1. When will my trees ship?

We sell many different varieties and products with varying shipping schedules. Our common shipping season runs late February through June, with specific timing based on your region and tree type. Any special exceptions or specific shipping windows will be noted on individual product pages. All trees ship on Mondays via UPS for Friday delivery, avoiding weekend warehouse delays. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order ships.

2. What are the shipping costs?

Bare-Root Trees: Orders over $200: FREE SHIPPING. Orders under $200: Typically $30-40 (calculated at checkout). Potted Trees: Shipping calculated by weight at checkout. Generally $40-75 depending on size and quantity. Heavier than bare-root due to soil, but superior root establishment makes it worth it! If ordering many potted trees, consider a pickup or ordering seedling and potted trees separately

3. What should I do when my trees arrive?

Plant within 3-5 days for best results. Bare-Root Trees: Keep roots moist at all times. If you can't plant immediately, store in a cool location (35-45°F). You can temporarily heel in trees by covering roots with moist soil or mulch. Never let roots dry out! Potted Trees: Water immediately upon arrival. Keep in partial shade until planting. Plant as soon as possible. Damaged Shipments: Inspect your trees immediately. Contact us within 48 hours with photos if there's any shipping damage.

4. Can chestnuts be grown in my area?

Chinese chestnuts thrive in USDA Zones 4-8, which covers most of the eastern United States and Midwest. They're cold-hardy (surviving -20°F winters) and heat-tolerant. Requirements for success: Soil pH: 6.5 or less (they need acidic soil). Sun: Full sun (6+ hours daily). Drainage: Well-drained soil (they hate wet feet!). Spacing: 40-50 feet between trees at maturity. Pollination: At least 2 seedlings for cross-pollination. Our trees are grown in Zone 6 (Cincinnati area) and perform excellently throughout the Midwest and East Coast.

5. What spacing do I need for my trees?

Proper spacing ensures healthy, productive trees: Chinese Chestnuts: 20-30 feet apart (standard size trees). Pawpaws: 15-20 feet apart (naturally smaller, can handle closer spacing). Apples & Pears (grafted): 25 feet apart (depending on rootstock). Persimmons: 20-30 feet apart. Remember: These trees get BIG! Plan for mature size, not current size. Closer spacing means more competition and reduced production.

6. Do I need to plant more than one tree?

It depends on the species: YES - You MUST plant at least 2: Chinese Chestnuts - Require cross-pollination. You need at least 2 seedlings within 200 feet of each other. Different varieties means different individual seedling trees OR different grafted varieties. Since seedlings come from seed, each individual seedling has different genetics and will cross-pollinate with another seedling. Grafted trees, however, are clones of the parent tree, so two grafted trees of the same variety will NOT cross-pollinate each other.

7. What does your warranty cover?

If notified by July 1st of the year you received your tree, we'll issue a store credit for any tree that fails to establish (tree price only; you pay shipping on replacement). What IS covered: Tree never leafed out. Complete dieback by early summer. Establishment failure despite proper care. What is NOT covered: Claims after July 1st. Animal damage (deer, rabbits, voles, etc.). Equipment or herbicide damage. Inadequate watering or neglect. Improper planting. Trees that have already been replaced once.

8. Can I pick up my order locally?

Yes! Potted trees are always available for local pickup at our Cincinnati area location. Contact us to arrange pickup timing. Bare-root trees are primarily shipped due to the tight seasonal window and inventory management, but contact us if you're local and interested in pickup options.

9. Can I cancel or modify my order?

Before your trees ship: Yes! Contact us as soon as possible and we'll update your order. No problem. After your trees ship: Once tracking is provided, we cannot cancel or modify the shipment. However, if there's an issue when trees arrive, contact us within 48 hours and we'll work with you to resolve it.

10. What's the difference between bare-root and potted trees?

Both are excellent options with different advantages: Bare-Root Trees: Shipped while dormant (March-April). Lighter weight = lower shipping costs. Root system has been air-pruned for exceptional branching. Must be planted during dormant season. Best for: Chestnuts, early-season planting. Potted Trees: Shipped in active growth (late May-June). Complete root ball with soil intact. All fine root hairs preserved = superior establishment. Can be planted later in spring after leaf-out. Best for: Pawpaws (they prefer this method!).

