I ordered some bare root shrubs by mail and would like some advice on how to achieve the best results in planting them.
— Ed Reilly, Warrenville
Bare root plants are dug from the field while they are still dormant and have soil removed from their roots. These plants are usually stored in coolers with a system to keep the roots moist until they are sold. Bare roots plants are primarily shipped in early spring and typically arrive packaged in a plastic bag or cardboard box with moist packing material. The packing material may be shredded paper, wood shavings, sawdust or sphagnum moss. Bare root trees, shrubs and perennials are generally less expensive than plants grown in containers or that are balled and burlapped, and they can be installed with a high success rate.
As with any type of plant, taking proper care of the stock before planting, siting it appropriately in the garden, and planting properly are important to achieve success. It is best to install bare root plants as soon as you can after receiving them in the mail. When the plants arrive, check the packing material to make sure it is moist, and open the plastic bag surrounding the plants. Store the plants in a cool location out of direct sun and moisten the packing material as needed, especially if you need to hold the plants for an extended period before planting.
It is very important to keep the roots of a bare root plant moist as you are planting in the garden. Soaking the plants in a bucket of water for a couple of hours before and as you are planting is a good way to do this, or cover the roots with moist burlap if you have had to remove them from the packing material. The plants can quickly dry out and be damaged if they are lying out in the sun as you are planting. The warmer the day, the more quickly the plants will dry out. Do not store bare root plants in water for an extended period of time though.
Prune off any broken roots or branches before planting. There is no need to do any pruning of trees and shrubs to compensate for root loss. Spread the roots out in the planting hole and carefully backfill with garden soil. The crown of a perennial should be placed just at the soil surface. Place a tree or shrub so that the top of the root system is just below the soil line. Install your new plants in a site in your garden that matches their cultural needs. For example, sun-loving plants need to be planted in the sun for good performance. After planting, water the plants well and monitor moisture in the soil before watering in the coming weeks to get a sense of how often you need to water. One good soaking a week will generally suffice unless your soil is sandy and dries out quickly. Mulching around the new plant will also help conserve moisture and reduce the frequency of watering.
For more plant advice, contact the Plant Information Service at the Chicago Botanic Garden at [email protected]
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. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.