Waiting until Fall to plant container trees?

[SURGICAL GRADE]

Hey guys, I have seen several mentions regarding waiting until Fall to plant trees bought in the container if purchased later in the year and watering options are limited/ unavailable. Well, while in Walmart today (AL), I noticed their fruit trees were $7 each. Surprisingly, the several that they had were in great shape. As a result, I made it home with several Baldwin, Pineapple, and Hood pears.

The plan is to plant these at our property but, considering that its ~1.5 hrs away, I won't be able to water them like they would need if set in the ground now. I know that I've read about holding them over in 7 gal root trappers over the summer and planting them in Fall when conditions are more favorable and I'm at the property frequently to water once in the ground. My (long-winded) question is this: any advice/steps/ process from y'all who are more experienced at this?

I have some experience with fruit trees (have 10 right now at the house ranging from 1-4 years old) but could certainly use help on this one. Any advice greatly appreciated!!

 

[Goldentriangle]

I usually buy a few big box container trees on clearance every year. I put mine in 5 gallon standard rootmakers and baby them all summer at the house. I plant once dormant. So far so good on the ones I have done this. I do feel that I cheat myself out of quite a bit of growth but the trees are usually cheap enough to mess around with.

I have these two dunstan's hanging out in the rootmakers now. I bought them on clearance and there is a good chance I will pickup a few more if they still have them. I do think you need to regulate your time in the direct sun while in containers though since the media in the black pot can get scorching hot. I basically just repeated everything you just said but I feel it is your best option going into summer with no chance of watering weekly.


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[weekender21]

I'll add a few comments. Not from an expert perspective but I happen to be in the same boat as you and have floated the same question to members of this forum and 3 separate "grow bag" companies and a well known nursery. Below is some of the advice I received.

-Don't disturb the root ball when transferring from pot to bag unless there is obvious circling.
-Don't go bigger than 7 gallon and 5 is fine if transplanting from a 3 gallon pot. One recommendation was to use 7 if you can already see the roots or 5 if not.
-Add a soil-less medium to the grow bag. One exception to this was advice to use soil from the final destination if available.

I purchased 7 gallon grow bags from root maker and root pouch. I'm planning to use a 3-1-1 (3 parts conifer bark, 1 part medium sand, 1 part peat moss) soil-less medium and will fertilize with Osmocote fertilizer. Intent is to take lots of pictures and let everyone know how it turns out. If all goes as planned my trees will be planted this winter.

 

[TreeDaddy]

While at walmart, check out the blue shopping bags that sell for 50cents/bag

They look to be ~ 5 gallon and have a root pouch texture

I learned this from DogDoc and am trying this on some grafted persimmons that i bought there

bill

 

[Goldentriangle]

I am going to try the Walmart bag trick. I have been using root pouches and I am really starting to appreciate the ease of bags.


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[weekender21]

I might try one as well, it will be fun to test growth against the more expensive bags.

 

[THE LLC]

I always just leave them in the pot until fall--or preferably, winter.

 

[SURGICAL GRADE]

Excellent info! I appreciate all the replies. I went with a medium much like weekender described and have them in the 7 gal bags. I have them in a pretty shaded spot (not sure how much direct sun they should have with temps at 90 or so right now). Like many places, t's been a wet growing season thus far here, so I'm wondering if I should try and shield them a bit if/ when we go through a really wet spell again soon. I did, however, elevate them just a touch by using a brick on each side under the bag.

I guess it's trial and error that just requires some monitoring. Hopefully, the little extra room will still allow for a little growth this summer. As long as they survive it's a win, but it'd be a nice bonus if they didnt lose this first year before going in the ground

 

[weekender21]

Keep us updated, we'll have to compare notes after green up next spring.


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[SURGICAL GRADE]

Keep us updated, we'll have to compare notes after green up next spring.


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Sounds good to me