Schlabachs - have you ordered?

[Apple Junkie]

So I decided to take a morning and make the 1 1/2 hour drive to Medina to check out Schlabach's Nursery. I had called in March and talked to David who runs the nursery with his sons. He assured me that if I made the drive, someone would be able to show me around their place. I found David and his sons to be very friendly and helpful, the nursery was clean, neat and organized down to the ice room which is used to keep their tree storage area cold. I found the trees to be quite large, some were over 7 foot and almost all were well feathered with large root systems. similar to what I have previously received from Adams and Stark. The prices listed in their catalog are very reasonable with a maximum price of $16 per tree in quantities of 1 to 5, with specialty heirloom varieties or custom grafted trees going for $18. They seem to have most to the common Disease resistant varieties in their inventory, including a few crabs. Most are available on semi dwarf rootstock including M7, M111 or B118. Unfortunately, my apple orchards are already stuffed full of trees so I left empty handed. David did add that they were completely sold out for this spring. I have included a few pictures.

I'd love to add these guys to my short list of preferred nurseries. With that in mind, I requested, and received, their 2018 catalog hoping to give them a try. I have no doubt about the quality of the trees they ship, but their catalog clearly states "Trees are available as either dwarf or semi-dwarf, unless specified". I don't think of M.111 and B.118 as semi-dwarf root-stocks, so I dropped these guys from consideration only because I like to be sure of the root-stock I am getting. In my mind, there is a big difference between the size of a M7 and B.118 root-stock. If I could be assured of the exact root-stock I am getting, I'd be inclined to give them a shot next year. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Telemark]

Many websites I have been reading do consider M111 and B118 to be semi-dwarf rootstocks.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Some sources list them as "semi-standard" too. I have to say I'd want to know for sure what rootstock I'm buying.

 

[Telemark]

Agreed.