FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What zone am I?
Zone 3 - 4.
What is B&B?
B&B refers to balled and burlapped with a root ball, and are field-grown and dug.
How are your products sold?
For our Spring pre-orders, we sell bare root products that are landscape-size plants that are ready to bear and perform the first year that you plant them. The Bare Root plants can also be purchased as older, mature plants in container or field-dug sizes.
Do you install plants and trees?
Yes, we install plants and trees for a fee-per plant or tree. Please call us at 518-642-9696 or email hello@mandysspring.com for a custom installation quote.
How mature are the bare root trees/how soon can I expect them to bear fruit?
The bare root fruit trees are roughly 3 years old. They are roughly 5-6' tall and branched. They will bear fruit on the first year, but it is best to pick off these fruits before they develop for the first 2 years or so. This focuses the tree's energy on strengthening its branches and root system so that it can bear fruit on healthy branches in the future. It is also critical to prune your fruit tree as it grows. A few strong branches are better than a lot of weak branches for fruit-bearing trees. Our pruning guide can be found here.
What are some drought-tolerant fruit trees?
There really aren't any fruit trees that are drought-tolerant. We recommend watering your fruit trees/shrubs at during the dry July/August months when they are growing fruit. A soaker hose is a great option for watering trees.
When is the best time to plant?
In our zone, it is best to plant May through November.
Can I plant in the Summer?
If you have a good water source or moist soil to plant into, you can plant in the summer.
How often should I water?
Depending on your soil types, you should water every couple of days. The soil must remain moist. You should check your plants daily. Soaking the ground around the plant is best -- never apply water to the foliage.
Is fall a good time to plant?
Yes, fall is a great time to plant because the roots continue to grow through the winter until the ground freezes.
When is the best time to prune?
Clean the old flowers off in the fall, and prune in the early spring. Or, if it's a lilac, you can prune in the Spring after they bloom.
When is the best time to fertilize?
The best time to fertilize is first thing in the spring, and six weeks later to continue the plant growth.
When do plants go dormant?
They start going dormant after the first frost.
Why are my leaves curling?
You need to seek professional assistance -- it could be too much or too little water, a virus, inspect damage, or another cause.
Why are my leaves yellow?
Yellow leaves can be caused by root shock, too much water, or not enough nutrition.
When can I plant my annuals outdoors?
Normally, it's safe around Memorial Day (or when it's 50 degrees outside at night) it is generally safe to plant annuals outside.
Do you sell deer resistant plants?
Yes! While there are no guarantees, you can find plants that are unpalatable to deer here:
Do you sell fruit-bearing plants?
Yes, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries... and, berries for the birds including viburnums, holly berries, chokeberries...
Do you sell indoor plants?
Yes, we sell indoor plants as well as outdoor plants.
Do you sell privacy-screening trees?
Yes, we sell various evergreen screening trees including spruce, hemlock, cedar/ arborvitae, white pine. Shade trees and big lilacs can also make good screening trees.
What are some drought-tolerant fruit trees?
There really aren't any fruit trees that are drought-tolerant. We recommend watering your fruit trees/shrubs at during the dry July/August months when they are growing fruit. A soaker hose is a great option for watering trees.
Do you have self-pollinating fruit trees?
We do carry a handful of self-pollinating fruit trees, but any self-fertile plant will produce more fruit if it has the ability to cross-pollinate with another plant. The product descriptions online are detailed and will specify if a tree is self-pollinating or not.
What are your top picks for shade trees?
You can view a list of our top picks for shade and flowering trees here. Note that not all of these are available through the bare root pre-order sale.
What is the best tree/shrub to plant for wet areas?
View our top picks for trees & shrubs that can tolerate wet locations here, and view our top picks for trees & shrubs that can tolerate clay soils here.