General Information & FAQ

Ordering, Delivery Method, & Planting Care

Thank you for your interest in growing heritage apple trees. Many of our offerings were grafted from historic orchards where they have resisted pest, disease, and drought in Colorado for over 100 years. Many represent rare and endangered varieties you might not easily find elsewhere. Most have been DNA tested to confirm identity or uniqueness. Our tree sales support our preservation work. We are grateful for your support.

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Membership Discount

Current members of MORP enjoy discounts on heritage apple trees! You can use coupon code MEMBER for $10 off each tree or coupon code BULK for $30 off each tree when purchasing 30 or more. Please note that these coupons cannot be combined.

If you want to check your membership status, feel free to reach out at morp@montezumaorchard.org. To qualify for these discounts, you can renew or become a member today by adding an Annual Membership or Sustain-a-Tree Membership to your shopping cart, or at the Join Us page.

Local Pickup

Q. I just placed an order. What are your hours, and when can I pick it up? A. Any day/time is fine for pickup so long as we know when to expect you as we do not have farm hours. Schedule pickup time several days in advance to receive directions by emailing morp@montezumaorchard.org. Do not visit without confirmation otherwise you may miss us. Please pick up your order within 2 weeks of purchase. If you fail to do so, no refunds, credit only towards future tree purchase. Cannot guarantee same choice of varieties.

Q. Where do I pick up my trees? A. The pickup location is in McElmo Canyon, situated in Southwest Colorado, just 20 minutes west of Cortez. After you request and receive confirmation for your pickup date (or date range), you will be provided with detailed directions to McElmo Farm, where the MORP nursery is located. Please note that we operate by appointment only, as we do not have set farm hours.

Q. Can I meet with you and tour the nursery, farm, or orchard when I pick up my order? A. We cannot guarantee our presence at the time of pickup. Your trees will be available at the designated pickup location, allowing you to collect them at your convenience on the scheduled date or date range. Typically, we are out in the field working. However, we would be glad to meet you! The best opportunity to do so is by attending a MORP event.

Q. I would prefer to purchase trees in person vs online. Can I visit the nursery for you to help me pick some out? A. We are not set up as a retail nursery with hours of operation, but you can purchase trees online anytime of year. Both shipping and local pickup options are available. If you need help choosing please email your preferences and questions about what you seek in an apple(s) and how many trees you plan to purchase. We will gladly help! To select and buy trees in person, MORP presents two annual events. Mark your calendars for the Heritage Apple Tree Sale on the second SAT in May, and the Orchard Social and Fall Heritage Apple Tree Sale on the second SAT in October.

Q. Where is your nursery and orchard? A. MORP owns a 36 historic orchard property known as the Orchard Hub located at 13729 Road 29, Dolores, CO. MORP’s other orchard locations (through MOU’s) are at the historic Gold Medal Orchard in McElmo Canyon and the Dolores Community Heritage Orchard next to Joe Rowell Park. The MORP nursery (tree pickup spot) is located on MORP Cofounders McElmo Farm & Orchard. MORP has been honored to work in hundreds of historic orchards. Thank you to the orchard owners who shared their trees and family stories with us.

Shipping

For shipping, please do not add anything to your cart other than shippable-sized trees, scion, or memberships. Local pickup is available if you plan to collect your order within 2 weeks. Shipping defaults to Local Pickup at checkout, so be sure to switch to Flat Rate if you need only scion shipped or Free Shipping if you also have shippable-sized tree(s) in your cart.

Q. Can you ship trees? A. Shipping is available only for TREES that have a “shippable size” listed under the Delivery Method dropdown at the product page of the tree you wish to buy. At checkout, do not select shipping if you have any non shippable items in your cart. If you do so, we will refund those items minus a 5% restocking fee. You can filter for shippable products under Product Categories at the Shopping page.

Q. Where and how do you ship? A. We ship and scion within the contiguous United States. We do not ship to Alaska or Hawaii. Orders are sent USPS and are expected to arrive in 3-7 business days from the time we ship. This time range, however, is not guaranteed. Please note, If USPS does not deliver to your street address please provide a POB.

