Plenty of nurseries still grow their young trees in the open ground and sell them bare-root. When they arrive, usually beautifully bound, unwrap them carefully and assess their dimensions before digging the holes to suit, one at a time, keeping the topsoil on one side and the subsoil on the other. Try it for size, then place a cone of soil in the bottom, resting the spread roots on top before building up the rest of the soil in layers, firming as you backfill. Any stake goes on the windward side, with the tie 1in below the top.

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