimmons, Blueberries, Apples, Crabapples, Palms, Citrus, and Oaks.
Does Willis Orchard Company offer gift certificates?
We do! If you would like to purchase a gift certificate, please give us a call at 1-866-586-6283.
Where are you located?
We are located in Cartersville, Georgia.
Our address is:
Willis Orchard Co., LLC.
200 McCormick Road
Cartersville, GA. 30120
Methods of Payment
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover) through our online shopping cart, as well as through telephone. Checks or other payments are accepted through arrangement by telephone or you may mail in a check along with a copy of the Mail-In Order Form that you have filled-out or simply write your order on a piece of paper.
Willis Orchard Company has partnered with First Data to easily and securely process transactions.
What is my CVV2 number and how do I find it?
CVV2 is a security measure we require for all transactions. Since a CVV2 number is listed on your credit card, but is not stored anywhere, the only way to know the correct CVV2 number for your credit card is to physically have possession of the card itself. All VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card and Diners Club, and American Express cards made in North America in the past 5 years or more have a CVV2 number.
How to find your CVV2 number:
On a VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card or Diners Club card please turn your card over and look in the signature strip. You will find (either the entire 16-digit string of our card number, OR just the last 4 digits), followed by a space, followed by a 3-digit number. That 3-digit number is your CVV2 number.
On American Express Cards, the CVV2 number is a 4-digit number that appears above the end of your card number.
Minimum Order
What is the minimum order for Willis Orchard Co.?
Minimum order is $50 of product plus the minimum shipping fee. (See Shipping).
Ordering Information
How do I place an order?
You can order through our online shopping cart using your credit card or Google Wallet. You may also contact us by telephone and place an order with your credit card.
Please note that placing an order over the telephone constitutes a verbal agreement to our End User License Agreement.
Is it possible to pre-order or to have an order delayed?
Of course! To pre-order, you need to place your order as you normally would, and the preordered items will ship at their designated ship date (as noted on your order).
To have an order delayed, you will need to contact us to let us know when you want it shipped. You will need to contact us through email or phone as soon as possible, because we try to ship out most of our products the same day, if at all possible.
Return Policy
What happens if my plants arrive damaged?
Nursery stock is perishable. All shipments should be immediately and carefully unpacked and inspected on arrival and then placed in proper storage if not planted within 10 days. Any problems with the condition or quality or quantity of goods received should be brought to our attention immediately. If you receive a package that is obviously damaged in delivery, please report to the carrier the damaged package, then call us to inform us of the problem, and we will promptly ship you a replacement order.
How do I return a plant that dies within the first year?
Please refer to our Friendly Guarantee.
Is there a restock or cancellation fee?
Yes. There is a 10% cancellation fee for cancellations made after 24 hours from the time of purchase. Also, there is a 20% restocking fee for all items refused at delivery, returned after accepting delivery, and/or for orders canceled after shipping from our warehouse has already occurred.

Shipping
What is the shipping cost?
Shipping cost is 25% of the order, with a minimum charge of $17.50.
Example: I ordered $50 worth of products, shipping charge is $17.50. Total charge is $67.50.
Example 2: I ordered $100 worth of products, shipping charge is $25. Total charge is $125.
*Note: The examples listed herein are merely representations of cost. They may not necessarily reflect your results when ordering.
Where can Willis Orchard Company ship?
We can ship all over the continental United States. However, due to agricultural regulations we are not permitted to ship certain items into California. Give us a call to verify any California deliveries, if you are unsure of your local restrictions.
Do we ship bare root or in containers?
Our trees are shipped in a state called "semi-bareroot." We remove the soil around the root of the plant and replace it with a moisture retaining gel called Terrasorb. This keeps the roots moist during transit and lessens the weight of the tree for ease of planting when you receive it. Large orders may be shipped via freight carriers and the trees may be left in the containers. Container grown trees can be shipped in the pots if you request and are willing to pay for the additional freight charges. Freighted trees are sometimes (not always) shipped in pots.
When do trees begin shipping?
Our evergreen plants ship year-round. Most of our trees and plants are deciduous, meaning that they can only be shipped in their dormant state, void of leaves. These trees are typically shipped later in the fall (starting around late October), through winter, and into spring, ending in April.
We encourage you to order well in advance of your expected delivery date. Many items will be sold out by spring. Therefore, if you want spring delivery, we strongly suggest that you place your order in the Fall.
What service do you use to ship my plants?
Nearly all orders ship via FedEx Ground; in some cases, orders must be shipped using one of our freight carriers.
How long does it take for an order to ship out?
Unless you specifically request a future ship date, we give an estimate of 10 to 14 business days to ship an order during the busy season of November through April, due to large order volume. In many cases, however, orders are received much more quickly than that, but unless prior arrangements are made, no guarantee is made as to arrival date.
When will Willis Orchard Company ship my order?
We ship out orders when all products on a given order are ready to ship.
For example:
You have an order with 2 items. One item ships in the Fall, the other ships in the following Spring.
Unless you make other arrangements with us, your order will ship in the Spring with both items.
Soil Requirements
What is the best type of soil to use on my plants?
Dig the hole two to three times as wide as the root system to allow loosened soil for new root growth. Fruit trees like well drained soils so to add 1/3 sand or pea gravel mixed in with the extracted soil is recommended for compact or heavy clay soils. However, the hole needs to be just deep enough so that the tree is planted at the same depth at which it was grown. Do not bury the trunk. The base of the trunk should be at ground level. Backfill the hole with the soil and or gravel mix. Tamp the soil with your foot to remove any large air pockets that may exist. Now build a soil barrier around the circumference of your hole to form a dam that will return water. Finally, water the fruit tree. Soak it. Adding a two or three inch layer of mulch around the tree is recommended.
Watering
How often should I water my plants?
Frequent watering is crucial for newly planted trees. Water your tree daily or every other day for the first two weeks. Over the course of a month or two, taper off watering to twice a week as the tree establishes itself. It is very important not to allow the soil to dry out with your newly planted tree. After a few months, the tree will acclimate and routine watering will not be so critical for its survival. As for how often to water after this point, will depend on the climate, the seasons, and the frequency of rainfall. In most cases, a good soaking two or three times a week in the summer months and decreasing to once a week in the colder season should be adequate.
