Tractor Supply Trees

I wandered into Tractor Supply a couple of day ago.
I went into the outdoor gardening section, looking for a bargain.
In the covered section I found a graveyard of desiccated plants.
Shaking my head, I moved to the fenced in outdoor yard, where I found a bunch of fruit trees.
They were all brown leaved , but the soil had some moisture in it.
These trees sold for 38 dollars apiece when healthy, but I asked the manager and she offered them to me for 2 dollars each.
I told her I would be back with a bigger vehicle!

Now realistically, they might never recover, but I am willing to try.
I will scrape some bark, and if I find green underneath, I'll buy.
I would wait until they hit the dumpster, but they use one of those damned crushers!

never hurts to ask! i’m sure there will be a fair number of survivors. what’s the plan from here?

Good question!
I was thinking I would dunk them, soaking them deeply.
Some will might go in at the yarden, outside the fence.
I've decided to grow fruit there, specifically for my neighbors to the north of me.
I had planned on cane fruit, but peaches might also be good fit.
The pear trees, well I love pear trees, but I have fought and failed  fruit that is ripe.
The apple trees? I've never had a good experience with any of the apple trees I've planted.

The pear and apple trees could be an investment.
If they survive , I could sell or trade them.

That's a good reminder this time of year. I just got a couple of figs for under $5 and my first blackberries that fruit on first year canes for under $10 at Walmart. Still a little high on those for me, but they were 4' tall plants, still very green, and the first prime cane varieties I have seen here. And they spread, so that always makes it that much more worthwhile.

Definitely check to make sure there's still green under the bark -- those look like someone may have let them dry out way too much and then watered them again after it was too late.  If you get any survivors, though, that's an excellent price!

Well, I wasn't able to get back to the store till today, and they didn't have the $2 dollar trees available anymore.
The trees were there but they sold me 18 trees for $14 dollars...

Well there is definitely some green in some of those branches....fingers crossed they make it through. Will you leave them in their pots, or put them temporarily somewhere in soil to overwinter?

I'm hoping to get some feedback from yall about how I should preserve them over winter.
I think they might do better in ground than in the pool.
Should I dig the containers into the ground or put the root balls directly in the ground?

Looks like a good score!

Definitely get them in the ground in a final planting - preferably in the final location you want them.  The roots will recover fine over the Winter and the tree is genetically programmed to deal with growth on the top part.  

They will be happier in the ground. If you plant them in their intended spots now, their roots can start growing asap.

If you want to store them, digging the pots into the ground is one good way-- the ground will temperature-buffer the roots and help regulate moisture in a more natural way.
I have also kept potted saplings in the garage over winter and that worked fine.

Don't let them sit in water for more than a day at a time during winter, as it can cause rot and can be damaging if it freezes.

I was telling my momma about the trees and she  suggested we might want to start an orchard  on some family land...
I was already thinking about going back for the pear trees, and check the other local tractor supply stores for end of season trees.
But before any of that, I do have a nice western facing fence line that needs food plants.
The good neighbors to the north of this parcel have kids and they also cut my lawn in return for being able to park there.
I like them and I like feeding kids.
I tried moving some raspberry plants there last spring and I have jostaberry I was thinking I'd plant there.
The available fence line is only about 15' long.
I think these are all reliance peaches, and if so, self pollinating.
I also have some  fruit trees growing inside the fence.
They are stunted from shade ,and I'm not even certain what they are!
Seriously,  I've lost track.
I might have a plant hoarding problem 🤔

Oh well.
One should be enough on that fence line,along with the rasp,black and jostaberries.
One at mom's house, one or two at my sister's place, maybe one in my actual yard, if I can find room for it.
I must be careful looking at everything like it were a cobbler in need of peaches.
For example,  of there's only room for one tree, my sister would be better off with a plum tree-my BIL loves under ripe super tart plums, and my MILs tree died last year.
Oh, that could be a good spot!

I should probably concentrate on keeping them alive and selling them next spring, but I'm not really motivated by that idea.

I'm probably going back for the pear trees...

I was checking out my mystery trees over at the yarden.
One of them is a labeled honey crisp appletree, I expect nothing but trouble from that one.
The other two appear to be cherry trees, which might produce just fine, but let's face it, the critters will probably get them all.

I have tried nylon mesh bags to protect fruit from critters but the squirrels bit through them.
I'm gonna try aluminum screen next year.