How to Select High Quality Bare Root Fruit Trees

[@johntaggart1186]

Thank you, my wife and I are in the middle of planting mutants delivered in cardboard boxes and some of last years leftovers from a local nursery. This video should be mandatory for 10th grade...... and all homeowners

[@jamesnotsmith1465]

Very informative. You don't mince words nor waste time. Thanks. I also like the brief intro you provided on each tree and the variety of trees you presented.

[@robertbrawley5048]

You people out in California Washington and Oregon have the creme de.la creme of retail trees. Retailers don't sell bare root trees on the east coast. Or if they have bare root like several apple trees from Walmart the the roots are pruned to fit in a 4 inch cylindrical bag. In other words they cut all the roots off. What is mostly available are potted trees in like two gallon pots 9 feet tall and nearly an inch in trunk diameter . Roots are extremely root bound , circling the pot and overlaping the rootstock so there is barely 3 inches of rootstock above the roots I like low branches and typically branching on these eastern nurrsey trees begin around 4 foot from the roots. I would like branches 8 to 15 inches from the roots and its a struggle to get branches to develop that low after purchase of the tree

[@deanacanfield200]

Great video and lots of information....of course, I'm looking at all the branches you cut off and hoping someone is thinking "yay! Cuttings to root more trees!!"

[@priceandpride]

More girth isn’t always better. Truer words were never spoken. Life lessons!

[@bman541]

lol

[@johnclarke6647]

The other day I replaced a rea rose that died over the winter in my rose garden. I have been munching my rose garden with Scotts wood mulch the last five or so years. The soil in my area is very poor and has a rather low Ph, so I must lime every year. As I was digging a new hole for the rose I was plantingI noticed many earthworms in the soil. This told me the Scott’s mulch had decomposed and was providing good nutrition to the soil. I have been using the same mulch around my fruit trees, somI expect the same results in their soil.

[@ucscagroecology]

Wood chips are excellent in so many ways for you soil and plants. Here's a good article on using ramial wood chips: www.mofga.org/resources/mulch/ramial-chips/

[@nfgassmann8518]

I love it. Great fruit tree nerd (that's me) discussion. One ask, please speak about the root stock type and reasons as you discuss the fruit tree variety; dwarfing, nematode, clay or rocky soil, etc. I do understand the need to stay on topic. Perhaps you've made a video on the rootstock already?

[@ucscagroecology]

That's a good idea, but we don't have a video on rootstocks. But, in late February we will be releasing a video on how to graft rootstocks to scions of your choice.

[@mar1video]

Great info ! I guess I’ve got some pruning to do 😜

[@ucscagroecology]

Below is a link to several dozen more fruit tree care videos. Scroll down to the section called: “Getting Started with Fruit Trees Organically”: agroecology.ucsc.edu/resources/instructional-videos.html Don't miss Orin Martin's award winning book, "Fruit Trees for Every Garden: An Organic Approach to Growing Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Citrus, and More". His book won the 2020 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Award, recognizing outstanding gardening literature. You can purchase the book here: www.amazon.com/Fruit-Trees-Every-Garden-Approach/dp/0399580026/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N8Y1MP3KB6DZ&keywords=orin+martin&qid=1650397395&s=books&sprefix=orin+martin%2Cstripbooks%2C522&sr=1-1

[@Poetax]

I see recommendations not to prune more than 20%. Is this just an older tree thing, or is it because most people don't know what they're doing?

[@ucscagroecology]

Well...as many things go about fruit trees, there are lots of methods of pruning that result in healthy trees and tasty fruit. In general, you remove less "wood" from fruit trees as they age. But, there are exceptions where you may remove 75% or more of a mature tree that has lost vigor in order to reinvigorate the tree. Here's Orin demonstrating how it's done: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3aaXn2ih5ykfqM

[@AbbasKhan-og7yc]

Can I get some varieties of Apple for plantation in Hunza, Pakistan.

[@DavidLee-od2ez]

THANK YOU Mr . Martin for sharing your knowledge .What is the name of the Apple tree that you said is the best , I like to buy it . Thank you

[@ucscagroecology]

There are so many "best" varieties of apples. Although the Golden Delicious gets a bad rap (mostly caused by holding the apple in cold storage too long), when it's eaten right from the tree at peak ripeness, it's heavenly.

[@Yevgen6R]

Thank you!

[@gregtesoriero7226]

Hi Mr Martin, what are your thoughts on container grown branched trees? Here in Australia I only have access to whips as bare root trees and the only branched trees are container grown. Thanks!

[@ucscagroecology]

The problem with buying a young tree in a container is that the dirt hides the root structure. And a whip takes 2-3 years to "catch up" to the growth of a branched tree. If I had to choose, I take my chances with the container tree. And here's a little secret about most container trees...they were grown in the ground, harvested with big cutting tools, shipped to a nursery bare root, and then the nurseries put them in containers (at least that's how it's done in California). You may check with yer local nurseries and see if you can get trees before they are potted.

[@gregtesoriero7226]

@@ucscagroecology Thank you for the response - much appreciated!

[@niles2k]

That shop appears to have an incredible array of seedlings for sale. Anything like that in the NY metropolitan area?

[@ucscagroecology]

Not that I know of. "Trees of Antiquity" in Calif has a large selection of certified organic trees and they ship nationwide: www.treesofantiquity.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAorKfBhC0ARIsAHDzslsf1mspbI8stE9FXIqjkqBl78set-YPN6DiAJ7zlews7nsvxUKLIJ8aAm-vEALw_wcB

[@chepindichepindi3328]

Thanks for the education 🙏

[@paulsell2438]

What are your thoughts on bud notching to promote improved branching structure? I've had a great deal of luck using it on my mini orchard.

[@ucscagroecology]

It works and we use it sometimes to promote the growth of additional branches on new trees. Great to hear that it's working in your mini orchard.

[@rezatorabi7158]

Great Job !

[@arthurvandermark5397]

Best solution for deer?

[@ucscagroecology]

We have an 8 foot fence around all of our fields. No deer problems.