Dwarf Fruit Trees Dead?

Hi,

I recently bought some mini fruit trees - one of each variety from the 5 types listed in the top 2 links here: http://www.vanmeuwen.com/fruit-and-vegetables/fruit-trees/mini-fruit-trees

I planted them out as soon as they arrived in mid-April. I thought at the time that they didn't exactly look full of vim and vigour, but I know that trees often don't until leaves start to appear. However, they've now been in the ground for a few weeks and only the Golden Delicious and Doyenne du Comice are looking healthy. From the photos attached (sorry about poor quality) would you say that they are lifeless, or am I just being impatient? I've included pics of the plum and cherry, with the healthy Golden Delicious as a contrast.
All were planted at the same time, in a mix of good compost and topsoil, with organic rootgrow sprinkled into the planting area. They are all in pots or beds in the same area (so get equal light, wind etc) and have been watered regularly but not fed since planting.
Thanks.

 

Andy, I think it is too soon to seek a refund yet but keep your pictures and take some more in a month's time. If no sign of leaf emergence, I would email them your photos and request replacements for the failures - or a refund.
Hope you kept the paperwork that was in with the plants,
Jenny

 

Thanks for the advice, Jenny. From what you say it sounds like there might be hope for them yet?

 

A spell of warmth around their roots should help,
hope so,
Jenny

 

I bought some fruit trees last year (single stem things) and others the year before. Mine were put into the ground and the first year they didn't really *do* anything (hence adding more last year - which also didn't seem to *do* anything).

This year: I've had lots of blossom and there are signs I will have some luscious fruit

I put it down to the fact that initially, they were sulking. Even last year, the one's planted the previous year were definitely sulking and didn't want to come out to play. After settling (and the wonderful rainfall last Autumn and since) they all seem to have leap up with the sheer joy of life.

That's my limited experience and so the advice I will offer is: keep them watered and exercise patience. It's too late for them to blossom, so leaf growth is the best you will probably get this year anyway; let them have their "resettlement sulk" (remember also, this year the seasons are slow to get going!) and I think you should be ok for next year

 

But start at the top if you are going to strip a bit of bark back, not at the bottom!

Last year I queried one of my apple trees and was given the same advice re: strip bark.
I did, at the top, and *that* part was indeed dead. However, much lower down there was a tiny sign of life ... this Spring it has a good healthy number of leaves sprouting once again from the lowest part.

 

Thanks for your advice. My main concern is the lack of leaves to be honest - I wasn't expecting much in the way of blossom, and certainly not fruit, this year, but the fact that 2 trees
are already very leafy and 3 have not a single leaf between them is what is worrying me - surely if 2 are leafy from top to bottom then the others should have at least the beginnings of green buds if they're alive?

Forgive my ignorance, but to do this should I be taking a stanley type knife and slicing a small section of bark vertically downwards? And looking for what, signs of green/sap?

 

I used my thumb nail. If it is beyond all hope, it will be dry and brown; if it has any life in it, beneath the bark will still be soft and green

 

What do you think of these? I'm colour blind but only the first one looks moist and green to me....still no leaf or growth on any of the three 'problem' trees.

 

Just spoke to the company and sent them pics and they agreed to replace the 3 dead 'uns, no quibbles. So 'props to Van Meuwen', as the yout dem say.