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1) We received your order early and shipped it early:
If we received your Spring order before the end of February and were able to ship it by mid-April, your trees were packaged when they were fully dormant and moist, and shipped during cooler weather so that they did not get heated up in transit. They can be planted right away if the ground is thawed; if not, hold them in a cool place until planting time.2) We received your order early, but held it for later shipping:
If you ordered early but requested that we hold shipment until late April, your trees were packaged when they were dormant and moist, but had to wait around until your requested shipping date. There is a greater chance that your package encountered hot weather in shipment, since things warm up as the days of April go by. Although it may be still cold where you are, that is not necessarily true for the cities through which your package had to travel. Even holding packages in our cooler until they are shipped cannot protect them from the effects of a few short hours of 70-80 degree weather in shipment. Heat causes the trees to wake up and start growing, a process that rapidly depletes their root reserves and can compromise their ability to grow vigorously once planted. Plant as soon as possible, use plenty of water, mulch generously, and follow up with daily watering after planting.3) We received your order late in the season:
If we received your order in late March or April (a postmark of Aril 20 is the deadline for Spring shipment,) your trees will be less dormant, because as the growing season approaches, they are starting to wake up, pushing out buds and little green leaves. This is especially true for early-blooming fruits like plums and cherries. They are actively beginning to draw water and nutrients from the roots and so, although they might be “greener” when packaged, they are actually less able to bounce back after the stress of heat in shipment. This combination of heat during shipment and active growth causes late orders to account for the majority of failed “takes.” If your trees are beginning to pop their buds when you receive them, some extra effort will help them establish successfully. Plant immediately in good soil, first soaking the roots for several hours or overnight in a tub of water or manure tea. Then, on the surface lay down a generous circle of good, deep organic-matter mulch around each tree or plant. This will help conserve soil moisture around the roots. Water daily after planting until mid or late June.
The deadline for mailing Fall orders is September 30.
Although Fall planting can lessen the need for Spring and Summer watering,
lots of water should be used while planting (at least 5-10 gal/tree) and
the ground should be kept moist until freeze-up. Dry ground going into
winter makes even a cold-hardy tree more prone to winter injury. In late
Fall after the ground has become cold, apply a deep circle of insulating
mulch around the base of the tree (manure, leaves, sawdust, straw, hay).
The idea is to keep the ground cold, thus preventing freezing and thawing
cycles that might heave the root system. However, since rodents can
bed down in straw and hay, protect the trunk of your tree with a hardware-cloth
cage.
1) Take off the outer white plastic wrapper. Inspect your plants to make sure that they are in good condition and your order was correctly filled. Sometimes labels and smaller plants can be hidden down inside the inner root wrapper.
2) Check the roots for moisture See photo above. If the roots seem moist and you will be able to plant within a week, proceed to 4. If the roots seem dry or if the inner wrapper is torn, take the plants out and soak the roots in a bucket of water for several hours. Then you can either “heel in” the plants — see 3 — or repack the roots with damp (not wet) sawdust inside the root wrapper. Patch any holes in the plastic, and tie up the root-wrapping tightly to prevent the sawdust from drying out. Proceed to 4.
3) If you have a place in your garden that has thawed on the surface, it may be possible to “heel in” the trees to keep the roots moist until planting . This is a temporary measure to hold plants until they can be planted in their permanent spot. Thawed spots can sometimes be found under lingering snow cover or near a compost pile. You want the plants to stay dormant, so try to pick a place that is thawed but not overly warm or sunny. Dig a shallow depression. Remove the inner wrapper and lay the plants on their side with the roots in the depression. (See photo below.) The plants can be loosely bundled together. Cover the roots fully with some loose, moist dirt. The roots should not be exposed to air, even for a little while. Keep them protected from wind and sun, even on the short trip between garage and heeling-in spot, or heeling-in spot and planting spot.
4) If you decide to store your shrubs and trees until planting time, set the package in a cool, dark place like a cellar or garage. It should be protected from sunlight and extreme freezing temperatures until planting time. Note — don't wait until it's time to plant your garden! Plant as soon as the ground is thawed.
