need help planting trees

Engineer · December 22, 2008, 09:47:37 PM

OK, this is weird.

Today I got a box by UPS. About four feet long and 6 x 6 inches square. I had no idea what it was. My wife came home and said to me "You better open this, it's your Christmas present from my parents (my inlaws) and they said you have to open it immediately even if it shows up early".

I pull out a bundle of sticks with one end wrapped in a plastic bag. It's a bunch of bare-root TREES. Four American Black Walnut and two hybrid Pecan trees. You ever get that feeling like "what WERE they THINKING?"

It's December 22nd. I live in VERMONT. Zone 4. Pecans live in Zone 7. Walnuts are at the outer fringe of their range. There is a foot of snow on the ground and the temperature is 8 degrees out. These are bare root trees. The instructions say I'm supposed to plant them immediately. The nursery they were sent from is in Georgia, so they've been on the road a while. I was planning on a long-term project to do a small orchard but that is a few years down the road. I have no place to put these things, even my topsoil pile is frozen.

What do I do? ??? ??? :-\ :

I think I'm gonna call the nursery tomorrow, but they probably have no concept of frozen ground or snow. I think the walnuts would live if I planted them, say, in October. The pecans are likely gonna die, and if they don't by some miracle, we have armies, whole armies, of ravenous chipmunks that will eat the nuts before I even see them.

I think I mentioned to my wife that I'd like some walnuts for Christmas. I expected a couple pounds of Indiana black walnut meats. I didn't expect DIY walnuts....

:

beenthere · December 22, 2008, 10:24:29 PM

Maybe a Forum Member could use them??

Maybe your In-laws are telling you something...subtly. ;D ;D ;D

But I'll bet they meant well, just the same.

bmill · December 22, 2008, 10:29:32 PM

Ouch.....no good answer for this one. Can you put them in a 5 gallon bucket in the basement?

Jeff · December 22, 2008, 10:54:24 PM

:D :D :D
Sorry for laughing :D

Actually, the 5 gallon pails would work I bet. Plant em inside. You can buy potting soil if your topsoil is frozen.

Warbird · December 23, 2008, 12:07:45 AM

Quote from: bmill on December 22, 2008, 10:29:32 PM
Ouch.....no good answer for this one. Can you put them in a 5 gallon bucket in the basement?

With a growing light or two if you aren't getting good sunshine there this time of year. Of course, growing lights in the basement make the electric bill go up and the cops start monitoring you.

stonebroke · December 23, 2008, 02:47:48 AM

If you have a farmer closeby with a green house he is using this winter . You might try and get him to keep them in the greenhouse for the winter.

thecfarm · December 23, 2008, 06:48:02 AM

Call up the nursery and tell them about the weather.They should of sent you a voucher saying you have four American Black Walnut and two pecan tree from your inlaws.We will hold them until your growing season is ready.They were just slack on checking the "ship to" address.If they are a good comapny they will reship the order in the spring.They all know about Vermont weather and other states.Don't let them buffallo you.My Father use to get alot of fruit trees and have problems like that.They would re-ship it at a later date.He would buy things that was made for this zone and if it died a would write a letter to them and get a repalcement for it.Sounds like you have some nice in-laws to help you out with your orchard.Good luck.

roger 4400 · December 23, 2008, 11:10:48 AM

I would try to put them in a 5 gallon can and put them in a garage that is cold not to get them **awake* before spring.....I think those walnut need a dormancy season. The other trees I do not know what to tell you except GOOD LUCK ...

..Roger

dewwood · December 23, 2008, 11:17:33 AM

I agree with Roger, those trees are meant to have a dormant period. I would do what others said and put them in a container with something around the roots and put them outside. Come spring, if they survive, transplant them.

Good luck and enjoy your walnuts on Christmas!

Engineer · December 23, 2008, 12:39:34 PM

Well I called the nursery. The guy I spoke to simply said "pot them, and store them in a garage".

So I'm goin' to pot them. Got a stack of drywall buckets and they are gonna have trees in 'em.

I'm gonna get some weird looks buying ten or twelve bags of potting soil in December. I'll tell the feed store I'm fixin' to save my Christmas tree for next year... :D