Our trees are cultivated as two-year budded bare-root trees. This means the rootstock is grown for two years, and the top of the tree is grown for one year before it is dug from the soil and shipped to you. This process ensures well-balanced trees with a robust root system.
Our Trees
We source our rootstocks from high-quality nurseries in Oregon, and they are planted in our New York nurseries each May. During the first year, our goal is to maximize root growth. In August, we chip bud the trees using scion wood from the desired variety. To get the best quality and pricing, we recommend ordering Pre-Bud trees. The bud remains dormant until the following spring, when the top of the tree begins to grow. Throughout the year, we perform suckering and remove low branches to ensure a tree that will thrive in your orchard. In November, once the trees are dormant, we dig them before the ground freezes and store them in cold storage with mulch around the roots to prevent drying. During the winter, we grade the trees based on trunk caliper and prepare orders for spring shipment to ensure they arrive ready for planting.
Our trees are sized by caliper. This is measured just above the graft union. Our top grade is “Feathered” Which means it is at least ½” or more and has 5 or more branches These trees are usually around 5-6 feet tall. Our 5/8” grade is either lightly branched or a “whip” ( No branches) depending on the variety. The rest of the grades are typically whips.
Tree Shipping
We begin shipping tree orders on March 1st and offer four options for delivery:
Local Pickup
Local customers may pick up their trees at no additional cost. Please provide us with a one-week notice to prepare your order for pickup.
UPS Shipping (1–200 Trees)
Orders of 1–200 trees, depending on tree size, can be shipped via UPS. Please call us a week in advance of your desired shipping date, and we will arrange for the trees to ship the following Monday, ensuring they arrive mid- to late-week.
LTL Freight (200–500 Trees)
For orders of 200–500 trees, we typically use LTL Freight. Trees are shipped upright in apple crates, with mulch around the roots to prevent drying. Please contact us a week in advance, and we’ll ship the trees the following Monday.
Pool Truck Shipping (500+ Trees)
Orders of 500+ trees are eligible for our “Pool Truck” delivery, the most cost-effective option. This method allows us to fill the truck with multiple orders for efficient delivery. To use this option, you’ll need flexibility with delivery dates and times, space for a full-size tractor trailer, and equipment capable of lifting an 800+ lb. bin. If you’re interested in pool truck delivery, please call us in late winter to coordinate as we approach spring.
Shipments TO Canada
Wafler Nursery is certified by New York State to provide virus-free nursery stock, allowing us to ship apple trees into Canada. This certification process was extensive, but we are pleased to have achieved it. We are now working to expand this certification to include pear and stone fruit trees.
Each year, our scion wood blocks, where we collect wood for grafting, undergo testing by the state for five different viruses (ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV, ApMV, and ToRSV). If any trees test positive, they are removed to ensure compliance with Canadian import requirements.
All trees on our Pre-Bud Order list are eligible for delivery to Canada. For a Canada-specific inventory list, please contact our office, and we will be happy to provide one.
To facilitate shipping into Canada, we require an import permit on file for your company so that we can obtain a phytosanitary certificate for the trees. Once inspected, we can arrange shipping through our broker or yours if you have a preference. The trees will be shipped similarly to U.S. orders and should not require fumigation upon entry to Canada. Inspection, brokerage fees, and shipping costs will be billed at cost to the customer. We request a minimum order of 50 trees for Canadian deliveries.