Ideally bare root plants, like roses, fruit trees, strawberry & asparagus crowns or windbreak seedlings, should be planted the same day they arrive, however, this is not always possible and your plants may need to be stored until planting conditions improve. Careful handling before planting occurs will determine success or failure. Bare root plants have had the soil washed or shaken from their roots after digging from the field. Because bare root plants lack a rooting media that supplies water to the plant, they must be stored in a dormant state with temperatures slightly above or below freezing, and high (95%) humidity levels, however, do not allow them to freeze.
When bare root plants are shipped from a nursery their roots are usually wrapped in damp sphagnum moss or newspaper. The plants are then placed in a plastic bag and packaged in a wax-coated or cardboard box. After receiving the plants, inspect them briefly to ensure they are healthy and undamaged, and that the packing material is still moist. Re-wet the packing material if necessary, and then store the plants in their packaged state, under cold temperatures until they can be planted.
Bare root plants must be planted in the spring, before the buds begin to swell. To minimize stress on the plants, try to plant on a calm or cloudy day, and keep the plants moist during the planting process. It is helpful to re-hydrate the plants by soaking them in a bucket of water for a couple hours before planting, however, DO NOT store the plants with their roots in water overnight.
During planting, it is extremely important to avoid the exposure of roots to air any longer than necessary, so keep the plants in a bucket of water as you take them out to the planting area. Prepare a planting hole for each plant that is wide and shallow. Create a mound of soil in the center of each hole. Place a plant on top of the mound and drape the roots evenly around each side. Don’t bend or force the roots to fit in the planting hole, instead dig the hole wider if necessary. Each plant should have its first roots are just below the soil line- not showing above the soil, or several inches below the soil surface. Gently firm the soil around each seedling after planting to remove air pockets. Water each new plant as it is planted- do not wait until the entire planting is finished to begin.
Finally, apply a two inch layer of mulch around the base of the new plants to conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperature fluctuations and provide weed control.
Sarah Browning is an Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska- Lincoln Extension in Dodge and Saunders Counties. She can be contacted by phone at 1-800-830-4855: by mail at 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE 68025: or by e-mail at sbrowning2@unl.edu
