Mature plants

[StillHope]

Just wondering if anyone tried to plant mature fruit trees.Though it's more expensive,but might make sense in the long run.Any recommended nursery?

[allensylves]

You have to make sure the root system is in balance with the top on larger trees. Often potted trees are root bound and the roots are coiled around the pots. If they are planted 'as is' the roots do not anchor the tree properly and the tree will probably fall over in a wind storm. If the roots are severely cut back, they do not supply enough water, etc. to the top and the tree is slow to recover.

For some landscape trees, it was recommended a few years ago to cut the tree back to a stump (on those trees that would start new growth) and let it grow a completely new top. In a few years, you have a better tree and did not have to bother staking it, etc.

Generally, a smaller tree at planting produces a better tree in a few years and costs a lot less to buy and to plant.

With the big tractor-mounted tree planters that hydraulically cut out a big root ball and transport it to the hole, you get a better start, but have to spend beaucoup bucks. That is also for dirt, not lava rock. You still have a disproportionately small root ball.

Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[Hotzcatz]

Macuu222 put a notice of Plant It Hawaii's upcoming sale. They are the ones who produce almost all of the islands grafted fruit trees so getting to their sale early is a good thing! They only have this sale several times a year where you can go in and buy just one or two trees, so there will be crowds.

[csgray]

But be careful, one of my coworkers discovered this year that the navel orange he has been lovingly tending for 3 years is actually a grapefruit. He said the annual sale is so frenzied that plants end up getting mislabeled sometimes and no one catches it.

Carol