Planting Bare-Root Fruit Trees and Vines

Bare-root fruit trees and vines can be planted at any time during their dormant season between leaf-fall and bud-burst–late fall to early spring–as long as the soil conditions are right and the ground is not too wet or frozen.

Should you soak bare root trees before planting?
How long can you keep bare root fruit trees before planting?
How do you plant a bare root fruit tree?
How long does it take for a bare root tree to grow?
How do you keep bare root trees alive before planting?
How deep do you plant bare root trees?
Do Bare root trees grow faster?
How often do you water bare root fruit trees?
How do you look after bare root fruit trees?
What is the best time to plant fruit trees?

Should you soak bare root trees before planting?

Steps to planting a bare-root tree:

Allow your tree's roots to soak in water an hour or two before planting. Do not soak the roots for more than 24 hours. A planting hole that is large enough to accommodate your tree's current root system with some extra room to grow.

How long can you keep bare root fruit trees before planting?

The packing methods that we use mean that you can keep the trees as they are for up to 7-10 days maximum, by placing the package in a shed or garage – but this is for our packing methods, trees from other sources may vary so check with your supplier if they haven't been packaged for transport to quite the same standard ...

How do you plant a bare root fruit tree?

If you're planting on the same day you receive your tree, soak it in a bucket of water while you prepare your planting hole:

Dig a hole wider than it is deep and incorporate some organic matter.
Mound the soil in the hole so the tree will sit at the same level it did in the field.
Spread the roots over the mound evenly.

How long does it take for a bare root tree to grow?

Bareroot plants are sold in spring and must be planted as soon as possible after purchase. Proper planting is critical to their survival and long-term success. Note that bareroot plants are slow to "wake up." Expect to wait four to six weeks after planting until you see signs of growth.

How do you keep bare root trees alive before planting?

Wrap the bare-root plants and trees in the shipping plastic and store in a cool, dark place, like an unheated basement, cellar, garage or shed. It is ideal to store the tree at a temperature of 40ºF, but anything under 60ºF should work for a short period of time.

How deep do you plant bare root trees?

Please note that the roots have been covered with a hydrating gel which keeps them moist during shipment. Depth and Distance of Holes: Measure the roots of each tree. Dig one hole for each tree 1 foot wide and 1 inch deeper than the roots. Holes should be 2-1/2 feet apart.

Do Bare root trees grow faster?

Better Performance – Bare-root trees frequently take off more quickly than containerized ones because roots aren't transitioning from container soil to local soil. Bare-root trees are planted during dormancy, which gives them weeks of root growth that spring-planted container trees lack.

How often do you water bare root fruit trees?

Watering Water your trees weekly with a slow, deep watering. Do not give your trees one gallon of water every day. It is much better to slowly apply 5 gallons once a week, more in cases of severe drought conditions.

How do you look after bare root fruit trees?

Try to plant fruit trees as soon as possible; if this is not immediately possible, you will need to soak your bare root fruit trees in a half filled bucket of water to moisten the roots and stand it is a cool frost free place. The tree will remain in good condition for a week or so.

What is the best time to plant fruit trees?

Planting in the late winter or early spring is generally the best time to get your new fruit trees in the ground. As long as the ground isn't too frozen to dig a hole, you should be good to go. Bare root stock should be planted in winter, while raspberries and blueberries can be planted into spring.