Please help

[lazy_turtle]

I have 11 apple and pear trees coming this week that I was planning to plant this weekend. Forecast is showing 2-5 inches from Thursday-Sunday.

Trying to figure out what to do:

Go pre dig the holes early this week with our 24” auger?

How would I store the trees until the following weekend if i don’t get them planted this weekend?

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Kooch]

The tree seller usually sends directions on how to handle this situation, in my experience. Follow them. If they don’t:

Check to make sure the roots are still moist. If they aren’t, add some water and reseal them in the packaging they arrived in. Then, put them someplace cool and dark. They usually will last a few days just fine if it’s not too warm.

If you need to store them for a longer period of time, just get the roots wet and cover them in soil somewhere shady and cool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bigboreblr]

Rain or snow?

I'd look at the buds on the trees, if they're swelling, I'd put them in this weekend. I'd be more concerned about rain than snow. Pears wake up before the apples.

My trees are coming in Wednesday. got 3/4 inch rain over the weekend in the adirondacks. Hoping my truck n trailer make it to camp without getting stuck in the sandy road. Might be some frostline,

Put trees in last year in the snow and did ok. Put trees in chopping down an inch or two of frostline, those did ok too. They're much hardier dormant than waking up without them being in soil.

 

[lazy_turtle]

Rain or snow?

I'd look at the buds on the trees, if they're swelling, I'd put them in this weekend. I'd be more concerned about rain than snow. Pears wake up before the apples.

My trees are coming in Wednesday. got 3/4 inch rain over the weekend in the adirondacks. Hoping my truck n trailer make it to camp without getting stuck in the sandy road. Might be some frostline,

Put trees in last year in the snow and did ok. Put trees in chopping down an inch or two of frostline, those did ok too. They're much hardier dormant than waking up without them being in soil.

Rain for me

 

[bigboreblr]

Rain for me

If you can get some extra soil, mound them. Loosen up the soil a bit, put the roots 1/3 to 1/2 in the ground, then make a mound of soilf or them up top.

Probably a good front bucket load of soil will do 2 trees. larger tractor bucket like 50+hp probably can do 3.

clay soil? Sand should drain out better.

 

[TWalter91]

This is what Bluehill recommends. I have also placed multiple trees into a bigger pot before and heeled them in that way for a couple of weeks. Just make sure the roots do not dry out.

 

[lazy_turtle]

I may be able to beat the rain if I go down and pre dig the holes today. And advice on how deep?

 

[TWalter91]

I usually do 2-3ft wide and 2ft deep.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I'd do everything possible to get them in the ground before a wet, cool rainfall. I took a vacation day last Friday to plant 11 apple trees before a cold, wet weekend and it worked out really well.

 

[lazy_turtle]

Well the trees didn’t get delivered before the rain. But I have the holes drilled. I’m not sure if I should wait until everything dries out or get them in now.

 

[crappieman2380]

I'm pretty far from an expert so take this with a grain of salt. I'd go ahead and plant them. The 2 springs I planted trees it was sopping wet. I had all of the holes (2ft diameter x 2ft deep) dug way ahead of time. The days I planted it had rained the night before, or was raining that day. Was bailing water out of the holes, then trying to get the trees and dirt back in before they got too much water in them. The amount of dead earthworms i bailed out of those holes with the water fed the birds well. Muddy mess, but I'm sure there was no air pockets around the roots lol. The majority of the 40 trees have thrived, although I do have 2 or 3 that seem a little behind. The area I planted mine is on a slope that gets alot of runoff and we have pretty wet springs in my area of PA. If I had waited for dry weather it would have been June before I planted. Good luck!

 

[MW22392]

I would plant asap

 

[TWalter91]

I need to plant a few trees but my clay soil is very wet. It is straight mud for a couple feet down. Area never gets flooded but it does get wet in spring. Think I will be alright planting some apple trees on standard rootstock?

 

[bigboreblr]

Last year I transplanted some 30-06 crabapples on B118 roots. It was at home for a year, then I put the over alongside the farmalnd Im allowed to hunt. The spaces between fields are usually drainage channels. Today I Carefully walking here there to them today not to step in a puddle. I was worried they might of been in a spot that was too wet. However, they seem to love it. Put on a little over 2ft of growth. I planted a kerr on anty in a better drier spot. About 4-5 inches of growth.

My trees at home would be flooded for over a week and survived. I did put a drainage channel in backyard. However, before the house was built in 2003, it was an apple orchard. Im assuming the spot has had periodic flooding for many years before me.

I havea red delicious on standard rootstock from tractor supply. Its doing fine. I transplanted some spruce trees which in general do not like heavy clay soil. I mounded those maybe 18 nches tall and 3-4ft diameter mound. M111 is one of the more flood tolerant rootstocks. There is a 3 year old thrad on here about planting in wet spots. Think someone said trascendent crabapple is one of the better ones for that.