• Age and shape of the tree
• General health
• Soil should be damp but not soggy, unless it has just been watered
• Leaves should look bright and healthy, not burnt around the edges or spotty
• If buying a deciduous tree in winter, last year's growth should be smooth and plump, with no sign of bark wrinkling
• The tree should be steady in its container, which should have at least one drainage hole
• A white fungus in and around the drainage hole is natural and harmless
General Care
