Winter is the time for planting bare root trees and shrubs. Have you ever considered it but felt a little nervous that you might not be successful? Don’t worry, these are very easy to deal with and plant! Often, they are ordered via online or mail order catalog or picked up at the local garden center.
Bare root trees have been field grown for a couple of years at least. The plants are dug up from growing fields once they go dormant and are shipped with their roots free of soil to nurseries around the country. Some are individually packaged with their roots packed in moist wood shavings or shredded newspaper and wrapped in plastic. Others are shipped to nurseries in bundles where they are sold out of bins filled with moist sawdust or sand. The thing looks dead, and the roots are sparse, but I assure you it’s still alive, as long as the roots are moist.
The benefits of planting bare root trees are numerous. For one thing, they are usually considerably cheaper than buying a potted tree. They are lightweight and don’t require as big of a planting hole as potted trees. There are many more varieties to choose from. They adapt easily to their new growing conditions since they don’t have soil around their roots. They don’t have to transition from container soil to the new native soil they will be planted in.
There are a few drawbacks to consider. The planting window is considerably shorter. Bare root plants must be planted before bud break, while dormant. Sometimes bare root plants don’t arrive pruned and you will need to give the first haircut to encourage proper branching. You can’t hold bare root plants long without cool moist conditions for the roots.
If you can’t plant right away, then trees must be stored in a cool shady place such as the north side of your house or in an unheated garage. If there still is no time to plant, they can be potted into 5-gallon pots or whatever size is double the root mass. Use a good potting mix and not native soil.
Planting is so easy! Soak the roots in a bucket of water for at least an hour before planting. Dig a hole two times the width of the root mass and the same depth. I make a little mound in the bottom of the hole and spread the roots over the mound before backfilling with native, unamended soil. Water, then top off with mulch. It is very, very important not to bury the tree too deep. The soil level (including mulch) must be below the graft union. The graft union is the swollen and misshapen knobby bit above the roots.
I hope you might consider giving bare root plants a try if you have not before.
What to plant now: All greens such as lettuce, kale, spinach from direct seed. Annual cool weather seeds and starts. Cabbage and broccoli starts, if you can find them. Artichoke, carrots, beets, and peas from direct seed and more. During a cold snap simply throw a floating row cover or sheet or whatever you have over your plant babies. You can plant any potted tree or shrub now, as well. And, of course, bare root plants!
Patagonia Plants is pleased to announce we will have a nice selection of bare roots fruit trees and a few shade trees at the nursery only available for February. Otherwise, you will find them potted for sale after May.
Happy gardening!