How to Buy Fruit Trees in Florida
- 1). Skip the bargain basement selections. Sale price trees are often cheaper because they're sick or near the end of their season. Move on to the quality section.
- 2). Find the healthy trees. These plants will have compact and vigorous growth with branches and trunks that are not scarred or cracked. Also, spindly trees or long branches with few leaves could mean insect or disease issues.
- 3). Find a tree with uniform foliage. Check for curling leaves (aphids), speckled leaf tops (spider mites) and small bumps on the underside of the leaf (scale). Trees with rusty spots or yellowed tips on the leaves also indicate pest problems---avoid these plants.
- 4). Look at the roots of the tree. They should be firm, not soft, and roots should not be growing from the bottom of the container. Container soil should be fresh and loamy, not compacted with weeds.
- 5). Choose a bushy tree with uniform green leaves; avoid those with pale or gray foliage or seem to be losing a large number of leaves, according to Horticulture Agent Jennifer Welshans.
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