Unless you can see them, you don't know how comparable they are in size. At local nurseries here, a 20G tree will be around 6-8 feet tall or more, depending on species.

btw, the term "nursery" can apply to either a growing/propagation operation as well as to a reseller of product grown elsewhere (aka, a retail garden center). If your nursery can order this tree for you, they are most likely the latter.

That's always the "fun" part of ordering something... you don't know what it is until you get it :-/

Thanks for the info on the "nursery" term! See, in my mind a nursery grows plants while a store sells them. That's like calling Walmart a manufacturer, ya know what I mean? LOL But regardless, I learned something new today :-D

btw ... you are asking in the tree forum ...

in my experience.. the larger the transplant.. the longer it take to settle in .... and get established.. to grow to expectation ... especially if severely root bound.. and significant root surgery was needed.. or it was a field dug ball and burlap ...

so... between a 2 footer and a 4 or 5 footer.. i would bet my shiny penny.. the 2 footer will outgrow the bigger one inside a few years.... so paying more for a few feet isnt really cost effective ...

if you have acres to cover.. and a predilection for collecting.. buy small.. and buy more of all different kinds.. dont get caught up in alleged instant gratification of larger trees ....

and if you do buy small.. be sure to protect them for the first few years ....

ken

Two reasons, @ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5:

1. I don't want it to seem like I'm spamming for a company; and

2. I've complained about the local nursery a few times, and I don't want to permanently hurt them.

I buy locally and from small businesses religiously. I haven't darkened the doorstep of a Walmart in 15 years, and USUALLY only buy online when I can't find it locally. But maybe 1 in 10 plants I've bought from the local nursery have lived (and they don't guarantee them at all) as compared to a 100% survival rate for plants I've bought online. So this is a rare exception to my "local first" rule.

My online source, though, is either fast-growing-trees.com or highcountrygardens.com. I've had great experiences with both.

between a 2 footer and a 4 or 5 footer.. i would bet my shiny penny.. the 2 footer will outgrow the bigger one inside a few years.... so paying more for a few feet isnt really cost effective ...

Hmm. Well that's something to think about, then!

In this case, I'm working on a hedge to block out the road instead of trying to fill in a large area. I need to create a line of evergreens about 70' long, then I can taper either side to make it pretty from the road, pretty from the house, and still have a barrier.

I was specifically ordering the largest possible with the thought of cutting down on growing time... I'd like to see it mature before I die of old age!! LOL But if that's a rookie mistake, I'd cut the cost in half by buying smaller ones :-O