| Buying Bare-Root Plants |
| Take advantage of bare-root season to save money and get better selection. |
From "The Dirt On..."
episode DTDO-117 |
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A bare-root plant is a deciduous shrub, tree, perennial or vegetable that's in a dormant state and not planted in a container. There is no soil around the roots. Bare-root season is a pretty short one, and often it passes gardeners by because they don't realize all the benefits of buying and planting bare-root plants. Nursery professional, Richard Kline shares the scoop.
When is bare-root season?These plants are available in the winter (starting in the middle of January) or early spring, before the leaves sprout. They can be held in a dormant state for one or two months but the warmer the temperature, the shorter the dormant period. This means you have a pretty short window of time to get the best selection and get them in the ground.
Which types of plants are readily available to buy in bare-root form? Here are a few of the most commonly available plants: Fruit trees: peaches, nectarines, apples, cherries and nut trees
Fruiting vines: grapes and berries
Shade trees: ash, birch, maple
Ornamental shrubs: roses and forsythia
Perennial vegetables: strawberries, artichokes and asparagusWhat are the benefits of buying bare root? Bare-root plants are cheaper. Plants that break dormancy are planted by the nursery and these transplants will be pricier. You can save on delivery fees or transport because you can fit more in a vehicle. You can usually get a bigger selection when you buy bare-root because they're easy to ship. You can also order plants from greater distances, and you can find species that may not be available other times of the year. One of the best advantages is being able to see the roots. You can make sure they're healthy and spread out well to give the plant a good start. Planting dormant plants is usually very successful. The plants will establish in early spring and really take off with nice weather. Are there any disadvantages when it comes to buying bare root? A container plant can sit around for a while before it needs to go in the ground but bare-root plants should be planted within a couple days of buying them. If you can't plant them the same day you buy, put them in a cool, shady place like an unheated garage. You also need to be patient with bare-root plants because they won't look as impressive as transplants when they're first planted. With time they're sure to please, however.
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The plant on the bottom was pruned to fit into a plastic sleeve. The plant above is a true bare-root specimen. Because it was allowed to fully develop and no roots were removed, it will make a far superior plant.
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What should you look for when buying them? Look for true bare-root plants, not packaged bare-root items. Packaged bare-root trees and shrubs have their roots either shoved in or pruned to fit inside the packaging. This could mean that these roots are damaged. Examine the plants. Make sure they're dormant, with no new growth. The stems, twigs and rose canes should be plump, not shriveled. Choose a plant with a good shape, meaning uniform branching and a good root system. If the roots are in a bulk bin with planting mix, ask if you can pull them out to see the roots. If you see broken branches or damaged roots, have this damage pruned from the plant. If there is too much and the plant looks unhealthy, ask for a different plant.How should you plant a bare-root plant? First, soak the roots in a bucket of water for a few hours. Make sure the location you choose to plant it in is large enough and has the proper sunlight or shade for your specific plant. Dig a hole that's wider than the root ball but not too deep. You don't want the plant to sink in too low in the ground. Use a rich, organic soil amendment and a starter fertilizer. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
If you plant a tree, be sure to stake it properly so it can withstand the wind until the roots are established.
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