the only way to learn.. is order them up.. and compare.. over the years ... thats how we all learned .... that was why i showed pix of the box i got ... as to what you get.. understand.. first.. that growing trees in pots is tough .... and you should grow on the understock for a year or two.. before you ever graft .... and that grafted stock should be grown on for a few years after the graft ..... before it is sold.. in my world.. that means a tree in a pot for a number of years.. and i find it amusing.. all the complaining about trees being root bound ... on some level... though obviously.. extreme pot bound is another thing ... that said.. it would be best.. if you can get them dormant.. and plant them dormant ... as it lessens your need for supreme aftercare ... its really hard to plant something just budded out.. and not stress the bee-gee-bees out of it ... so time is of the essence ... depending where the seller is ... so your first concern.. after getting them.. will be whether they can go straight in the ground in regard to frost/freeze ... i dont recall offhand.. your background.. ask if you need info on how to PROPERLY : plant, water and mulch.... and NEVER FORGET.. just because you got it.. doesnt mean its proper to plant it immediately.. if i dont get mine in by 5/1 .. they will remain in the pots until fall planting season .... NOTHING gets planted.. in my sand.. in summer... as i wont be able to perfect PROPER WATERING... on the 5 acres ... in other words.. one or more will get forgotten ... just do it.. and learn.. and we will help .. ken

Try a search for "CO oraganic soil" and also Craigs List which currently has about 5 free offers. For free you could rent a truck at $19 and come out well on the cost side. The other option is to fill those planters with leaves, grasses, newspaper and start again for next spring. Perhaps take the plants you have now and put them in pots for this year, if it is early for some cover them with milk bottles or large baggies with holes. We still have 3 weeks for planting most of our veggies. Gardening takes time, we all need the patience for nature to take it's course. Even planning ahead can find nature changing it's direction. If I could have my whole yard done this year it would be wonderful, but reality is this won't happen.....so I remind myself that patience is at the head of the list. Link below is a nursery that carries organic. Also try calling every nursery around...takes time, but can be worth it. There are a number of nurseries listed in RMG. Tagawas would definitely have organic and is close to you. Here is a link that might be useful: Oraganic soil

I will second cearbhaill as I do not have anything remotely local or regional with JM selection. Through mail order I have been able to successfullly plant and grow more than 130 cultivars and 175 total JMs in the hot and humid SE (zone 8b). I have used many online sources and have had a variety of experiences. Since similar threads of this many years ago helped me get started and find sources, I thought doing the same could possibly be beneficial for others. As noted, these are my personal experiences and maybe be different than what others have experienced. Maplestone Ornamentals - excellent website, primarily smaller 1-2 or 2-3 year old grafts. Very good quality and good prices on plants and shipping. Maples N More - small family business, plants on the small size but unique varieties, good prices, responsive to fixing issues Mr Maple - I will no longer use them due to dissapointing issues. They sell lots of liners potted up to 1 gallon that have not come close to filling in the pot with roots. Essentially liners with extra dirt for 50 bucks. Quality has been inconsistent. Have not been impressed with bigger sizes and the shipping costs either. Iconic Gardens - they sell through ebay or their website. Great value, huge plants with the ability to get up to 5 year grafts for a great price in smaller pots that can ship for reasonable amount of money. Quality and selection are good. Maple Ridge Nursery - great website for descriptions of how each cultivar responds to my hot humid SE conditions. I have recieved healthy but undersized plants. Can be expensive both for plants and shipping. Davidson's - one of the most extensive collections both as reference material online and to purchase. Good quality, knowledgeable, responsive. Only downside is very expensive. Whitman Gardens - best value IMHO. Very big plants, healthy, extensive selection, straight forward knowledge and advice, Can get huge plants in smaller pots for great price on plants and shipping. Conifer Kingdom - nice website with pictures of actual plants. Can get larger sizes. Good quality, more limited selection. Pricing varies with some good deals and some quite oddly expensive that does not always match rarity of plant. Good customer care. Oriental Garden Supply - difficult website to navigate. Can get big sizes. Limited availability of many listings with many out of stock. Good quality plants at good prices. Topiary Gardens - excellent customer care with extensive selection of high quality 1,2,3 gallon plants that sell out quickly. Fair reasonable prices and shipping. Japanese Maples and Evergreens - they are on Amazon and other places. There are so many complaints about everything from horrible plants to horrible service I have stayed away myself. Acer1987 (Ebay). If you have the time to grow liners to big trees, this site has massive number of cultivars for good prices. Good customer care. I will otherwise second the opinions above of East Fork (expensive), Essence of Tree, Mendicino. Others have come and gone that I liked (Quality Maples for instance) that still have website up but are closed. Wish I had the opportunities that gardengal has with the range of great NW nurseries to shop from, but in the mean time I will keep Fed Ex busy! Thanks to all who have posted on this site over the years. I have been mainly lurking for more than a decade learning much and putting that knowledge to work.

I just received a batch of native eastern trees (bitternut hickory; American beech; sassafras; American chestnut; mockernut) from Nutcracker nursery. They're all right, but shipping is outrageous, ($87 to Alberta for 500 grams of bare-root trees), and several seedlings were broken on arrival. I'm giving them a pass this year, as things have been so strange, but I may not buy from them again. Acorus Restoration in Ontario is excellent. They stopped selling for a few years, but I see that they've started up again. Prices are great and shipping is reasonable, so I'll try another order from them in the fall. Next year I'll try Grimo Nut Farms, as they have an interesting selection of nut trees. Honeytree Nursery in PEI also sells a variety of interesting trees, and it's worth looking at their website.