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Buying Trees
Buying options when shopping for trees
- Bare Root Tree
- Containerized or Potted Tree
Bare root trees
- Trees that are sold without soil around their roots
- Their roots are exposed or bare
- Bare root trees are usually sold in bundles of 2 to 10
- Store in the ground until ready for planting
- Note: Keep roots covered at all times
Advantages
- Lower cost than containerised
- Easier to transport & store
Disadvantages
- Less choice of trees available in the bare root form
- Can only be bought & planted between months of October to March
- Requires more care after planting - ensure they are kept moist
- Slower to establish than containerized trees
Containerised trees
- These are trees which are sold in their pots or containers
- They can be sold & planted all year round
Advantages
- Can be planted all year round
- Do not need to be planted directly after being purchased
- Will established faster than bare root trees
- There is a wider range of tree species available in containers
What to consider when buying trees
Measure the girth of the stem
- The girth is the diameter of the tree at 1m in height
The height
- The height of the tree is less relevant than the girth as a young tree can grow quite tall without developing a sturdy stem
The Roots
For bare root trees
- Asses the roots, making sure that there are manyof them
- Make sure that the roots have not dried out
- Also look out for the smaller roots as these are most important
For Containerised trees
- Asses the container
- Are there roots sticking out the bottom of the pot
- Is the plant pot bound
- Can the container be easily removed from the root ball
The Canopy
- Ensure that there is an even distribution of stems & buds
- This will determine the future shape of the tree
- Place the tree on the ground & walk around it
Pests & diseases
- Assess the pot for moss, lichens, slugs & other weeds or pests
- Asses the foliage for Botrytis, Blackspot & Mildew
- It is important not to buy plants that are ill
- Otherwise you will bring the problem back to your garden