11. How old are the seedlings you sell?

Chestnut seedlings: Between 1-2 years old. Many of our potted chestnuts were potted up if they did not sell the previous year, thus they are 2 years old. Grafted pawpaws: 2-3 years old. Note that the grafting process dramatically reduces their size, so grafted trees may appear smaller than seedlings of the same age despite being more mature.

12. Do you provide planting or orchard consultation?

Yes! Chris Smyth has planted over 4,000 fruit and nut trees across the region and designed dozens of orchards through his work with the Common Orchard Project, Southern Ohio Chestnut Company, and his own private practice of working with landowners to create orchards. Orchard Design Consultation available for: Site assessment and species selection. Spacing and layout planning. Pollination planning. Long-term management strategies. Community orchard development.

13. Do you sell fertilizers and planting accessories?

Currently, we focus on providing exceptional trees rather than accessories. However, we have strong recommendations: Tree Protection (ESSENTIAL): We can only warranty trees that have been protected from deer. We don't currently sell tree tubes ourselves, but we highly recommend Plantra Brand 5-foot tree tubes - we've used thousands at this point and they are the best out there. Deer damage is the #1 killer of young trees!

FAQs — Deer Orchard

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We sell many different varieties and products with varying shipping schedules. Our common shipping season runs late February through June, with specific timing based on your region and tree type.
Any special exceptions or specific shipping windows will be noted on individual product pages.
All trees ship on Mondays via UPS for Friday delivery, avoiding weekend warehouse delays. You'll receive an email with tracking information when your order ships.
[Learn more about our complete Shipping Policy →]
Bare-Root Trees:
- Orders over $200: FREE SHIPPING
- Orders under $200: Typically $30-40 (calculated at checkout)
Potted Trees:
- Shipping calculated by weight at checkout
- Generally $40-75 depending on size and quantity
- Heavier than bare-root due to soil, but superior root establishment makes it worth it!
- If ordering many potted trees, consider a pickup or ordering seedling and potted trees separately
Plant within 3-5 days for best results.
Bare-Root Trees:
- Keep roots moist at all times
- If you can't plant immediately, store in a cool location (35-45°F)
- You can temporarily "heel in" trees by covering roots with moist soil or mulch
- Never let roots dry out!
Potted Trees:
- Water immediately upon arrival
- Keep in partial shade until planting
- Plant as soon as possible
Damaged Shipments: Inspect your trees immediately. Contact us within 48 hours with photos if there's any shipping damage.
[View our Tree Planting Guide →]

SHIPPING & DELIVERY

Chinese chestnuts thrive in USDA Zones 4-8, which covers most of the eastern United States and Midwest. They're cold-hardy (surviving -20°F winters) and heat-tolerant.
Requirements for success:
- Soil pH: 6.5 or less (they need acidic soil)
- Sun: Full sun (6+ hours daily)
- Drainage: Well-drained soil (they hate wet feet!)
- Spacing: 40-50 feet between trees at maturity
- Pollination: At least 2 seedlings for cross-pollination
Our trees are grown in Zone 6 (Cincinnati area) and perform excellently throughout the Midwest and East Coast.
Proper spacing ensures healthy, productive trees:
- Chinese Chestnuts: 20-30 feet apart (standard size trees)
- Pawpaws: 15-20 feet apart (naturally smaller, can handle closer spacing)
- Apples & Pears (grafted): 25 feet apart (depending on rootstock)
- Persimmons: 20-30 feet apart
Remember: These trees get BIG! Plan for mature size, not current size. Closer spacing means more competition and reduced production.
[View our Orchard Design Guide →]
It depends on the species:
YES - You MUST plant at least 2:
Chinese Chestnuts - Require cross-pollination. You need at least 2 seedlings within 200 feet of each other.
Important note: "Different varieties" means different individual seedling trees OR different grafted varieties. Since seedlings come from seed, each individual seedling has different genetics and will cross-pollinate with another seedling. Grafted trees, however, are clones of the parent tree, so two grafted trees of the same variety will NOT cross-pollinate each other. You can plant:
- 2+ seedling trees (they'll pollinate each other), OR
- 1 grafted tree + 1 seedling tree, OR
- 2+ different grafted varieties
Pawpaws - Are NOT self-fertile. You need at least 2 different varieties (or 2 seedlings) for fruit production. Even though they can technically set fruit alone, cross-pollination dramatically improves fruit set and quality.
Apples & Pears - Varies by variety; we'll note pollination requirements on each variety page.
Bottom line: Plan for at least 2 trees of different genetics for best production!

