Saplings of Fruit Trees, Shrubs and Ornamental Plants: How to Buy
The root system: the first thing to ask about
Saplings are sold in two main forms. Bare-root plants are dug up without soil: they are cheaper, but should be planted only while dormant, in early spring before the buds open or in autumn. Container-grown plants grow in a pot and can be planted for most of the season, but they cost more and are heavier to transport.
This also decides when to order. For autumn planting, book bare-root saplings in advance, because popular varieties go first.
What to put in your request
- plant — mango, guava, lemon, rose, hedge plant, perennial;
- variety — the name or traits: hardy, dwarf, early, grafted;
- quantity — how many;
- age or size — one or two years, or height in centimetres and metres;
- root system — bare-root or container, with the pot volume;
- purpose — orchard, hedge, landscaping, windbreak, berry plantation;
- planting — whether they should plant it on your plot;
- delivery city and budget, for example per sapling.
Example: “I need 30 thuja saplings for a hedge, 1.5 m high, in 10-litre containers. Johannesburg, I will collect them. Budget up to R 120 per sapling.”
How to choose and compare offers
Ask about the rootstock: it decides the size of the tree, the time to first fruit and how well it copes with your conditions. For fruit trees, the climate suitability of the variety and pollination matter: some fruit trees give no crop without a second, pollinating variety nearby. The age of the sapling matters too: one-year plants take root more easily, while two-year plants flower sooner.
When comparing, check whether the variety is named exactly, whether there is a label or plant passport, how it was grown (in the nursery or bought in and resold), and the height and trunk thickness. For a hedge, ask whether all the plants come from one batch, so that they grow evenly. Also ask whether there is a guarantee that they will take root, and on what terms.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You submit one request, and nurseries and plant sellers reply in a chat with the variety, age, price, terms and delivery. They can see where their offer ranks, so they compete for you. BlaBlaPrice puts the best-value offer first, with seller reviews next to it. Your phone number is hidden; only the seller you choose will see it. More on the “How it works” page.
Common mistakes
People buy saplings “by variety” without learning the rootstock. They buy at a roadside stall with no label, and then don't know what has grown. They forget the distance between trees and the pollinators. They plant at the wrong time. Before planting, prepare the soil and fertilisers, and for watering young trees, look at irrigation systems.
