Can't complain, can I?

We bought an orange and lemon tree from Ideal World last year. Despite planting them in large pots and wrapping these with bubble wrap up on blocks on the step immediately in front of the french windows and using the "tree cosies" we bought from them at the same time, they haven't survived the bad weather. Yet the little olive tree we bought from them and treated in exactly the same way, did.
So I sent them a polite "I'm a bit disappointed" e-mail with some photos of them in their sorry state and no excuses, they're going to send replacements. I'm well impressed.

 

Well done Doghouse. Its always worth trying and I am glad to see that they have come up trumps.

I don't really know how hardy they are, but I wouldn't have had the courage to leave them outside, even with a tree cosy.

 

Nor I!

 

I wouldn't either, if they hadn't "banged on" about how hardy they were when they were selling them.

 

They are not that hardy, oranges less so than lemons. I wouldn't risk either outside. Even if it managed to survive this winter it would take a long time to recover.
Glad you are getting replacements but I would give them more winter warmth if you can.

 

That's excellent service from Ideal World though - I know our local garden centre gives a two year guarantee - but only on 'hardy' trees. Glad you are getting some replacements - and hopefully you find a way of having them survive next winter.

 

yeah too cold this year for citrus outside with any protection. They were right to replace because it sounds like they suggested outside was ok, that was probably bad information, ok some years citrus is ok outside in sheltered spot, but were always going to get a real cold spell every few years and you should have be warned. I work in the idustry and get frustrated by the plant sold as hardy, the worst offenders ...Coprosma Pacific Night and Pennisetum setuceum Rubram, both lovely plants, both not suitable for uk winters particularly the latter.

 

Thanks for all your advice, they'll go into the shed next winter.