Root Boot Air-Layering Tool
📍 Available for local pickup / delivery only!
Root Boot Air-Layering Tool - Black / Medium A - up to .6” WITH TAPER / 3 Pack is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Fruit Tree Pot Size Reference Guide
Fruit Tree Pot Size Reference Guide
Display general product information or specific product information using metafields.
We sell grafted fruit trees in various sizes, ranging from young 3-gallon plants all the way up to 25-gallon and larger, mature trees.
As a general rule of thumb, here’s what you can expect from each size:
3 gallon: Will take an average of 2-3 years before harvesting your first crop. Trees are small and may be just a single stem, or just starting to develop their first branches. Typical height is between 2-4 feet.
7 gallon: Will take an average of 1–2 years to produce a crop. Branching structure has started to develop, and trunks are between ½ to 1 inch thick. Typical height is between 3-6 feet.
15 gallon: You can usually expect fruit within a year of planting, and some trees are already fruiting at this size. Branch and canopy structure has taken shape and the tree is starting to grow wider. Trunks are between 1 to 1-½ inches thick. Typical height is 5-8 feet.
25 gallon and larger: These are mature trees, and most are ready to produce fruit or have already produced. They have been pruned and shaped multiple times at this point. Trunks are about 2” thick or larger. Typical height is 6-10 ft.
PLEASE NOTE: These descriptions are generalized - Some species of fruit trees are very quick to produce, and others take longer. For example, mulberry trees can start fruiting at a very young age, even as small as a 3 gallon. Mango, avocado, or sapodilla trees will take longer. Each species grows at a different rate and will take varying lengths of time to establish, and even different cultivars can be more precocious (quick to produce) than others.
Order Pick Up/Delivery Info
Order Pick Up/Delivery Info
When you select the “Nursery Pickup” option at checkout, please allow up to 24-48 hours for your order to be prepared for pickup. Once your order is ready for pickup, we will email you to let you know that it is ready. Plant orders may be held at the nursery for up to 10 days. If orders are not picked up within this time frame, a 15% restocking fee will be charged. If you are unable to pick up your order, please contact us to request a quote for delivery.
If you prefer to have us deliver your plants, select "Ship" at checkout and choose the "Local Delivery" option. (This option will not be visible if your order is below the $300 minimum for delivery). Delivery cost for orders within 20 miles is a flat rate of $50. If your address is further than 20 miles, we will invoice you for the additional mileage at $3/mile upon fulfilling your order. Deliveries are typically scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please include your phone number and any delivery instructions in the order notes.
Responsibility of Care
Responsibility of Care
Return Policy
Return Policy
All sales are final at the time of payment. Please be sure that you are happy with your order before submitting. Returns or exchanges will only be made under exceptional circumstances, at our discretion, and are subject to a 15% restocking fee. Once plants have left the nursery and are no longer in our care, they cannot be returned.
Inventory Disclaimer
Inventory Disclaimer
Every day, we take great care to maintain our inventory and make real-time updates as plants come and go. Because our inventory is constantly changing, and because in-store and online purchases are being made simultaneously, it is possible for a short window to occur when an item is physically sold out, but listed as in-stock on this platform. This is rare, but in the case that it does happen, we will contact you right away and either refund the item or offer an alternative. Thank you for your understanding!
Additionally, we add new plants to the nursery on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. Check back often to see what’s in stock, and click the “Notify me when this item is available” button to get updates when your wish-list items are restocked!
Root Boot Air-Layering Tool
Description
Description
You’re about to become an air-layering wizard! You don’t even need to take the time to learn a new skill. Stick it on your tree! Watch a new tree grow! Wowza!
Okay, maybe take a few minutes to learn what you’re doing. You’re still going to feel like a magician, creating clones of your favorite specimen trees that produce fruits just like their mother did.
The Root Boot design came out of 50 years of thoughtful innovation, informed by the needs of a commercial fruit tree operation.
How Does It Work?
Select the right Root Boot for the tree limb you’ll be working with.
Small = Up to .33” diameter limb girth
Medium Type A = up to .6” diameter limb girth; splines narrow at the tip for a tight fit
Medium Type B = up to .6” diameter limb girth; splines remain at .6” diameter to the tips
Large = between .6” and 1.75” diameter limb girth
Once you’ve prepped your tree, place the Root Boot over the girdled branch and secure using the snaps that surround each case. You may also elect to add zip ties or rubber bands if you suspect that vigorous roots may bust the Boot open, but the snaps are quite secure. Some folks create a hinge using zip ties and we suspect users find myriad uses for the various slits and closure knobs offered.
The 3 color options might seem superfluous, but using these colors as indicators is valuable. Some growers mark varieties or layer date using various colors. For example, Red Boot = “Sweetheart Variety” OR Black Boot = “Layered Week of February 2nd”. Mix-matching colors can make simultaneous indications.
If you choose, you might add a label using a wax or plant marker.
Why Choose Root Boot?
Maybe you’re familiar with traditional air layering methods, arduously balancing moss buckets and tin foil whilst balancing on a ladder. With this method, each wrap may take several minutes to concoct. Using a Root Boot, the process is expedited tenfold, making each air layer a literal “snap.” You’ll save time with both installation and removal of the Root Boot, compared to disposable materials.
Sure, it’s sustainable and quick but is there really an *advantage* to using a Root Boot over the ole-standard? We see several benefits:
Stake Indentation: A specially designed groove on the plastic device itself encourages the root ball to form with an indentation that allows for low-risk placement of a plant stake next to the new trunk. This increases success rate by circumventing root damage that occurs with stake placement against fresh roots.
Recyclable!: OK, fine. Tin foil is recyclable too, but with only one use per slice compared to years of re-use, the re-use value of a Root Boot takes the cake.
Expedience: For home users, the quick-draw nature casts off just one more barrier to entry: the feeling of difficulty. For commercial growers creating hundreds or thousands of new trees annually, the time-save is precious. Pre-make your boots up to a week before use (so long as you keep the medium moist.) This means less resource planning. The ease of use also cuts down on training expenditures.
Double-Duties: This handy device also doubles as a shipping container. Another win for commercial growers! Compact and light polypropylene equals less shipping costs + the design protects the root system during transit. When it arrives, the customer could use the Root Boot again, or recycle it.
Success Rate: Beyond the user wins, a Root Boot is the optimal choice for the trees themselves. The design allows for ideal air and moisture balance (like the ear canal!). The sturdy material and closure mechanism offer greater stability for root formation. One of our favorite benefits is the pest deterrence. Ants are less likely to infiltrate and nest in the Root Boot.
