Blue Hill Country Garden     How to plant and care for bare root nursery stock.


How to plant and care for bare root nursery stock.

How to take care of and plant Evergreen Trees and Shrubs How to take care of and plant Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
  • 1.   Remove the plant from package.
  • 2.   Rinse entire plant with clean water. Lukewarm is fine.
  • 3.   Soak the roots of the plant in clean water for no longer than an hour. This soaking helps to revive the dormant plant.

Why no longer than an hour?

Tiny "hair" roots grow off the sides of the large roots. These tiny roots feed the larger ones. Exposure to standing water suffocates and rots the tiny feeder roots. These roots will begin to regrow as soon as the plant in back in the ground.


To plant another day: If you must wait till another day to plant reclose the package after inspection and put it in a cool dark place. Then follow the planting instructions on the day you can plant. Planting as soon as possible is best.

  • 4.   While your plant is soaking prepare the planting location.

Dig a hole wider than deep, 14 inches deep by 2 foot wide works well with most plants. Put the soil from the hole in a pile next to the hole and add peat moss or composted soil mix to the original soil. 1/3rd ratio of peat moss or composted soil mix to removed soil amount is fine. This addition will help hold moisture and break the soil particles up with adding humus. Take the amended soil and make a small mound in the hole. Place the new plants roots over the mound and start adding soil over the roots.

Why am I making Mounds ?

Having the plant on slightly raised mound allows water to flow away from the plants stems and root crown. This is must do if you have clay soil. This raised mound stops Pocketing of water. Water pocketing around the plant is especially in hazardous in winter
  • 5.   Add water as you add the soil making a wet slurry over the roots.
Wiggle the plant with a soft shaking to get the air out from around the roots. Keep adding soil and water till the hole is filled to an inch above the ground level.

Why Wiggle ?

This process of watering and wiggling is called "mudding the plant in" It helps insure that the entire root surface is in contact with soil eliminating any chance of air pockets. Exposure to air will dry out those tiny feeder roots and the plant won't be able to take up water.
The plants first root should be an inch below the finished soil level.

Why an inch below ?

Having the roots just below the surface allows the plant to breath.
  • 6.   Over the next two or three weeks water the plant thoroughly but not overly on a daily basis. Be sure to gently spray the top of the plant with water as well.
  • 7.   Provide shade to your new transplant during the middle of the day.

Things to keep in mind about bare- root trees and shrubs:

Plants that are bare-root have had roots and /or tops pruned. That's OK , in fact the pruning helps to ease the shock of transplanting. BUT these plants are vulnerable to everything at this point. They can easily dry out or go the other direction and rot. Excessive humidity can cause molds to grow on the plants. Any damage to the bark or any wounds on the plant can be an open door for various diseases.
And some species need even more pampering than described above.

The solution to all these vulnerabilities is to get the plant back in it's natural environment as soon as possible.

Some bare-root plants need "Sweating"in order to sprout leaves again. Maintaing a warm very humid atmosphere over time is necessary for this procedure.
For the average homeowner that means it's best to purchase these trees and shrubs in a pot or as B&Bs.
They can be difficult to start from bare-root.

These plants are easiest when purchased already potted in soil.

  • Amelanchier
  • Redbud
  • Potentilla
  • River Birch
  • Salix Niobe
  • Tamarix
  • Mulberry
  • Hawthorn
  • Roses
  • Flowering Pear
  • Pagoda Dogwood
  • Oak
  • Hackberry
  • Variegated Dogwood
  • Barberry
  • Ironwood
  • Spreading Cotoneaster
Deciduous trees and shrubs:
Follow directions for planting evergreens with this one exception.

Step 6. Instead of spraying the top of the plant once a day deciduous plants may need to be sprayed several times a day until they leaf out.


Exception Lilac go easy on the water. Probably every three days is sufficient water for Lilacs

©Blue Hill Country Garden 2008-2010
Above information is based solely on how we do things here in Blue Hill Maine.
Please seek more information about the handling of bare-root nursery stock from knowledgeable sources in your local area.