Planting bare rooted trees

During winter, gardening outlets are brimming with new season bare-rooted roses, deciduous ornamentals and fruit trees for winter planting.

Bare-rooted plants are mostly sold in winter when they are dormant and this gives them the best chance of being replanted successfully. They are also easier to transport and transplant into their final position in the garden.

Look for bare-rooted plants in winter – June, July and August. Don’t buy bare-rooted stock after August as plants will start to reshoot, making transplant difficult.

Avoid specimens with brittle branches that can break easily; they should feel sturdy and fairly flexible. Also, avoid specimens with visible damage or disease.

Many bare-rooted trees are sold with roots bound in sawdust to keep them moist. Remove this sawdust before planting as the decaying matter can harm the new feeder roots.

Plant the tree as soon as possible after purchase.

Don’t plant too deep. The tree needs to be at the same depth as it was in its original position. Look for a slight change in colouration on the base of the stem for an indication of the original soil line. As a guide, the graft should sit about 10cm above the ground.

Remember to keep the roots moist. If you are not planting immediately, wrap the roots in wet newspaper and a plastic bag.

Before planting, remove any diseased or damaged roots.

Place the plant in the hole, spreading the roots into a natural position. Building a mound at the base of the hole may help steady the plant. When backfilling, wiggle the tree and water the roots to help remove any air pockets. Loosely stake it until established.

Water immediately after planting, but don’t overwater when dormant.

Apply a fish and kelp treatment with initial watering to help the plant develop roots and resist transplant shock.