Why Buy Bare Root Plants?

There are many reasons to buy bare root plants over fully flushed-out deciduous plants.  From being more cost-effective to reducing transplant shock, choosing bare root is a wise decision when buying shrubs, bushes and perennials.   

What Is A Bare Root Plant?

A bare root plant is a dormant perennial, shrub or tree. It is dug up while dormant, and the plant is kept in its dormant stage for shipping.  It is prepared for transplanting by having all or most of the soil removed from its roots.  When packaged for shipping, the roots are sometimes surrounded with sphagnum moss or sawdust to maintain moisture.

A bare root plant is often kept dormant in a cooler before it is shipped to you.  Because the plant has been kept cool after dormancy, it still thinks it’s winter.  This is why it looks like a typical outdoor winter plant, asleep and leafless. 

Once planted in the warm soil, a tree or shrub will start leafing out. After a month or two it will be a lively thriving plant.   You will be amazed at the amount of life hidden in a bare root plant, just waiting for you to plant it so it can grow!

Why Buy Bare Root Plants?

Bare root plants offer several advantages over potted ones:

Cost-effective

Bare root plants are more affordable to buy because of the lighter packaging and therefore lower transportation costs.  Your money goes towards plants, not hefty shipping costs.

Less damage

Uprooting plants while they are dormant means less effect of the transplant process on the plant.   

Easier to plant

Heavy bulky pots of soil are eliminated, so planting is much easier.  No soil also means no invasive pests or toxic chemicals.

Easier to establish

Plants shipped without soil often have larger root systems which means a higher success rate for you.

Reduced transplant shock

Bare root plants have less risk of root circling and transplant shock.  Circling roots can lead to unstable trees.

Large selection

 Nurseries and online sources provide a wide variety of species and cultivars in bare root form.

Where To Buy Bare Root Plants

Local nurseries offer bare root plants, but some may be limited to choices depending on your location. Online nurseries provide bare root plants in a wide selection of trees, shrubs, and perennials.

Shop for a wide variety of bare root trees online at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. Select your growing zone for the best tree choices where you live. Choose features such as flower color, sun exposure, height, spread, growth rate, and fall color. Look for the bare root option under PLANT SIZE on the plant pages.

Did you know strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are available in bare root? Start growing your own bare root fruit shrubs full of luscious berries.

Lilacs, roses, hydrangea, and dogwood are just a few of the ornamental and flowering shrubs available as bare root.

A bare root is an economical way to buy a row of plants to create hedges and privacy screens. Amur North River Privet is an outstanding bare root choice for creating a privacy or border hedge that can be trimmed to any shape.

With economical shipping and a large selection, buying bare root plants online is good value.

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How To Plant a Bare Root Plant

After you receive your bare root plants, carefully remove packaging and separate plants if there are several in the package. Inspect for any broken branch tips and snip those off.

Soak the roots

Before planting, soak the bare roots in water for a few hours to rehydrate them. They can soak up to 24 hours before planting. Just soak the roots, not the entire plant. The plant needs to be planted directly after this soak – don’t let the roots dry out again.

Location

Choosing the correct location for your plant is the first step to assuring it’s success. Note the care requirements that come with the plant and select a spot with the right amount of sunlight and soil conditions for the specific plant species.

Dig the hole

You can determine how deep the plant needs to be planted by looking for the color change on the stem just above the roots. This is the depth at which it was originally planted. This is the depth to dig the hole. Dig the hole twice as wide as the roots. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole to help the roots grow.

Position the plant and fill

Place the bare root plant in the center of the hole and carefully fill the hole with soil just up to the line where the color changed on the stem. Rotate bushes and trees so they are positioned the way you want them to grow.

Water thoroughly

After planting, water the newly planted bare root thoroughly to settle the soil and provide moisture to the roots. If the soil settles below the depth line, fill up to the line but not above it.

Mulch the area

Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and suppress weed growth. Don’t mulch right up to the base of the plant, but leave a space between the stem and the mulch.

Inspect the plant regularly and maintain a regular watering schedule for the first year to help the plant establish.

That’s all there is to it. Enjoy watching your bare root plant flourish with life!