Bare Root Season
By Bob Chapman
The shorter and cooler days tell many gardeners that it is time to purchase and plant bare root stock. Buying plants bare root is economical, the choices are wide and the survival rate is the highest. Holes are easier to dig due to the moist soil and your bare root fruit trees, berries and roses will adapt quickly to their new environment. As an added benefit for the gardener, all bare root plants and trees are individually wrapped and contain water-retaining materials inside the wrappings to protect the roots from drying out prior to planting. Just look at the wide variety available in nurseries now.
Fruit trees
Apples
Cherries
Plums
Apricots
Peaches
Pears
Nectarines
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Quince
Three-in-one
Pluots
Berries
Blackberries, Himalayan and Evergreen (trailing or erect)
Raspberries, summer and fall ripening varieties in red, yellow, purple and black colors
Strawberries, everbearing or standard
Blueberries
Gooseberries
Grape vines
Wine grapes
Table grapes
Roses
Hybrid tea roses (look for the new 2007 introductions "Rainbow Knockout," "Strike It Rich" and "Moondance.")
Floribundas
Tree roses
Climbing roses.
Hedge roses.
Grandiflora
PLANTING BARE-ROOT TREES, BERRIES, GRAPES AND ROSES
Allow sufficient space. Before planting any bare root plants, determine the space that it needs to grow. You wouldn't plant fruit trees 4 feet apart, but the spacing might be nice for hybrid tea roses.
Digging the hole. Dig the hole for your new bare root when the soil is dry enough. You can tell when it is dry enough when soil does not cling to the shovel when you insert it into the soil. Dig your hole twice as wide as the roots and as deep as the roots. Add amendments, such as compost, if your soil is clay- based and heavy. You can add as much as 50% amendments by volume to these heavy soils.
Planting your bare root shrub or tree. Check the roots, noting any broken or damaged roots and clip them off. Insert the roots into the hole, making sure that the bud union (the swollen part where the graft is made between the root stock and the desirable scion) is above the native soil. Backfill using the soil removed when digging the hole. Tamp the soil around the roots to eliminate air pockets. When the hole is filled, soak it with water. If settling has occurred, add more soil to bring it to the level of the native soil.
Create a watering basin. Now use any excess soil and form a circular berm around the outside of the hole at least 4 inches high, creating a watering basin. You may need to scrape additional soil from the surrounding area to create this berm. The basin will direct water to the roots. You will want to use this basin to water your new tree or plant all summer long.
FOLLOW THE SUGGESTIONS
For best results follow the above suggestions when planting bare root stock. Doing so will ensure many, many years of successful crops and enjoyment of colorful flowers.