How much root on a bareroot?

[sparrow100]

I had 2 bareroot trees delivered as a late birthday present. One of them, the crab apple, has a good root system on it. It looks like this, which was what I was expecting:



The other, a Farleigh damson looks like this:



There is hardly any root at all, literally 4 inches by about 4 inches - nothing else in the bag, so nothing had fallen off in transit. It's about 4ft high. Is this enough root for the tree to survive, or should I get in touch with the supplier?

I've never bought bareroot trees before, only potted.

[Lardman]

What's the rootstock or is it a sucker ? I wouldn't have been happy with that at all, that's about as poor as the supermarket efforts.

It certainly won't get off to a flying start. If it was me Id send the pictures to where you had it from and moan, It may well make it especially if it's a vigorous rootstock and you head it down to 2ft or so but if you've paid good money for it, it really should be better than that.

[Bill Door]

Hi Sparrow100.

As my old dad use to say "It's got two chances". I think that it should be ok, So what I would do is to plant it out, either where you want it to grow or in a very decent pot with very good soil/compost mixture. I would then send copies of the pictures taken to the supplier and tell them what you have done and see what they say. You could always add that should it fail to grow you would be looking for a free replacement. This way you save yourself the problem of returning the"bare root" tree.

You might need to give the tree some good support to prevent "root" movement.

Wish you well.

Bill

[Guest]

I would not be happy with that. I would take pics and e-mail the supplier expressing my concerns and see where they take it. More often than not they will send another, so what you have can be left to chance. It is a very small amount of root to support a 4ft tree

Edit: are the end of the roots solid? just had another look at the piccy and they don't look like clean cuts - just wondered in there is damage/ rot.

[Alison]

It depends on what I paid for it. If it was a cheapo one then fine but if I'd paid for a quality tree from a bonefide specialist nursery then I'd contact them to discuss.

[Bigmallly]

As it's the dormant period, there is a chance it could make roots later. However I would not be happy & would also send some pics to the supplier & see what feedback you get.

[sparrow100]

Thanks all - will send these pics to the supplier. It wasn't cheap and is from a reputable online company specialising in trees, just not one that I have used before.

I have potted it up after soaking and staked it. It's grafted as far as I can tell on the website on St Julien A.

It really doesn't look right to me, thanks for confirming. Will let you know what happens...

[sparrow100]

Well I've just had a call from them, so top marks for speedy contact over the holidays.

But they say that this is how a damson bareroot is supposed to look. That their trees are grown on heavy soil and they cut the roots back when lifting to a few inches and that they will regrow quickly.

My concern's been registered in case it doesn't grow, but nothing else was offered as they say it is perfectly fine and I shouldn't expect it to look like a bareroot apple.

So I guess I'll wait and see.

[veggiechicken]

Interesting! Do let us know how it does, sparrow

[Bigmallly]

Well at least you have got a recorded reply which is good.

[FB.]

A few years ago I planted a nursery reject Ashmead's Kernel on M25 rootstock.
It had been trained as a three-quarter standard and was about three years old.
Its trunk was almost two inches thick but its roots and main branches had all been cut back (with loppers?) to about six inches.
I was disappointed with the obvious large amount of roots that had been lopped off and didn't expect much of it so I just chucked it in some terrible stony sandy rubbish soil and basically left it to die.
As expected, it just sat there for its first year.
But in its second year it burst into life and continues to grow strongly and remains healthy.

So I would say that if your rootstock choice is well-matched to your soil quality and moisture availability, the tree probably won't mind.

[sparrow100]

Thanks FB - will keep my fingers crossed it's happy. If it's not the nursery at least has a replacement guarantee.

[Alison]

I planted a bare rooted damson on the plot a few years ago (bought from Blackmoor Nurseries). Don't remember it having more or less roots than the apples which I also bought but it has done fine and is now starting to produce (well not actually now but you know what I mean!)

[sparrow100]

I usually buy from Blackmoor - I wasn't quick enough and they just didn't have the combination of trees I wanted - likewise Ken Muir had sold out too. I am regretting not buying from them this time.