0

I received my trees from the mail order catalog less than a week ago, and they're "leafing" very quickly. When should I generally move them into full sun to help them regenerate their sugars?

black thumb
  • 8,786
  • 2
  • 30
  • 67
  • Where are they now? In pots, bags? – Graham Chiu Jul 21 '16 at 05:27
  • 'move them into full sun to help them regenerate their sugars'?? The most common way plants are able to make food FOR THEMSELVES is by producing photosynthetic vegetative growth and getting plenty of sun (there are other ways some plants get energy to grow and multiply such as; mushroom / fungus plants, epiphyte, parasite, saprophytes). 'Leafing out' is a good thing, shows they are alive. As long as they've been outside and used to being outside get them in the sun!! What do you mean by regenerating sugars? Are these plants in the garden or are they in pots? – stormy Jul 21 '16 at 05:35
  • They're in pots, and worry they're not ready to be put in almost full sun, since it's not fully recovered from travel shock yet. – black thumb Jul 21 '16 at 06:32
  • Didn't you get bare roots plants? So you put them in pots first? – Stephie Jul 21 '16 at 07:31
  • @Stephie yes they were, yes – black thumb Jul 21 '16 at 13:40
  • Are you planning to keep them in pots? Or was your plan to put them in the ground? – michelle Jul 21 '16 at 14:21
  • put them in the ground once they're big enough to easily not mow. – black thumb Jul 21 '16 at 17:44
  • 1
    What species are we discussing here? And where are you located? Both of these items will factor into an answer – J. Musser Jul 22 '16 at 00:10
  • MN, and a general rule of thumb for saplings that have buds, small leaves, et al. – black thumb Jul 22 '16 at 01:20

1 Answers1

1

Bare rooted trees are normally planted at the end of winter or early spring before they break dormancy. I presume that you planted them into pots, and they woke up at the same time.

Since plant shock is mainly from transpirational moisture loss from leaves, and you don't have much in the way of leaves now, they can go into full sun now if it's appropriate for that tree. In the same way you plant into the ground bare root, you don't shift them to a sunnier location later on as the gradual change in light levels and temperature allows the tree to adapt.

Graham Chiu
  • 23,044
  • 5
  • 36
  • 92