Hi,
I was at the Home Orchard Society a couple weeks ago at Alder Creek Middle School. I bought an M-9 rootstock onto which the HOS grafted a Spitzenburger apple variety. I travel for my job and haven't had the opportunity to plant it yet. I would appreciate getting the names of people who would be willing to plant this small tree in my backyard. I would be happy to compensate them. Are there any folks out there who would be willing to do this?
I am located in the Milwaukie, OR area.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Ellen
Ellen,
If you don’t get a taker on the planting -- make sure you keep the roots cool and moist. I’ve got 10 scions on rootstocks (trees) from ‘the show,’ none are in their permanent locations but all are “heeled in†in my garden to keep their roots safe, cool and moist.
My suggestion when/if planting is to remove a lot of grass back from the tree; I know it’s small, but I’d remove grass back at least 3 feet from its permanent location. If you can place a small temporary fence around it - that can help protect it and draw some attention so it’s not hit by a lawn mower, hose or weed-whacker… Make sure it gets good waterings to where it must ‘chase’ the water down as opposed to turn it’s roots upward to ‘find it.’
It can remain ‘heeled in’ for weeks…
Are you physically unable to do it? Or do you not know how?
It's about a 5-minute job. Just dig a hole big enough to accommodate the root system, spread the roots out in the hole, and fill 'er up. Just make sure to keep the graft union a couple inches above the soil line.
If you're unable to do it, there must me a neighbor around who wouldn't mind doing it. Or one of their kids. Ask around. I'd do it in a heartbeat but I don't want to drive to drive a half hour to do it.
I
f you don’t get a taker on the planting -- make sure you keep the roots cool and moist. I’ve got 10 scions on rootstocks (trees) from ‘the show,’ none are in their permanent locations but all are “heeled in†in my garden to keep their roots safe, cool and moist.
Right now it's planted in a bucket where it's cool and moist.
My suggestion when/if planting is to remove a lot of grass back from the tree; I know it’s small, but I’d remove grass back at least 3 feet from its permanent location. If you can place a small temporary fence around it - that can help protect it and draw some attention so it’s not hit by a lawn mower, hose or weed-whacker… Make sure it gets good waterings to where it must ‘chase’ the water down as opposed to turn it’s roots upward to ‘find it.’
Thank you very much for the tips.
The things you mention are part of the reason why I would like to have someone else do this for me. Although I'm physically capable of doing it, it's hard work for me and I know, from having removed grass on my lot in the past and planting a number of rose bushes, that it's a lot of work. I also want a small retaining wall around the tree and I just don't have the time to do it right. I leave every Monday morning and return home late Friday afternoon and it's hard to fit this in over the weekend.
Ellen
Are you physically unable to do it? Or do you not know how?
I know HOW to do it. But I want to plant it in the middle of my backyard where grass is currently planted. It's a big job digging up all the grass to leave enough room for the tree. Plus I want to build a small retaining wall. Being home only from late Friday night each week to early Monday morning makes it hard to fit it in to my schedule. I would rather pay someone to do the work.
It's about a 5-minute job.
What I want to do would take more than 5 minutes I suspect.
If you're unable to do it, there must me a neighbor around who wouldn't mind doing it.
My neighbor is retired and not capable of doing that kind of physical work. Well, he might be able to do it, but I would never ask him to do that for me. Taking care of my cat when I'm away is all I would ask him to do.
Ask around.
Not that easy to do if I'm only there for two days on the weekend.
I'd do it in a heartbeat but I don't want to drive to drive a half hour to do it.
I can't convince you? :;-) It's really not that much of a drive from Canby to Milwaukie, at least IMHO.
I hope I've answered your questions.
Ellen
Ellen, thanks for the answers. I’d forwarded your request to a trustworthy society member (out your direction) as soon as I read it.
Do you have the blocks already? …I shouldn’t ask… I’m too far away, though my inclination is to ‘just do it!’
The young tree should be good in the bucket for a while, but without drain holes water will accumulate. The best method of temporary storage is pressing a shovel into an open garden/flowerbed and slipping the tree’s roots into the slot. At least then it will drain…
I’d forwarded your request to a trustworthy society member (out your direction) as soon as I read it.
Many thanks.
Do you have the blocks already?
Not yet but I can pick them up at Lowe's this weekend. The store is about 2 minutes from my house.
The young tree should be good in the bucket for a while, but without drain holes water will accumulate. The best method of temporary storage is pressing a shovel into an open garden/flowerbed and slipping the tree’s roots into the slot. At least then it will drain…
Thanks for the information. Guess I'll get out shovel this weekend when I'm home and plant the tree in the slot . Wouldn't want the tree to drown in water that cannot drain.
Ellen
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