(1) Make sure the supplier is a state certified nursery or a state
certified plant dealer. If you are not sure ask for their certification number. Buying
from a state certified supplier will assure you that the plants you are bringing home
have been inspected by a state official and determined to be disease and pest free.
Bringing home one afflicted plant can quickly develop into the loss of thousands of dollars
in prior plantings. A bargain can quickly become a nightmare. Many times plants can be had
for the exact same price if not cheaper at a certified supplier, and you should have a
larger selection and more knowledgeable staff.

(2) Determine what your needs are prior to your visit. How many items are needed? How tall
and wide can the item be at maturity? Does color matter? Do you want the shrub or tree to
look good 12 months a year? These are only a few of the most important questions you should
ask yourself. If you do not have enough knowledge to answer these questions then ask your
nursery supplier. Bring some current photos of the planting site with you. These will help
your supplier in determining which items will fit within the context of your planting site.
If you are planting or establishing new landscape beds make sure to bring full measurements
of the area(s) to be developed.

(3) Make sure that the size of your shrub or tree is in proportion to the
size of its rootball. Many garden centers are supplied with trees and large shrubs
containing "undersized" rootballs. Why? It makes it cheaper for the garden center
to buy due to greatly reduced shipping costs. It makes for easier loading in the trunk
of a car or the back of a small pickup truck. Anyone can handle the tree because the weight
is limited. Planting is easy for the homeowner with undersized nursery stock. Yes,
it's easy, Yes, it's light, Yes, you can put it in to a small car or truck for transport
home, and it's profitable for the garden center. But will it live?

Here are a few examples of what the American Standard for Nursery Stock requires all
nurseries and garden centers to supply it's customers.

Trees are measured in both height and caliper ( a measurement of the trunk diameter
taken 6” above the root ball for trees up to 4” wide and 12” above the rootball for
anything greater than 4” wide).

    Example: A 2” caliper shade tree should be between 12 to 14 feet tall.

Next the root ball must be of a certain size based on the size of the tree or shrub.

    Example: The 2” shade tree in the previous example should have a minimum
                   root ball diameter of 24”.
                   A 5’ shrub should have a minimum diameter ball of 16"
 
Once again remember these are the minimum sizes required.

Normally weight relates to ball size.

    Example- A ball with a 24” diameter and 15” depth would weigh over 200 lbs
    Not many car trunks can take that weight.

These figures are important for you to know. A small root ball on an 8-10’ tree
means that most of the root system that should be with the tree has been cut off.
Does it mean that the tree will not survive? Not always. Does it mean that the tree
will develop properly - attaining it's full potential? Probably not. Basically it comes
down to, You get what you pay for.
 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions concerning the purchase of nursery stock.