Chris Bowers & Sons Reviews 

10 trees ordered, 3 died , despite meticulous preparation. Getting a refund required the threat of court action. There are better suppliers who are interested in customer service. Go elsewher

I purchased a Discovery apple tree on M106 rootstock from this seller and was disappointed with the condition it arrived in. The base/graft area of the trunk showed significant bark damage and scarring, raising concerns about the long-term health and viability of the tree.
I contacted the seller promptly with photos to ask for clarification and a resolution, but unfortunately I have not received any response to my emails.
I understand young fruit trees can have minor cosmetic marks, but this level of damage did not appear acceptable to me for a newly purchased tree. The lack of communication has been the most frustrating part of the experience.
I would have preferred to resolve the matter directly and amicably but I am requesting a chargeback from my bank as I had no response from seller.

My mum often said "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all" so I've never left a one star review. I'm making an exception here because I think potential customers should beware.

I ordered a golden gage online, paid and waited about 10 days. When I enquired about a delivery, I got a snarky reply that I should know it takes up to 28 days. So I sent the website screenshot claiming shipping within 5 to 7 days. They didn't reply at all.

A few days later it turned up. I'm not sure if they are punishing me for believing their website claims but to call it a tree is laughable really. The website states they are 120cm to 150cm high. Mine is about 40cm. There's no point pursuing this with their rude customer service. Obviously I'll never use them again and I'd advise others to avoid them.

Based on my experience, its a 50/50 chance for the bare root fruit trees.
Ordered two bare root trees (1 cherry and 1 plum), the plum was ok but cherry tree dropped fairly fast after showing promising start. Not much can be done now so will have to try again next season but will try some other source.

Beware of false advertising. Ordered plants that were supposed to be 2L, but arrived at 9cm - if I had the right information I could have got the plants cheaper elsewhere and 'customer service' have not responded to my multiple e-mails. I've never witnessed a 'company' have such abhorrent 'customer service' - it may as well not exist. Avoid.

I purchased a Crab Apple Tree from them March last year.
I was very surprised to discover, on arrival, that it was just a "stick" with no branches and curled up leaves. However I had faith and planted my "stick".
This year it looks an unsightly mess. Still no branches and still the leaves all curled up.
I am very disappointed as I thought I was buying a lovely fruit tree from a reputable seller. I complained by email and received a very rude reply saying I should have used insecticide.
No offer of a replacement or refund. So much for their "Gold Standard Guarantee".
Don't recommend this company.
I should have saved my money and bought from the garden centre instead.

Avoid this business. Ordered fruit trees that arrived completely dead. When I requested a full refund, Donald the manager was incredibly dismissive and cheeky and ignored my messages. They then attempted to send unsolicited replacement trees without my consent. I formally refused delivery of these replacements via APC on 21 May and gave them 5 working days to return my £73.85. The deadline has passed, no refund has been received, and they are completely ignoring communication. I have now escalated this to my bank for a chargeback and formally reported the trader to Citizens Advice / Trading Standards.

If I could give zero stars I would!
Ordered 2 bare root trees from this company last September. Both trees arrrived in poor condition, no response to either my email or phone call at the time. Planted the trees and the pear tree has survived but the Japanese cherry has not. Sent a further e mail over the recent BH weekend : received a prompt but extremely rude reply from Donald telling me a replacement tree would be sent ( I had actually requested a refund) but that now “ I could perhaps stop moaning and enjoy the fine weather over the long weekend” A replacement tree has arrived and is also in very poor condition. Quite frankly,I am not going to bother wasting any more of my time pursuing this with them but just wanted to advise others to avoid this company at all costs: there are many excellent mail order companies out there who provide lovely plants, this is not one of them.

Ordered two apple trees in September 2025, one fine and one dead. They have not responded to several emails and answerphone messages. The most appalling customer service ... I wish I'd read some of the other similarly negative reviews.

Don't touch them with a bargepole!

Very poor customer service. Bought two crabapple trees, delivery was prompt with no issues. Planted them straight away following the guidelines. One came on perfectly the other didn't do anything.

Contacted customer services via email and I was shocked with the response. My email was polite asking what we could do regarding the issue explaining I didn't have my receipt but attached photos of the tree and my bank statement proving proof of purchase. Donald was so abrupt in his reply, no pleasantries, this was his response :

You go to great lengths to absolve yourself from any 'blame' as such but you haven't bothered keeping the order number - which we need - we do not want proof of payment. You don't even tell us what the tree is that has failed!
Regards
Donald
Nursery Manager.

I replied to his email asking for help as I couldn't find my receipt and was there anything else we could do. He replied :

The order number so we can put your replacement request with the original digital file for your order. And also which tree it is that has failed.

D.

I was so disappointed with the response, I would recommend avoiding this company completely. Customer service is key and this company lacks any form of this.

I have tried contacting them twice further but no reply. I assume I won't be getting one and nothing will be done.

Please avoid this company.

Good stock, but very poor customer service. Of the three plants I ordered, only two have arrived. I’ve tried contacting the company three times to find out whether the last item will be arriving, but no one responds to emails or answers the phone. I also haven’t received a refund for the missing item. Very disappointing.

