Yes, it depends on where you are as to their availability as they are normally sold while dormant. Here in SoCal, Jan/Feb is usually when they go on sale. They are all gone now.

My local nurseries don't sell bare root unfortunately. I wish they did because I'm tired of all the root pruning.

Nurseries here (zone 7) just got trees in last week and all were green/flowering. I'm assuming they are coming from south of here.

People usually buy bare root trees on line from reputable on-line nurseries. There are many of them out there.

What fruit trees are you interested in buying?

Depending on your zone you may be able to order bare root trees online still.

There isn't a tree I wouldn't try to grow. I'll see how much room I have but any dwarf fruit tree I'd consider. What sites are recommended?

$69.99 retail for a 10 gallon fruit tree? That is dirt cheap! Where I am at in Wisconsin, a #10 sells for $188 retail. #5 Cortland on M7 rootstock is $88. I still prefer bare-root as well for planting. Much cheaper, better rootstock selection IF buying from some of the reputable bare-root nurseries. Also a lot easier to dig the hole for bare-root than some of those large containers (especially if you have a bad shoulder).

Wow, I would think Wisconsin would be cheaper than NY. Go figure! Not sure on rootstocks but the trees are very nice. I believe they're from Hollybrook orchards.

Experienced growers often suggest a new gardener to buy bare root trees for several seasons. For example, price ( like fruitnut said, 1/3 cheaper), rootstock (knowing a rootstock help you know how tall a tree can be, how resistant to soil- borne disease, wet soil condition, etc.), selection (you can pick far more varieties than what offered at a local nursery) and shape/height (a bare root tree is usually a stick. You can shape it to suit your need and preference)

A new gardener tends to want instant gratification from a bigger tree that can bear fruit right away. Sometimes, those potted trees are rootbound. To me, that is also issue to be aware of.

If you like the potted trees and do not mind paying the asking price, that is all well and good.

I keep my trees in fabric pots because my soil isn't workable and I plan on moving in the future.

Where is the best source for bare root trees?

empowered:

I prefer to buy my bare-root fruit trees from Schlabach's Nursery in NY. Good selection and great prices! They do not list what rootstock their apple trees are on in their catalog. But if you call and ask, they will tell you what rootstock options are available for a certain variety. I always do this and then write on the order what rootstock I request and they honor it.

Yes they have a phone but do not book orders over the phone (Amish). They will answer any questions you have by phone but orders are taken by mail only.

I have also purchased from Raintree in the past and had good results with what I ordered. I bought from Stark too but Stark will not tell you what rootstock their apples are on. When I once called, I was told they had them on M7 and Bud 118 but I could not get a preference when ordering. Depended on what they boxed up for me. That was the last time I ordered apples from Stark Nursery although I have ordered other fruits from them.

I ordered all my trees from a local nursery less than 40 miles from me. I paid less than $10 a tree for them

Like insteng, I would get your trees from a local nursery with the idea being that they would be selling trees suited to your local climate and diseases. Do not buy from a big box retailer as they sell anything.

That said, I bought online from Gurney's and had a good experience. They list the available rootstocks and you can purchase the fruit that you want on the desired rootstock (if in stock, they do sell out). You will have to determine what rootstock works best for you. Both my apples were bare root and came through with no issues.

I have not always had "good luck" with the local nurseries by me. Many do a great job but many do not. I have found the fruit trees not tagged as to what rootstock they are on, not marked if dwf or semi-dwarf ect. When I ask the staff, they seem to know nothing about fruit trees and cannot answer my questions. The issue is many "horticulturists" these days have an associates degree from a tech school. It seems while they are highly trained in ornamental plants, little or nothing is being taught about fruit trees and how to grow them.

In my area I have found 'Granny Smith' apples offered at local nurseries. Granny survives our winters here but our season is too short. The apples will most likely only ripen one year in 5 before they freeze on the tree. When I mention this, I get answers like "we carry that variety because our customer's ask for it". I also see nurseries carrying jap/American plums but only one variety (no pollinator!) ect. I hope you have better luck with your local nurseries.

I speak of this with firsthand experience as I work at a nursery. I am always trying to educate our sales staff on fruit. It seems the new hires almost never know anything about fruit.

Not all nurseries carry what grow well locally. I've seen local nurseries selling Fuyu persimmon which would not survive my zone.

If you like to have choices, on-line nurseries have a lot more choice. Locally, all we could find is Elberta or Redhaven peaches. Nothing wrong with that but if you want Winblo or Ernie's Choice, you can only get them on line.

Schlabach and White Oak are good Amish-run fruit tree nurseries. You have to get their addresses, call for a catalog and order via mail.

All the potted trees I bought despite being root bound have done great from the local nursery. All are zoned for my climate and labeled as to dwarf/semi dwarf. I'll look for bare root trees next year as soon I'll be priced out of the potted versions!

Spartan: thanks. I'll look into that place and I'm in NY too so I'm sure they have exactly what I need.

empowered:

Schlabach's Nursery is at 2784 Murdock Rd, Medina NY 14103. Their phone number (mornings only) is 585-798-6198. They offer price rate on their trees based on quantity ordered (1-5, 6-10, 11+). You can also count the total of all your trees to fit into the correct pricing rate (apples, pears. plums ect combined total). A shipping and boxing fee will also apply but their prices are still very reasonable.

Thank you very much, I'll check them out!

I've been lucky with the two local nurseries that I usually go to. For the most part, they seem to carry trees that will do decently well here, but I'm lucky that I do not have to worry about freezes, just finding varieties that do well in a low chill zone (we only had 150 hours this last winter according to UC Davis). So not a whole lot of apple varieties, but they do seem to carry a decent amount of nectarines and plum cultivars that do well here.

Armstrong and Andersen are near me and I haven't had a bad experience, but I'm sure someone else local has. I've also been to Ong Nursery which is literally run out a UC professor's house. Tons of tropical fruits, but he's very expensive.