Bare Root Tree Care Instructions

How to handle bare root trees

Your bare root trees will come packed in moist sawdust or coco coir and wrapped in plastic. We try to reuse packing materials wherever possible. Bare root trees will be happy for roughly 1-2 weeks wrapped in sawdust and plastic so long as they are kept above 28 degrees F and below 65 degrees F. They will likely be fine for longer periods of time in this state but it is best to get them out of the plastic wrapping sooner than later.

They will not die immediately if exposed to temperatures outside of the above-mentioned range. Short periods of time outside of the above-mentioned temperature range is okay. Several days above 70 or below 28 may cause serious issues. We try our best to ship trees only during windows of time when the ambient temperatures are within the desired range. Once your trees arrive it is important to keep them within ideal temperature range until you can plant them or move them into winter storage conditions (described below).

Important things to consider

• Once you receive your trees you will either want to plant them in the ground, pot them up, or put them into some form of storage until spring.
• Any time you transfer bare root trees from one storage system to another (such as from the box they ship in to your storage choice) it is a good idea to give them some water.
• Where you live will determine what storage or planting options make most sense for you. Cold climates have different challenges than warmer climates
• Bare root trees do not require frequent watering. So long as the roots do not completely dry out they will be okay.

Fall Planting

In zone 7 and warmer fall planting outdoors is our favorite way to handle bare root trees. We do not have direct experience fall planting in zone 6 and colder. Some folks in colder zones do fall plant and others do not. Be sure to water the trees immediately after planting. You will likely not need to water again until spring unless and extreme drought occurs over winter.

You can plant bare root trees in pots to grow larger before planting in the ground. In warmer climates (zone 7 and up) pots can be left outside over winter but this is not advised in colder climates without properly insulating the pots. It is always a good idea to stack mulch around outdoor pots to insulate the roots from harsh freezes. If you keep pots indoors make sure they do not freeze or remain above 50 degrees for long periods of time. If for any reason you do not plant your trees in fall you will need to put them into appropriate storage conditions until spring.  

Storing bare root trees over winter

The process of storing bare root trees is called “heeling” in. You can search for videos about heeling in bare root trees online. We have several videos on this topic (links below). It is best to store bare root trees in a container that has drainage holes and an open top (such as a large pot) or store them directly in the ground. This allows excess water to drain and gas exchange to occur.

Storing trees in containers

A standard pot works well as a storage container and can hold as many root balls as comfortably fit in it. If you use a container, be sure to pack your tree roots in some sort of organic medium. We like aged woodchips, leaf compost, sand, sawdust etc. Whatever you have will work. If you elect to store trees in the ground, simply dig a hole and place a bundle of trees inside. Then cover them with loose well-draining soil.  

Bare root trees stored in containers can be kept outside or inside. Trees stored inside need to be kept cold and dark enough that they do not want to break their dormancy. A root cellar, non-insulated basement, garage, or barn are all potential places to store bare root trees. For indoor storage aim to keep them above 28 degrees F and below 50 degrees F. You will likely need to add water several times throughout winter if the containers are stored indoors. If containers are stored outdoors, they can survive temperatures below 28 if mulch is stacked around the outside of the container to insulate them.

Storing trees outdoors

Alternatively bare root trees can be stored outdoors, either directly in the ground or in containers. Bundles of bare root trees can be placed into a shallow hole in the ground and covered in loose soil, well drained. All roots should be covered in soil. Around the stems of trees should be mulched heavily. Water the trees when you first heel them in. After that rainfall is typically sufficient to keep them hydrated unless you experience a drought over winter. Trees that are heeled into the ground are susceptible to rodents damaging roots and mammals browsing stems. If you are colder than zone 5 heeling in trees outdoors may not be advised due to extreme cold. If you store trees in containers outdoors be sure to pile mulch around the containers to insulate roots from harsh freezes.

Planting your bare root trees

Any time you plant a tree it is important to pick a site that is well suited to the tree. If you only have one site available it is important to pick a tree that is well suited to that site. Each species of tree has different requirements for soil conditions, sunlight exposure, space, and water, etc. Here we will skip the discussion on planting design and focus on how to actually put the plant in the ground. If you would like more resources about designing tree plantings, please reach out to us via email.

When it comes time to plant your bare root trees typical planting advice applies. There are many ways to approach tree planting. Here we will outline the ideal way to plant a bare root tree to give it the best chance at surviving transplant and growing fast. This does not mean that trees will die if they do not receive this treatment. You can plant trees much faster if you skip some of these steps. Tree survival and growth rates will likely decrease if you cut corners during the planting process. Depending on your goals you will have to decide which method makes sense to you.

Remove any vegetation from the planting site, especially grass. Soak your bare root trees in a bucket of water for several minutes prior to planting. When planting do not burry the transition point where the stem emerges from the soil. This point where the tree transitions from root to stem should be right at the soil level.

Loosen soil well in the planting hole well. Make the hole wider and deeper than the root mass of the tree. We like to use native soil to backfill the hole. If you have heavy clay or very sandy soil you may want to consider mixing organic matter into the planting hole. We prefer to use leaf compost if there is a need to add organic matter directly into the planting hole. It is vital to use only aged composts or organic matter for this application. Do not use any compost that may still be hot or actively breaking down.

After backfilling we like to top dress with an inch or so of compost. Leaf compost and worm compost are our favorite kinds but any compost will help. Compost can inoculate beneficial soil microbes which may be missing in your soil. Additionally adding compost will increase soil organic matter and provide a slow release of nutrients to your tree.

Adding mulch is key to making your tree thrive. Woodchips, fall leaves, and pine needles all work well for tree mulch. Do not let mulch touch the base of the stem. The wider the mulch circle the better. 6-8 inches is a good mulch depth.

Irrigation and tree protection

Depending on conditions bare root trees may or may not need irrigation their first year. Soil conditions, thickness of mulch, tree species, temperature fluctuations, and rainfall patterns determine water needs. In the worst-case scenario, there are situations where I water bare root trees once per week in their first season in the ground. In other situations, I do not water at all the first year. Generally speaking, consistent water access allows trees to grow faster.

You may need to cage your trees to protect them from browsing animals. This is highly site dependent. On some sites almost no trees will survive deer browse without cages or tree tubes. On other sites deer may not be much of a problem. There are also other animals such as rabbits and groundhogs that may damage young trees. There are various ways to protect young trees. Do what works for you! Nothing is a sure bet. We like to make fence rings out of metal welded wire fence. Animal pressure can change year to year.

To learn more re recommend checking out our social media where we post videos of our tree plantings. Feel free to reach out anytime with specific questions or concerns!

                 

Happy planting 😊

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbFx20cYaAE&list=PLT0gno4w0FDfqcX6xtmEv0BAY_-c5KdPV&index=37

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOEnAFxYcag&list=PLT0gno4w0FDfqcX6xtmEv0BAY_-c5KdPV&index=41