Never again. One tree was dead on arrival, another is a wrong variety, this could easily have been resolved with some customer service but there is NONE. No response from multiple emails and calls.
Out of pocket. DO NOT USE.

I live on a Scottish island and so obviously some distance. This was clearly explained when I ordered my tree, but going on most of the recommendations, I decided it would be okay. It would've been okay if it had been wrapped properly, but my husband and I were appalled when, after unpacking, the tree was as good as dead! It was bare rooted which had been placed in a dry plastic bag and wrapped in straw. How on earth it was expected to survive is anyones guess. Why a dry plastic bag for goodness sake, especially given the journey it would make ? Further correspondence was rude and dismissive to say the least. I carefully planted the tree and regularly watered it in my polycrub out of the elements where I hoped it would revive, but alas it never did. It may even have been half dead when it was packed! Clearly, there was no real care for the plant or customer service. Very disappointed and appalling to deal with. Haven't bothered to request a refund as I don't want more of the same.

Excellent plant,delivered promptly.

I do not recommend.
Website stated all orders are dispatched in 5 working days. Weeks passed. I contacted them and they said there was a delay and said it would be delivered week commencing 13th April (very late). It was then delivered without warning on the 11th April when I was away for the weekend and sat in the garden for two days in an enclosed plastic bag. Needless to say it’s dead and has done nothing since I’ve planted it up. A complete waste of money. Do not buy from here.

I ordered 4 plants: 3 described as supplied in 2l pots, one bare root. I received all 4 bare root, tangled and tied together with string in a plastic bag. The plant supposed to be bareroot had been broken and damaged in transit and unplantable. The other 3 were not supplied as described.
I tried to raise a complaint with the supplier to explain on the same day as I received the delivery. Their response was (word for word): "Pot grown supplied during the summer; bare root Autumn-Spring. April is a month of Spring. If you bother to untie you won't find they are a 'mess' and it is the best format in which to plant for the time of year. Dealt with promptly instead of glancing inside the bag and tossing to one side will yield best results ...."
I responded and explained that, regardless of their rudeness and lack of respect, nevertheless, one of the plants was damaged and the others were not as described on the website and I asked for a refund and was happy to return the plants. I did not receive a reply, despite a further email to chase it and a phone call that wasn't picked up. Summary: this supplier does not care how the product is received by the customer, does not describe products accurately on their website and has no post sales customer service. Legally due to the Consumer Act I am entitled to a refund: but they will not engage.

18 Aug'24 paid for an almond tree for almost £33, Autumn '24 received a peach or apricot tree, judging by the little fruit it grew, which definitely wasn't an almond.
21 Jul'25 Told them, quoting all the details on the PayPal order including invoice number.
Instant reply saying they would exchange in the bare root season.
17 Nov'25 I mailed asking if they actually expected me to dig up the tree in order for 'exchange' to occur.
23 Nov'25 mailed saying I really would like an answer
26 Dec'25 mailed saying still waiting, next step review
No replies!
Tree has curled up leaves .. leaf curl or insect?
Do I bother with small claims court!

Do not waste your money. Rude customer service.
Ordered two fruit trees last Autumn 2025. It became apparent this Spring that one was a totally different type of tree. Mistakes happen - I get that. But I wasn’t prepared for the rude reply to my email. So much for Gold Star guarantees!

I ordered 4 bare root fruits trees from Chris Bowers & Sons 2 Apple, 1 apricot and 1 Damson. All arrived in March well packaged, though the damson didn’t look too great from the start. Having planted many bare root trees and hedges previously we knew it can sometimes takes them a while to show signs of life.
Now 9th May the damson as suspected is dead, as is the apricot, the apples on the other hand are doing well. Having planted 22 trees from various companies these are the only two that have failed!
So I phoned Chris Bowers, like everyone else no answer! So I emailed them this afternoon to ask for a replacement, but I had deleted my email with my order number on. So sent my name and address along with the email hoping they could track it down, most companies can.
Unlike other reviewers I had a very prompt reply, as follows
‘we will replace but we definitely need the order number; it will be on the packing slip if you don't have the original e-mail confirmation.’
I explained I no longer had the packing slip as I threw that out back in March! So asked if they could look it up using my address, I listed what trees I ordered, even the date when payment was taken and for how much.
They replied very promptly again with this
‘Our database doesn't work that way, most more sophisticated online CMS databases don't these days. That is why an order number is provided - twice.’
I’m sorry but there was no need to be condescending about it, so I replied ‘I’m sorry your system can’t be that sophisticated if you only have one way to call up a previous order!! Also not a To, kind regards or we apology for this, exactly what I have copied and pasted above!! Disgusting!!
I know I haven’t given them a chance to rectify the issue, but after that I’m now not bothered if they don’t. Customer service goes a long way and clearly they are lacking in this area and reading other reviews their standard of trees are too. Far better quality and size from my local nursery, they were out of some of the varieties hence why I placed the order with Chris Bowers in the first place!
Never again!!

i ordered 3 damson trees, of the three one arrived obviously dead, i tried to contact the company by email and by telephone, neither of which were answered. i have no other way to get in touch, so i wrote by snail mail, again no reply.
i leave it to you as to choosing a company with zero customer service.