What in the inverse taper is going on with this Lowes Colarado Blue

[BonsaixDad]

Picked this up yesterday from Lowes loved the huge trunk and movement throughout, but got into the burlap and just about barfed. Is this common amongst these balled and burlap spruces?! Im assuming theres nothing i can really do but return it. But short of cutting into the burlap at Lowes i dont know how risky it is bringing home another trunk like this

 

[jszg]

Name cultivar Colorado blue spruces are produced through grafting: that's the rootstock below.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Looks like where the twine was tied to secure the burlap, doesn't seem grafted to me.

I'd take it back, I wouldn't buy a B&B tree without cutting the twine and burlap to inspect the surface roots.

Good reason to always carry a pocket knife

 

[BonsaixDad]

Name cultivar Colorado blue spruces are produced through grafting: that's the rootstock below.

Thats what i read but this one isnt a named cultivar which threw me off. I think Mike is right on this one, i cant see a graft sight on it

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Name cultivar Colorado blue spruces are produced through grafting: that's the rootstock below.

That's what it looks like to me as well - you can even see the stub of the rootstock. I also wanted to point out - even if it isn't a named cultivar, many nurseries use grafting as the fastest way to propagate material. They chose the healthiest and fastest-growing compatible rootstock for the plant they are propagating - particularly if it allows the tree to grow outside of its native range.

 

[BonsaixDad]

That's what it looks like to me as well - you can even see the stub of the rootstock. I also wanted to point out - even if it isn't a named cultivar, many nurseries use grafting as the fastest way to propagate material. They chose the healthiest and fastest-growing compatible rootstock for the plant they are propagating - particularly if it allows the tree to grow outside of its native range.

Ah yeah the grafting for outside its native range does make sense. Dang well no more buying spruces blindly i had no idea that wad such a thing