Bare root trees and shrubs offer several advantages, and now is a great time for planting.
The beauty of bare root: No pot. No soil. No fertilizer.
Here are a few good reasons to opt for bare root trees and shrubs:
Bare Root Pros
Environmentally friendly:
Without a pot or soil, they create no waste, plus they’re lighter weight, so less gas is required to transport them from farm to nursery.
Cost-efficient:
Since transport costs to the nursery are lower, these plants typically cost less. This is a great way to build an edible garden quickly. Most bare root fruit trees are already 4-6′ tall. Likewise, many bare root berries will produce the year they are planted.
Easier to handle:
The lack of soils makes trees much easier to lift and maneuver. A definite back saver!
Quicker to adapt:
Because there is no soil around the root ball, bare root trees and shrubs have no trouble interfacing with the soil in your garden.
Image: One of our Molbak’s Outdoor Team members shows off the roots of a tree.
Every spring, we have a wide selection of bare root edibles, fruit trees, berries, as well as ornamental trees and shrubs. If you plan ahead, you’ll have a headstart on a new garden design or a new edible garden instillation.
Pro Tip: It is essential the roots of bare root plants be kept moist until planted. Molbak’s Nursery Staff provides a plastic bag to enclose the roots during the ride home. Once home, prepare the planting hole and plant immediately. The roots may be soaked in water for one to two hours before planting.
If it is not possible to plant immediately, remove the plastic bag and “heel-in” by temporarily planting the bare roots into moist sawdust, soil or bark, and water well.
Bare root plants can be held this way for several weeks, but should be planted in their permanent location before buds swell and growth begins. Keep heeled-in plants moist.
