Bare-root Trees and Shrubs

Winter is the time of year your begin to see bare-root plants appear in your local nurseries and big box stores.  Bare-root trees are typically cheaper than in the pot trees.  The lack of soil is not the only reason that bare-root trees are cheaper than their in the pot cousins.  Bare-root trees tend to be much younger than potted plants.  In the case of fruit trees this will lead to trees that don't produce fruit for 1 to 3 years.  Even in the case of non-fruiting plants such as roses can be considerably smaller and weaker thus being more susceptible to winter die-off.  But when purchasing large quantities, bare-root plants can be more affordable.  When buying your bare-root plants make sure to get them early and plant them right away.  Some less creditable stores will sell bare-root beyond the recommended time frame.  One of the easiest ways of telling whether a plant is viable is if the plant has leaves.  In this case you don't want new growth to have started on the plants.  Once the leaves begin to appear planting the tree or shrub may stress the plant beyond repair.  When temperatures climb above sixty degrees the plants dormancy will have ended risking the plants health in planting.