[Wombat18]

I bought a cheap cherry tree for autumn planting from Focus and when I got it out of the pot found that most of the roots had been trimmed off it and the thing was effectively a stick.  Will it make a miraculous recovery?  I've kept the receipt, so should I see if it survives the winter or take it back now?

[Babstreefern]

When I purchased my fruit trees (1 x apple and 1 x cherry) they were both bare rooted, but I couldn't purchase them until November when they had become dormant.  It seems a very early to purchase them as they now just starting to die back for the winter.  You may be lucky.  Just put it in water for a day, then plant it with plenty of fertiliser, but keep your receipt and see what happens next Spring.

[Trillium]

Definitely hang onto the receipt, and if you can get hold of any mycohhrizal (sp?) bacteria, sprinkle lots all around the root area directly before planting it in its hole. That will encourage lots of new feeder roots which could make the difference between life and death for your tree. I use it all the time and now wouldn't be without it.

[gillie]

I received a plant like that once - an expensive walnut!  'They' say that plants establish faster trimmed like that but I have my doubts.

The  mycorhizal fungi is sold as Rootgrow. It is on sale everywhere.   It sounds like a good idea to me. 


Gillie