Bare Root Tree Planting
What does that mean?
- Bare root trees are trees that are dug and stored without any
soil around their roots.
- Trees can be bought "bare root," and then planted directly into
the ground.
What are the advantages of planting bare root trees?
- More root mass. Bare root trees can have up to 200% more roots
than B&B or container trees, depending on the soil and transplanting
history at the nursery.
- Lower cost. Without extra labor and materials, bare root
trees cost seller and buyer less.
- Easier planting. A young tree without soil weighs little,
so it easy to move and plant.
There must be some disadvantages!
- Less work time. Once they leave the nursery, bare root trees
need to get in the ground within a week at the longest. With no soil, the
roots can dry out and die if left exposed for any time.
- Narrower planting window. Bare root trees need good soil
moisture, so mid spring (before budbreak) and mid fall (after leaf fall)
are the only two possible planting times.
- Restricted availability. Some species may not be available
bare root, and some nurseries may not have trees available for bare root
retail sale at all.
What are the best techniques to follow for such tree
planting?
- Use any technique you can to reduce the time the tree roots are
bare.
- Order 1.5-2" trees to be dug within 24 hrs of your arrival, otherwise
be sure they are stored in a cool place.
- Have fall trees dug mid-Oct to late Nov, spring trees late Mar to
early May.
- If possible, dip tree roots in a slurry of a hydrogel (a
synthetic water-absorbing compound, many brands available) or muddy water,
then store them in large, pleated plastic bags until planting.
- If no hydrogel is used, soak the tree roots in water for 12-24
hrs before planting.
- Keep trees covered, shaded, and moist until actually put in the
ground.
Checking depth on a
bare root planting
Can all tree species be planted in this way?
- In theory, yes--but some species work better than others, and some
commonly fail.
- Best bets for bare root planting:
ash (Fraxinus spp.)
crabapples (Malus spp.)
English oak (Quercus robur)
hybrid Freeman maple (Acer x fremanii)
honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata)
linden (Tilia spp.)
Shantung maple (Acer truncatum)
sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
red oak (Quercus rubra)
Not recommended for bare root planting:
hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
hornbeam (Carpinus spp.)
hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria)
hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Where can I get more information?
Nina Bassuk. 2000. "Creating
the urban forest: the bare root method." Ithaca, NY:Cornell University.
For other information, advice and help on this topic, call offices
of your State Urban Forestry Coordinator or University Extension service,
or visit urban forestry web sites.