Mail Order Tree is just a stump?

I recently purchased a bare root apricot tree online from Aarons Farms. The "tree" is one branch, approximately as thick as my thumb at the base, and was chopped off approximately 2' above the graft. It has no branches, just the central trunk. This trunk rooted well and has plenty of leaves, but I'm wondering if this tree will ever branch out properly. Should I give it a year and expect some more branches next year, or is it a lost cause? Should I rub off most of the leaves or just let them grow? I'm imagining apricots growing out like brussel sprouts, lol.

I think you are getting overly excited. It has to get started. Give it a chance.

Nera Kay....Welcome to Dave's Garden...from a neighbor just up the road!!

I checked the Name Aaron's Farms in the Garden Watchdog...no reports on that nursery...Where is it located? Jo...near Hereford Bridge.

Is it this company maybe? http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/1597/ They don't have a ton of reviews but the ones that are there are all positive.

I also say give it a chance--I don't know how much mail order gardening you've done, but the size of the plants you get is typically going to be a lot smaller than what you would get buying from a local nursery (shipping costs get prohibitive otherwise). The advantages of mail order gardening are you can often find things you can't get locally, but it will be smaller so if you're in a hurry for something to get big, your best bet is to look for a larger plant at local nurseries.

They are usually shipped dormant (or just coming out of it) and they are usually young, as in less than a year or two old. I also wouldn't be too concerned about it. Every tree and bush I ordered online came to me as a single stick and looked dead. One set of 3 bushes never even put out leaves that first summer, but did the following summer.

http://www.aaronsfarm.com/category/Apricot+Trees -- warning, it's one of those weird online nursery sites where women in bikinis are offering up their "golden globes" etc. and what is up with That?

I've ordered bare root stuff before, the issue with this is that it was chopped off - like it had branched out on top at the nursery and then they lopped off everything but the trunk in order to ship it.

ETA: this Aaron's is in Sumner, Georgia. How do I look it up?

This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 6:25 PM

DId the top cut look like it had healed over at all? The trunk is small enough that it will probably branch out nicely for you.

Ooooh ... I found them. http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/6992/ - and added my own complaint.

:-(

Wish I'd known about Dave's a bit sooner. This Aaron's is TyTy Nursery in disguise. Ah well, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

This message was edited Apr 22, 2009 6:47 PM

It will likely not branch properly but will always be spindly looking. I'd work for a refund- even to the point of contesting w/credit card company.

Knowing now what the company is I take back my previous comments--I wouldn't expect much out of it. If you buy things from a reputable company they will be small when they arrive but they should grow fine, but when you buy from a "problem" company, all bets are off!

Ty Ty in disguise--no wonder! They chopped off the leader? You can train a new one but I hate having to fool with that. I agree with dp72--push them hard for a refund, NOT an exchange. I've had excellent results with Burnt Ridge Nursery out of Washington state. They not only send very healthy trees that are NOT chopped off, they tell you which varieties you will need for cross-pollination.

http://www.burntridgenursery.com/fruitingPlants/index.asp?dept+2

Their refund policy reads like stereo instructions. IF you pay all shipping fees (including a repeat of their outrageous original fee), IF the plant hasn't budded out, IF they decide it's warranted (after you send them the money) ... as others have said, I may just cut my losses here. Grrrr. The really annoying thing is that I only ordered this much stuff from them in the first place (10 plants in all) because they have a minimum order policy - if I had been able to find hazelnuts locally I would never have placed such a large online order with them. So I basically paid $100 for one decent knee-high hazelnut bush (which means I still have to find a second one) and 9 useless plants. $%^&*#!!

This message was edited Apr 23, 2009 7:33 AM

I don't know what kind of trees they have, but Nate's Nursery just re-opened down here on 92...I think they are branched off from a place in Phoenix. I haven't had time to stop since they reopened. Jo

If I were you, I'd write a letter explaining the situation and stating that you are of the opinion that their return policy is so restrictive and complicated that no reasonable person would be expected to comply, and any juror would agree. Tell them that you will return the defective plants when they send you postage-paid labels. Say that you are contesting the charges under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act of Arizona and (the state where they do business) and that your credit card company is on notice to show the charges as contested and, unless they make a good faith effort to send you acceptable plants RE your order, the charges are to be reversed. Send to your credit card company and the seller, return receipt requested. All you will be out is the postage.

Sounds good to me...but show that you are posting the "negative" in DG. Jo

hi Nera, just thought i would chime in here... have you ever ordered from the Arbor Day Foundation? i got 3 hazelnut trees (bushes?) from them last year and they are doing great. i did put them in my flower bed for the first year so they wouldnt get mowed down, and i transplanted them this spring. they are really coming on now. yes they looked like dead sticks when i first opened them up, but now they are nice, leafy and growing.
http://www.arborday.org/shopping/memberships/hazelnut/join.cfm

just a suggestion, have a wonderful day, its back to the garden for me-

Arbor Day probably isn't the best option either--they have a bad rep for sending misidentified trees so you may not get what you were hoping for. I think as an organization they try to do some good things, and if you just need trees and aren't particularly picky about which ones you get they may be fine, but if there's a particular one you're after I'd recommend getting it somewhere else.

ooo i didnt know that about Arbor Day! thanks ecrane i will keep that in mind. i would rather see the plants and trees before i buy em anyway ;)