Q. How much does it cost to have trees shipped? A. We have included shipping and handling costs in the price of “shippable size” trees so you are not surprised at checkout. Shipping defaults to Local Pickup at checkout, so be sure to switch to Flat Rate ($15) if you need only scion shipped or Free Shipping if you also have shippable-sized tree(s) in your cart.

Q. When do you ship trees? A. We work to ship every week on Mondays. Our trees are potted so we can ship year round but recommend the windows of 1) March 15 – June 15 and 2) Sept 15 – November 15. Please do not place your order until you are within 2 weeks of your desired ship date. Although, it could take longer for your order to ship depending on weather factors undesirable for shipping and other orchard projects we may be busy with. You may order outside our recommended time frames but at your own risk/judgement as our tree guarantee does not apply during that time.

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Tree Guarantee

LOCAL PICKUP GUARANTEE: We guarantee that our trees are healthy at the time of purchase and pickup. We further guarantee that trees are living things and that there are many ways to kill them. We gladly offer feedback and advice, but not refunds or replacements – EXCEPT for at the time of PICKUP. If you have unresolved concerns please let us know BEFORE you take your trees home. If we are not available at the time of pickup, leave behind any trees you are not happy with and we will refund you. Please “talk tree care” with us anytime before or after your purchase. Your success is important to us.

SHIPPING GUARANTEE: If you order trees to be shipped during our recommend times of year 1) March 15 – June 15 and 2) Sept 15- November 15, we guarantee healthy trees of your chosen variety will arrive at your doorstep. We will delay shipping during those time frames if there are hazardous weather conditions within the shipping route. If you have any concerns about the condition of your order please document / photograph issues within 24 hours of arrival and notify us within two weeks of purchase. Depending on the condition of your order and concerns you may have, we will give full or partial refund or store credit at our discretion . We further guarantee that trees are living things and that there are many ways to kill them. Once they are in your care, we gladly offer feedback and advice but not refunds or replacements. Your success is important to us. Thank you for your perseverance in this challenging and rewarding work of being a fruit grower.

Container / Pot Size

LOCAL PICKUP: Available for local pickup in 3 gallon pots. They average 4 feet tall and will fit in a standard sized vehicle, no trailer needed. If you are able to lay down backseats you can fit up to 20 trees in your car or about 50 in a truck if laid on side and stacked. If traveling in a pickup bed we recommend a camper top or tarp to prevent wind damage and tags from flying off, especially if traveling long distances.

SHIPPING: Our shippable size trees are grown in 4 x 4 x 10 inch Anderson Band pots. They average 24 – 30 inches tall, are nicely rooted, and ready to plant! Please unpack and water immediately upon receipt. Plant as soon as possible.

Rootstock Types (select depending on availability)

The majority of our trees are currently available on Malus domestica rootstock. Not all rootstock types listed below are currently available. You can filter for available rootstock type at the righthand sidebar at the product page.

Malus domestica Standard sized seedling rootstock. This is what trees were historically grafted on. These will be large trees that will grow for a century or more due to their cold hardiness and drought tolerance. Plant 25 feet or more apart.

Bud 118 Semi Dwarf rootstock, about 85-90% size of standard. Sometimes referred to as a “semi-standard” or even a standard. Said to be resistant to fireblight. Plant 20-25 feet apart.

M111 Semi Dwarf rootstock, about 60-85% size of standard. A good compromise if you want a slightly smaller tree. Plant 15 feet or more apart.

M7 Semi Dwarf, Smaller than M111. Probably not as long lived, but produces sooner. Longer lived than M26. Plant 12 feet or more apart.

M26 Dwarf, Short lived (a few decades), fast producing, needs staked, not drought tolerant or as cold hardy, plant as close to 1-2 feet apart.

Planting advice

While most of this guidance is relevant across the United States, if you reside outside the arid Southwest, please consult with local experts regarding regional considerations, particularly concerning recommended watering schedules and soil conditions. The two key requirements for successfully establishing an orchard in Colorado are 1) fence/protection, and 2) irrigation/water.

