Nectarine Trees - Dead, stressed, or dormant?

last year

I had a garden center plant nectarine trees a month ago and none of them have leafed out or flowered. My concern is that I was given either dead trees or trees already so stressed that they are having problems. The branches are also brittle on them; I'm a bit afraid to perform a scratch test. I have a two year warranty on these trees so I just wanted to know whether or not to ask for new trees. Thank you. NOTE: The last two photos are of the healthier looking tree and the rest are other trees. Thanks.

Comments (5)

L Clark (zone 4 WY)
last year
last modified: last year
It's not looking good. Where are you? It looks like there was a freeze as they started to leaf out . You should be seeing some green at this point.
Andrew Mueller thanked L Clark (zone 4 WY)
Andrew Mueller
Original Author
last year
Thank you for the response. I'm in growing zone 5 and it's been hotter recently, in the mid 90s. Is this something I can baby them through or do you think I need to tell the garden center they need to give me new trees? Thanks.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Ask for new trees. The buds on all those little branches are dead. And yes, if they haven't leafed out by the end of June (or as close as we are to it), they are most probably dead.
Andrew Mueller thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Andrew Mueller
Original Author
last year
Thank you for responding. The stems do snap easily and come off.
Andrew Mueller
Original Author
last year
@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) Thank you, I appreciate your help earlier with the Japanese Maple question I had. I am having a county extension office from a local university take a look at them and then I'll ask for new trees.