Hi all, so I’ve got the bug after last winter (my first with fruit trees and a yard). I ordered 5 more trees, three of which I want to end up “in one hole.”
But I am displaced for the winter, living army in-laws 
I won’t be able to plant the trees in ground when I receive them (Feb delivery scheduled with Bay Laurel). Contractors are doing a number on the house and yard for a home addition. I don’t trust them to stay away of where I eventually want them to thrive.
I expect that they’d be done in April, which is too late to expect them to remain dormant. I’m wondering if it’s plausible to plant in a temporary container and move into ground during the growing season. Definitely not ideal… but maybe a biodegradable pot or bag would work to just plant along with the tree in spring. Experience say this should work? I’d rather do that if possible than wait until next winter to remove from pots.
If so, should I use the native soil in my temporary container or buy mix? I know typically it’s advised not to amend in-ground at planting time.
Thanks
Sean
Containerized nursery plants are for sale at garden centers and nurseries and big box stores all over the nation. So, planting in containers works. And transplanting them later into the soil works.
But, here’s the problem, you have to wait until fall dormancy (or at least until the roots have fully occupied the whole container)………for if you go to transplant your new trees in hot weather, and the soil in the container all falls off the roots leaving you a bare-root tree like when you got it in the mail…then it will probably die.
In other words, be real careful, or wait until fall or even the following spring. Keep them happily watered in the container all summer would be advised.
[quote=“spurious, post:1, topic:19401”]
(" should I use the native soil in my temporary container or buy mix? I know typically it’s advised not to amend in-ground at planting time. ")
Well this may depend on how well drained your soil is, and if you plant on a small mound or not.
The danger here in my red clay is that if I where to plant a large root ball of a organic mix , and it was a very wet year it may drowned. As it would be like a pond. planting on a small mound can eliminate this problem.
Native soil could be very heavy to move, and a biodegradable container may not survive the weight ? And is usually not the best for containers.
I like your idea of using a biodegradable container, I have no experience with them. Good luck
Why do you want to plant 3 trees in one hole ?
Yes, I’d thought about container-sold trees, and would be similar to what I’m doing… I’d be ready to plant in ground in April, which around my area (Burlingame, CA) has an average high in the 60s. So maybe it sounds like if I’m careful to keep the rootball intact and make sure there’s some time of cooler weather afoot, I’d fare better. Thanks.
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We do have clay here. I haven’t done any soil tests, though I do want to. I have read a “soil survey” of the area which seems to suggest it’s either a clay-loam and plain clay soil; that’d be consistent with what it seems like from digging to put the trees in last year. I do get your point on the “pond” and can definitely dig enough to get soil for potting so I’ll do that.
The 3 trees in one hole are cherry trees, I’d like them to compete to keep the size down and be close quarters for pollination to increase fruit set (they’re self-fruitful).