jpasquini
ArboristSite Lurker
Now that I have your attention lol. I ordered two kumquat trees to grow in pots (will bring inside in winter, as I live in the Midwest).
They were sent from the nursery with some fruit already on them, about 2-3 years old. They were staked with iron rods and I did notice the trunks looked rather thin and spindly.
Well what was my surprise two weeks later, after buying tree pots, citrus soil, fertilizer, perlite.....and potting them, etc.
I go in to the yard in the morning and one has snapped in half! (see pic).
Now this is in a small protected yard area that is fenced on all sides, next to the side of the house. I've never seen this happen before.
My only suspicion is the trees were staked for 2-3 years and then when the stakes were removed by me, they were not able to hold up the tree well since they did not develop the trunk properly.
Now comes my conundrum.
The nursery is sending me a one-time replacement. Do I leave that one staked, and stake the other one for protection, or leave them unstaked, every day risking another catastrophe? I understand somewhat the logic of staked trees being weaker, but then I don't want another disaster. These trees are expensive, and my credit with the nursery has been used up.
Can anyone advise on this topic? Thanks!!
They were sent from the nursery with some fruit already on them, about 2-3 years old. They were staked with iron rods and I did notice the trunks looked rather thin and spindly.
Well what was my surprise two weeks later, after buying tree pots, citrus soil, fertilizer, perlite.....and potting them, etc.
I go in to the yard in the morning and one has snapped in half! (see pic).
Now this is in a small protected yard area that is fenced on all sides, next to the side of the house. I've never seen this happen before.
My only suspicion is the trees were staked for 2-3 years and then when the stakes were removed by me, they were not able to hold up the tree well since they did not develop the trunk properly.
Now comes my conundrum.
The nursery is sending me a one-time replacement. Do I leave that one staked, and stake the other one for protection, or leave them unstaked, every day risking another catastrophe? I understand somewhat the logic of staked trees being weaker, but then I don't want another disaster. These trees are expensive, and my credit with the nursery has been used up.
Can anyone advise on this topic? Thanks!!