TREE SELECTION & VARIETIES

WARRANTY & GUARANTEES

If notified by July 1st of the year you received your tree, we'll issue a store credit for any tree that fails to establish (tree price only; you pay shipping on replacement).
What IS covered:
- Tree never leafed out
- Complete dieback by early summer
- Establishment failure despite proper care
What is NOT covered:
- Claims after July 1st (too many variables: weather, animals, care)
- Animal damage (deer, rabbits, voles, etc.)
- Equipment or herbicide damage
- Inadequate watering or neglect
- Improper planting
- Trees that have already been replaced once
To make a warranty claim: Email us before July 1st with your order number, clear photos, and a brief description of care provided (watering, planting location, date). We may request the tree be returned for inspection.
Important: We can only warranty trees that have been protected from deer. While we don't currently sell tree tubes ourselves, we highly recommend Plantra Brand 5-foot tree tubes - we've used thousands at this point and they are the best out there.

Yes! Potted trees are always available for local pickup at our Cincinnati area location. Contact us to arrange pickup timing.
Bare-root trees are primarily shipped due to the tight seasonal window and inventory management, but contact us if you're local and interested in pickup options.
Before your trees ship: Yes! Contact us as soon as possible and we'll update your order. No problem.
After your trees ship: Once tracking is provided, we cannot cancel or modify the shipment. However, if there's an issue when trees arrive, contact us within 48 hours and we'll work with you to resolve it.
Best practice: Double-check your order details (varieties, quantities, shipping address) before finalizing. We process orders quickly to meet regional shipping windows!

BUSINESS & ORDERS

Both are excellent options with different advantages:
Bare-Root Trees:
- Shipped while dormant (March-April)
- Lighter weight = lower shipping costs
- Root system has been air-pruned for exceptional branching
- Must be planted during dormant season
- Best for: Chestnuts, early-season planting
Potted Trees:
- Shipped in active growth (late May-June)
- Complete root ball with soil intact
- All fine root hairs preserved = superior establishment
- Can be planted later in spring after leaf-out
- Best for: Pawpaws (they prefer this method!)
Our potted tree advantage: We remove the pot before shipping and wrap the root ball in protective plastic. You get all the establishment benefits of a potted tree with reduced shipping weight and cost.
Both methods work great when planted properly and cared for. The main difference is timing and which species establishes best with each method.
Chestnut seedlings: Between 1-2 years old. Many of our potted chestnuts were potted up if they did not sell the previous year, thus they are 2 years old.
Grafted pawpaws: 2-3 years old. Note that the grafting process dramatically reduces their size, so grafted trees may appear smaller than seedlings of the same age despite being more mature.
Yes! Chris Smyth has planted over 4,000 fruit and nut trees across the region and designed dozens of orchards through his work with the Common Orchard Project, Southern Ohio Chestnut Company, and his own private practice of working with landowners to create orchards.
Orchard Design Consultation available for:
- Site assessment and species selection
- Spacing and layout planning
- Pollination planning
- Long-term management strategies
- Community orchard development
Contact us to discuss your project and get a consultation quote.
Check out chrismyth.com to learn more about Orchard Design Services
Currently, we focus on providing exceptional trees rather than accessories. However, we have strong recommendations:
Tree Protection (ESSENTIAL): We can only warranty trees that have been protected from deer. We don't currently sell tree tubes ourselves, but we highly recommend Plantra Brand 5-foot tree tubes - we've used thousands at this point and they are the best out there. Deer damage is the #1 killer of young trees!
Other accessories we recommend:
- Plantra 5-foot tree tubes
- Wood chip mulch (not bark mulch)
- Organic compost for planting
We're happy to provide specific product recommendations for your situation - just ask!
[Learn How to Plant Your Trees →]