Acquiring Healthy Trees and Shrubs

Our latest book review comes from the Ortho’s All About series. Ortho’s All About: Flowering Trees and Shrubs covers many different topics, but one in particular that we thought would be beneficial for you is the topic on acquiring trees and shrubs.  Below you will find a small excerpt from book providing an overview of the purchasing process and things you should look for and be aware of to ensure you acquire the perfect trees and shrubs.
 
“SOURCES: You can buy plants from garden
centers, retail nurseries, or mail-order
catalogs. Garden centers sell plants grown by
wholesale nurseries, whereas retail nurseries
grow at least some of the plants they sell and 
may also offer landscape design and
installation services. Most mail-order firms 
pack and ship plants well and at the right
time for planting, and may offer plants that r
re not available locally, but few sell large
trees. Many gardeners buy from both local
retail outlets and mail-order firms
 
PREPARATION FOR SALE: Trees and
shrubs are sold in different ways. Some are
dug with bare roots, stored moist, and
wrapped for sale. Others are dug with a soil
ball, wrapped with burlap, and kept moist.
Others are containerized-dug with a so
ball, then potted in a container for sale. Still
others are grown in containers-potted as a
small plant and grown in the container fora
year or more. The method used depends on
the age and kind of plant, the season, and the
nature of the retail outlet.
 
SIZE: Starting with a large plant may seem
like the best way to have immediate impact,
but this is not always true. Smaller plants
become established more easily and may
outpace a larger plant started at the same
time. It's more important to select for
condition than size.
 
BARE-ROOT TREES AND SHRUBS: The
best bare-root trees are young; avoid older
trees with hare roots. Plant bare-root trees
and shrubs while they are fully dormant –
before buds begin to swell and expand into
leaves.  Many retailers buy bare-root trees in
late winter; they may sell some bare-root,
and plant the rest in containers (which adds
to the price) to sell later.  Buy containerized
plants after they have begun to leaf out,
to be sure they will grow.”
 
 
Reference:
Flint, Harrison L. Ortho's All about Flowering Trees & Shrubs. Meredith Books, 2002.