Hand-Planting Guidelines for Bareroot Trees and Shrubs

Bareroot plants are one- to three-year-old nursery stock that are dug, stored, and shipped without soil or potting mix surrounding their roots. Bareroot plants are inexpensive, easy to plant, and offer field grown hardiness. They are an excellent choice for many hardwoods and some conifers used in conservation applications such as windbreaks, shelterbelts, living snowfences, buffers, riparian channel stabilization projects, reforestation programs, wildlife habitat enhancement plantings, xeriscapes, and more. Proper planting of bareroot seedlings is one critical step in a successful conservation planting that includes a good design, proper site selection and preparation, appropriate species selection, quality nursery stock, suitable temporary storage and handling, correct planting, and frequent, long term maintenance.

Always call your local utility company before digging.

Follow these 12 steps to successful installation of your bareroot plants:

Step 1. Store seedlings properly before planting. Ideal storage is 33 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, at least 95 percent relative humidity, in a wind-protected, shaded area with the roots moist. Keep roots wrapped in moist burlap, peat moss, shredded paper, etc., to prevent drying.

Step 2. If possible, plant on cloudy, cool, humid days. An old adage is, “The best days for planting are the worst for the planter.” Avoid sunny, warm, dry, and windy conditions that desiccate seedling roots. Plant sensitive species like conifers in the early morning. Avoid planting when there is a risk of freezing the roots.

Step 3. Remove seedlings from storage only as needed. Plant seedlings as quickly as possible after removal from storage. Do not leave roots exposed to drying conditions even briefly. Do not leave roots exposed when taking breaks, repairing equipment, preparing a hole, etc.

Step 4. Cull unhealthy plants. Even quality bareroot stock deteriorates quickly without strict environmental control. Discard seedlings with dark molds, seriously damaged roots or shoots, or wrinkled, water-soaked bark.

Step 5. Keep roots covered and protected at all times. Root systems should never be exposed to drying conditions, even briefly. Conifers are particularly sensitive. Dip roots in water for a few seconds after removal from storage. Keep roots covered with moist (not saturated) peat moss or burlap until directly before placement in the planting hole. Conversely, never leave seedlings in standing water.

Step 6. Prepare an adequate planting hole. The hole should be two times wider and slightly deeper than the seedling root system. Break through hard or plow pans if present.

Step 7. Place seedling in hole. Hold the seedling vertically in the hole with roots hanging straight down and the root collar (stem to root system interface) at or just below grade.

Step 8. Backfill the hole. Holding the seedling in place, gently backfill the hole with loose (not clumpy) soil. The final planting depth should place the root collar at or slightly below grade. Soil amendments are generally unnecessary although additions of peat moss to sandy soils improve water-holding capacity.

Step 9. Saturate the hole. Use 3 to 5 gallons of water (more if necessary) to saturate the backfill and remove air pockets. Add water until a soupy consistency. If settling occurs, add more soil and water. If supplemental water is unavailable, firm the soil as described in Step 10.

Step 10. Lightly firm the soil. After draining, lightly firm soil with your foot or hand to assure good root to soil contact and to secure the seedling in place. Never heel or stomp the backfill; it damages roots and soil structure.

Step 11. Provide tree protection. Tree shelters, windscreens, and weed barriers enhance seedling survival and growth. Use ventilated tubes to provide animal protection. Screens or shingles on the southerly and windward sides of seedlings provide sun and wind protection during early establishment. Woven fabric controls weeds that compete for moisture, nutrients, and sunlight.

Step 12. Monitor and maintain. Monitor weeds, soil moisture, and general plant health. Provide weed maintenance, supplemental irrigation, and plant care as needed over the growing season.

Also Remember:

• Make sure that a plant's mature size will be appropriate for the site.
• Do not locate plants where they may eventually interfere with overhead power lines, pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or buildings.

The above information is also available in Adobe Acrobat format.

Hand-Planting Guidelines for Bareroot Trees and Shrubs (826 KB)

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Last Modified: 07/06/2004