Buying a Tree

Every year, a parade of new hybrids and cultivars reaches the market. Typically, local nurseries stock the most popular trees in the vicinity, while mail-order sources offer more variety. Trees are sold in three forms:

 

Flowering dogwoods make a great
investment, as they provide
cool shade in the summer.

• Bare-root trees usually come inexpensively from mail-order nurseries where the lightweight, dormant stock is packed in damp material and easily shipped. Bare-root trees should be planted as soon as they arrive, and should not be allowed to dry out.
• Container-grown trees resemble potted plants. Local nurseries offer selections throughout the growing season. Plant these trees with the soil they've been growing in to promote quicker establishment with less transplant shock.
• Balled-and-burlapped trees are dug with a protective root ball of soil, which is then wrapped tightly in cloth or mesh. Buy and plant dormant stock, preferably. If the tree is over 10 or 15 feet tall, have a professional plant it for you.

• Look for healthy green leaves (if any), and well-developed top growth. Branches should be unbroken and balanced around the stem. Branches on dormant or bare-root stock should be pliable.
• Examine the roots, if possible. Healthy roots form a balanced, fully formed mass. Reject trees with broken or dried-out roots.
• Avoid trees that show signs of disease, pests, or stress (wilting, discolored or misshapen leaves, scarred bark, and nonvigorous growth).
• Buy trees from a nursery that backs up its reputation with product quality and service integrity.
• Consider size. Young trees may establish themselves faster than mature trees and have a better rate of success, though larger trees help your landscape seem instantly mature. Most flowering trees grow quickly, so it's OK to start with less expensive, small specimens.