Your #1 problem (as far as tree survival is concerned) was ordering such a large sourwood! These babies need root pruning pots and need to be transplanted even smaller than yours in our climate if not from seed in their permanent location. I have killed... oh let's see... 4 so far. The two that I have had success with were purchased as dormant 3' bare roots which I immediately root pruned and potted in a rootmaker pot for 1 growing season. Planted them out the following fall of 2012. They are alive and doing ok so far this year. Basically, your complaints about their root system is just a typical feature of sourwoods. They have large singular roots with comparatively few feeder roots that branch out from the root collar randomly. If there was a root system opposite to maple roots, it would be the sourwood root system. In other words, it is hard to place the blame solely on your source for the tree dying because the things are just so damn finicky! As for the company you dealt with on this order, they sound about as shady as a closet in a black hole. They obviously don't read their own notes and do not want to discuss complaints/questions from their customers. Try soonerplantfarms for an in state source that uses root pruning techniques on all of their stock now. They also, sometimes, carry sourwood. Sorry for your loss. I would eat the $80 and not screw around with any "replacements" they offered. Doesn't sound like you are going to get a response anyways. Maybe contact the BBB? And do visit GardenWatchDog and leave a lovely review of your experience. This will reach more people than this topic alone =) John Edit: Whoops! Is Aaron's Farm Nursery another front for TyTy? Can't include a link because it belong's to "that other site". Regardless, you are far from the only one to have problems with them... After discovering they are TyTy, your #1 problem was probably them to begin with. I rescind my opening comment. This post was edited by j0nd03 on Wed, Jun 26, 13 at 13:40

Hey Marshall, I ended up taking a detour and went to Sal's Landscape and K&W Nursery in Janesville instead. Morningwood didn't have as many varieties as K&W. Stock was a bit picked over but they still have a few nice specimens that are 30% off. Not alot of 1 gallon plants left but not sure what you might be after. They have 6 gallon Picea omorika 'Expansa' and Picea jezoensis 'Howell's Dwarf Tigertail' that where about 3.5' wide...very nice full specimans. Both around $70 after the discount. They had a few larger plants that where budget busters like a goregous Picea pungens 'Sester's Dwarf'...about 3.5' tall @ $160 after discount. A 7' Picea glauca 'Yukon blue' @ $160 as well...this one was @ Sal's. I picked up Picea pungens 'Montana Ave', Picea x mariorika 'Machala' and Pinus parviflora 'Arnold Arboretum Dwarf'.

Wholesale trees and shrubs? Are you a landscaper? If so, try Johnson's Nursery in Menomonee Falls WI or McKay Nursery in Waterloo WI. Both are very large nurseries offering container and BB plant material and have been in business for a very long time.

It is expensive for me plus shipping from one west coast to East coast. Besides, I can only admire the roses and it is highly not recommended in multiflora here. It won't last long . So, I will be passing it up with certainty but pls post pics which I would love to see and admire :) jin