Tips for planting and caring for bare root plants
​Handling and Storing Plants (up to 3-5 days)
  • Make sure the material around bare-root plants remains damp, but avoid drenching.
  • Keep plants in plastic and store in a cool, dark place, like an unheated cellar, garage or shed. 40F is ideal, but anything under 60F should work for a few days.
​Plant In Permanent Location (0-5 days)
  • It's best to plant on a cool drizzly day, or in the morning or evening.
  • Before planting, soak plants in water for up to 1-2 hours.
  • Prune back any badly bruised, broken, kinked, or jagged roots to sound wood.
  • Dig a hole 2-3 times the root diameter.
  • Make a small mound of soil in the bottom of the hole.
  • Arrange the roots around the mound so they all point outward from the plant.
  • Place the plant so that soil covers the roots, but doesn't cover the stem above the roots.
  • Water well to remove and air pockets and add more soil if needed.
  • (Optional) mulch around plants to reduce weeds and retain moisture. Clear mulch for 3" around trunk.
Heeling In Plants (1-2 weeks)
  • If you are unable to plant for more than 5-10 days, you can "heel in" your plants outdoors.
  • Dig a sloping trench long and wide enough to hold the plant roots.
  • Lay the trees/shrubs in the trench, with the roots against one of the sides.
  • Roots should be fully extended to the bottom of the trench without bending.
  • Cover the roots with soil and water in to remove air pockets.
  • Mulch to keep moist (optional).
  • ​As soon as possible, plant in a permanent location as you normally would.
Plant In A Container/Pot (up to 1-2 seasons)
  • This can be done for small plants that you wish to grow larger and stronger before planting in a permanent location.
  • Choose a pot large enough to easily hold roots without bending or curling.
  • Fill with soil to above plant roots and water in well.
  • Periodically check to make sure plants have not outgrown containers.
  • Warning: plastic pots dry out quickly in the summertime and will need to be watered frequently depending on size.
  • When plants have reached desirable size, plant in a permanent location as you normally would. It's best to plant in late fall or early spring as soon as soil can be worked.