Do you know the names of the varieties and the rootstocks? I always start my bare root plants in pots, in good quality potting soil, and have around five apricots growing in pots right now. First, look at the size of the roots, the way they grow, and get a pot which would allow the roots to spread out and down as much as possible. A fifteen gallon plastic pot half filled with soil seems to be better for the plants than trying to cram the roots into a five gallon pot. The larger pots don't dry out as fast as smaller ones, and in our hot summer climates, keeping the pots watered can be a challenge. After a year of so, if the roots start growing out of the holes on the bottom, it's easy just to lift out the root ball in a 15 gallon pot, add 6-12 inches of fresh potting soil on the bottom, two teaspoons of slow release Osmacote fertilizer mixed in, and replace the tree at the top. And it saves buying another pot. You plant the trees in pots the same way you would plant them in the ground, spreading the roots out to their natural level of growth, filling in the potting soil carefully so the roots aren't compacted together. The branches are pruned (or not) to balance the root spread. If the roots are long and ample, the branches need less pruning. If there are a number of long branches that make the tree top heavy, then they can be pruned back by half. The article below will give you more information. Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: Fruit Trees in Containers

I have a bareroot rose from last year and I have it in front of a side fence to discourage anyone from hopping the fence to get in the back. Someone stepped on it late last fall and broke and bent canes off to the ground and within a few inches. I cut them off and with normal watering it came back this spring, growing off what I thought were dead canes and I didn't see anywhere it could start growing from again. I almost think it's going to be a better rose bush for it. I don't think a bent, damaged cane could sustain the weight roses would put on it. From what you're saying I don't believe the rose will regrow the damage done. I don't really understand where it's broke out but I think you'll have to prune it off and hope to spark new growth with some watering. I'd be putting some Vitamin B1 on it for stress. You might create a well around the rose and water it deeply before you go, maybe it would be enough if it's not too warm where you are. Roses are pretty tough, I've had various accidents with them and thought they'd be toast and they were fine.

Susan, I personally *know* that, but the reason I'm asking for clarification is that the wording used by ginjj makes it seem implied that Just Joey is a rose bred by David Austin, not simply sold by them. I'm afraid I don't see where you think I implied they don't have multiple non-Austins. They have things like Altissimo, Ferdindand Pichard, Don Juan, Cinco de Mayo and such. I've ordered from DAR-USA since around 2003. I clearly only stated that JJ is NOT an Austin rose is all, do you not agree with my clearly communicated statement entirely? :-) Steven

media ....not a bucket of water ... it isnt an aquatic ... put seller on notice that you might make a claim later ... presuming its dormant.. keep it dormant as long as possible in out MI ... i might just pot it in some damp [not sodden media].... and put it on the north side of the house... and let it .. in its dormancy.. adapt to MI in march ... i would fear.. if i put it in garage or barn.. that it would come out of dormancy a month or 2 early ... if its not dormant when you get it.. send it back ... if it comes out of dormancy in our MI .. frankly its at risk thru early may for frost of freeze damage ... potting it will help you move it around.. if necessary ... i would probably plant it 3rd to 4th week of april .... if dormancy is maintained .... ken