Trees and Shrubs for Native Landscapes

Intermediate Care, Storage, and Handling of Trees And Shrubs

After purchase, the care and handling of plant material from the time it is delivered until the time it is installed is the responsibility of the customer.

Bareroot plants are shipped dormant and should be planted as soon as possible, usually within 72 hours of receipt. Optimum storage is 34 degrees to 37 degrees F in refrigerated cooling at a relative humidity of 80 to 90 percent. For short storage intervals (less than 3 days), bareroot plants can be kept in cool, shaded locations outdoors. Keep the roots covered with sterile, moistened media. The media should be just moist enough that only a few drops of water can be squeezed from a single handful of material. Keep seedlings out of direct sun, protected from wind desiccation and heat build-up, and keep the roots moist. Never allow the roots to dry out, even briefly, prior to planting. Keep bareroot plants in cold storage until they are needed for outplanting. Bareroot plants should show no signs of active growth, even bud swell, prior to planting.

Container plants offer more flexibility in planting, handling, and storage than bareroot stock. Potted plants have a limited reservoir of water and may require daily watering during active growth. Container stock can be planted as either dormant or active-growing plants. Store potted plants in a wind-protected area under filtered light. When soil dries out, water until drainage occurs from the bottom of the pot. Do not over water.

Balled and Burlapped (B&B) material often requires special handling given the size and weight of the plant, roots, and soil. Do not move B&B plants by the trunk alone. Support the trunk and rootball simultaneously to assure the roots are not broken at the trunk surface. Never drop a B&B plant abruptly on the ground, even from a slight elevation. Gently slide or roll large B&B plants into the planting hole. Never attempt to move an excessively wet rootball. Store B&B material as you would container plants. Media such as a sand:peat mix may be needed to cover the rootball during long-term storage. Special provisions may be needed to secure the plants during storage in high wind locations.

If you encounter any problems with the file provided on this page, please contact Technical Resources at 406-587-6822.

This information is also available for downloading as Chapter 10 of the publication, Creating Native Landscapes in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. This document requires Adobe Reader.

Trees and Shrubs for Native Landscapes (PDF; 1.3 MB)

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