Key Tips for Successful Planting:

Plant ASAP!: Trees thrive best in the ground rather than in pots, so be sure to plant and water them immediately for optimal success.

Planting Location: Choose a site(s) on your property with the best soil drainage and good air flow. Avoid low-lying areas that can create cold sinks/pockets.

Spacing:

Standard apple trees should be spaced at least 25 feet apart.
Semi-dwarf trees need a distance of at least 15 feet.
Dwarf trees can be spaced 8 feet or less apart.

Hole Preparation:

Dig a hole 2-3 times wider than the root ball, ensuring it’s just deep enough for the root ball to sit level with the soil line.
Create a water well and add mulch.

Soil Mix: Avoid adding hot compost, manure, or fertilizer to the planting hole. Instead, backfill with native soil mixed with one-third compost or quality potting soil. Water thoroughly and eliminate air pockets. Apply no more than 1-2 inches of compost as mulch each year.

Protection: Safeguard your tree from deer, rodents, bears, and other potential damage. A sturdy fence and tree guards are essential. Consider painting the lower south trunk with diluted plain white latex paint (50% water) to prevent sun scald. Some tree guards can also serve this function. We recommend these tree guards and prefer to use them vs painting. Remember to reposition tree stakes, guards, limb spacers, ID tags, etc., annually.

Watering: Proper watering is essential for the health of your trees. It takes experience to determine the right amount and frequency, considering factors such as weather conditions, site specifics, tree age and health, season, dormancy, and more. During the growing season, we prefer to water overnight once a week using a drip system. Each tree receives three emitters, each with a capacity of two gallons per hour.

General Guidelines:

Mulch and water slowly and deeply to allow water to penetrate the soil profile—approximately 20 gallons at a time, minimum.
Repeat watering when the top layer of soil starts to dry out.
Use flood, drip, or micro-sprinklers for optimal results, as overhead watering can lead to disease, sunburn, and often does not hydrate the soil deeply enough.
Water young trees more frequently (up to three times a week during hot summer months). Although watering once a week is effective if you to do it properly! Slow and deep.
As trees mature, reduce watering frequency (about once every two weeks for established trees), and ensure new trees receive water once a month during dry winter spells.

Order Trees

How to Order Scion: Note that this is scionwood for grafting, not a rooted tree

Q. When will scion be available for purchase? A. Scion is generally available on our website around mid-February. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated.

Q. What is the size of the scion? A. Each piece of scion consists of a minimum of 8 inches of grafting wood, though it may be cut into multiple sections. The size can vary depending on the cultivar and the age of the tree, but it typically averages slightly below pencil size, and sometimes larger.

Q. How does shipping work for scion? A. We offer shipping within the contiguous US with the following options at checkout:

If you only have scion in your cart, select Flat Rate $15.
If you also have shippable-sized tree(s) in your cart, choose Free Shipping, as we can package your scion with your tree(s).

Scion orders will begin shipping on Mondays around mid-February, processed in the order they are received. You will receive an email notification with tracking information once your order has shipped.

*For shipping, please do not add anything to your cart other than scion, shippable-sized trees, or memberships. Local pickup is available if you plan to collect your order within 2 weeks. Shipping defaults to Local Pickup at checkout, so be sure to switch to Flat Rate if you need only scion shipped or Free Shipping if you also have shippable-sized tree(s) in your cart.

Q. Is there a comprehensive list of cultivars in your collection beyond what is available on your website? A. To access the list of cultivars in MORP’s collection:

Visit the RegisTREE Dashboard.
In the Contributor search field at the top, search for and select the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project. This will show you what is in our collection. Not all varieties are available for sale at this time, but feel free to email us with special requests if you cannot find the variety you are looking for elsewhere.

Q. Can I order a cultivar of scion that is not currently listed as available on your website? A. To include Custom Order options in your order:

First, email us to confirm that your requested scion is available.
If it is available, add a “custom cultivar” to your order.
Specify the quantity of custom sticks.
List your custom choice(s) in the order notes.

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