• The depths of winter is a cracking time to plant one particular type of plant – deciduous trees and shrubs that have been ‘bare-rooted’. This is exactly what it sounds like: the plant has been dug up and its roots have been cleaned of soil before being sent to the nursery for sale. This process makes shipping and sale more efficient by reducing the size and weight of these plants, but it can also help the plant get its new roots into your native soil faster and potentially speed up establishment, if done correctly. This is only done in winter when the plants are dormant and temperatures are cool, to avoid dessicating the roots.
  • Anyone who goes to plant nurseries will recognise bare-rooted roses; in fact, the vast variety of rose cultivars is mostly only available in bare-root form. Fruit trees such as peaches, plums, apples and pears are also often bare-rooted. But specialist growers also sell other kinds of plants in this way – OUTHOUSE Design works with suppliers who will bare-root mature ornamental trees for transport and planting, including species like Cercis canadensis.
  • If you bring home a bare-rooted plant like a rose from the nursery, the best thing to do is ‘heel it in’, which means dig a temporary hole for the plant and gently shovel in loose soil around the roots, until you’re ready to put it in its forever home. When you’re ready to plant, give the roots a once-over inspection and clean up as needed, as this is a chance to correct any problems. Make sure the roots make good contact with soil in the planting hole and that you leave no air pockets. You’ll want to water it in, but remember that winter and dormancy mean the soil is not drying out as quickly as it would in summer. Finally, most plants benefit from a prune to the canopy after bare-rooting, to bring the above and below ground portions into balance.

OUTHOUSE offers in-person consultations with qualified horticulturalists to help you get the most value out of your landscape. We can provide verbal advice, planting plans or a full landscape design. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

View past tips for July here!