The Ultimate Guide to Bare Root Plants: Everything You Need to Know

Bare root plants are the best way to plant a landscape that is sustainable yet inexpensive. Some people are a little hesisant to buy bare root plants because they are not sure how to take care of them. Don't worry, bare root plants are easy to manage if you follow a few simple tips.

What Are Bare Root Plants?

Bare root plants are a gardener's best-kept secret for affordable, healthy, and sustainable landscaping. Unlike their potted counterparts, bare root plants are sold without soil around their roots. Instead, the roots are carefully wrapped in damp paper and moisture-locking gel to keep them hydrated during shipping and storage. This method makes them lighter, easier to handle, and less expensive to ship.

What sets bare root plants apart is that they're typically lifted and shipped while dormant, usually from late fall to early spring. Because they're grown in open ground and not confined to pots, there's no risk of pot-bound roots. The result? A plant that's ready to hit the ground running as soon as it wakes up in your soil.

Benefits of Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants have several advantages over pot grown plants.

Cost-Effectiveness

Bare root plants are often significantly less expensive than container-grown options. Without the added weight and bulk of soil and pots, shipping costs drop, and nurseries can pass those savings on to you. This makes them perfect for gardeners looking to stretch their budget or tackle larger projects like hedges or woodland borders.

Environmental Advantages

Choosing bare root plants is a win for the environment. Because the plants are grown in a field, they do not use plastic pots, potting mix, and lots of packaging. Their lighter weight means a smaller carbon footprint during transport, and the absence of potting soil reduces resource use. These small changes add up and make bare root plants great for people wanting to garden sustainably.

Superior Plant Health and Establishment

Bare root plants often arrive with larger, more robust root systems than their potted peers. This gives them a head start when it comes to acclimating and establishing themselves in your garden soil. Because they're planted while dormant, they experience less transplant shock and are less likely to suffer from root circling or binding. The lack of large canopies allows the plant to concentrate on growing roots first. Good roots make good plants.

Greater Variety and Selection

Shopping for bare root plants-especially online-opens up a world of possibilities. Nurseries can offer a broader range of species and cultivars, including rare and specialty plants that might never make it to your local garden center in pots.

Types of Bare Root Plants Sold at Garden Plants Nursery

Many people are familiar with fruit trees like peaches and plums that are sold as bare root trees. We sell popular ornamental trees like sugar maples and white oaks this way, too. We sell shrubs and perennials in addition to trees. Our nursery grows all our own plants, so we make sure they are healthy and ready to perform for you when we dig them up and get them ready to ship.

How to Store and Prepare Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants have to be handled correctly to keep all the benefits we have mentioned. Remember, these are living things. Be gentle with them and care for them and they will reward you with wonderful long-lived plants.

Immediate Care Upon Arrival

As soon as your plants arrive, open the packaging and check the roots. They should feel damp and pliable, not dry or brittle.

Soaking and Rehydration

Before planting, give the roots a good soak in a bucket of water. For most woody plants, 1-4 hours is ideal; perennials need less time. Avoid soaking for more than 24 hours, as this can lead to root rot.

Temporary Storage Options

If weather or timing prevents immediate planting, you can "heel in" your bare root plants by temporarily burying the roots in moist soil or sawdust. Be sure to water them well to keep them viable. Try not to leave the plants heeled in more than a few days or you will start to see a decrease in the quality of the plants.

Step-by-Step: How to Plant Bare Root Plants

The closer you follow this guide, the better your plants will grow.

Site Preparation

Dig a hole about two and a half times the diameter of the roots where you want your plant. Save the soil because you will need it to fill in the hole during planting. Do not amend this soil or the roots may circle around in the good soil and girdle themselves.

Planting Process

Gently fan out the roots over the mound, aiming them outward. Set the crown (where roots meet the stem) at or just below the soil surface. For grafted trees, keep the graft union above the soil line.

Backfilling and Watering

Fill the hole halfway and gently tamp the soil down to remove air pockets. Finish filling the hole, then water deeply to settle the soil around the roots. For extra insurance, build a small soil ring around the outside of the hole to help hold water while it soaks in.

Mulching and Aftercare

Apply 3 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches away from the plant's crown. Water every day for the first two weeks. Be patient-bare root plants may take several weeks to show new growth as they wake up and start rooting in.

Sustainable Gardening with Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are a natural fit for eco-friendly gardeners. As their roots develop, they improve soil structure and support beneficial soil life. We encourage our customers to use plants that are native to their area. The natives feed local wildlife and take less water, fertilizer, and pesticides.