*By Shaun Mayfield

Last week we talked about some of the advantages of Bare-Root Fruit Trees. Another advantage of bare-roots is trees grown in pots typically have root issues as a result of the pot they are grown in. Oftentimes their roots are encircled and then when they’re planted in the ground it can take years for them to establish a good root system and the encircled roots can even girdle the main trunk and cause it harm or death.

Bare-root trees end up developing finer hair roots enhancing the health of the tree. As a result of this, another advantage is bare-root trees can often develop twice as fast as a potted tree especially in their early developmental years. This increased performance is because the encircled roots are not having to transition to the native soil, as bare roots they only know the native soil. So with bare-roots, we are paying less for a better quality tree with a higher success rate & efficiency rate.


Of course, these bare-root trees also have their disadvantages with all things considered. Here some of the drawbacks to take in mind. One consideration is that fruit typically grows a year (or sooner) on a potted tree compared to a bare-root tree. Another more important disadvantage is that bare-root trees are only available for a limited time in the year as previously discussed due to their dormancy requirements. This schedule may not be the most convenient for you and often times it requires a little planning. And the last disadvantage that extends off the previous point is that they also have a small planting window when they do arrive.

By nature, not having any roots, they will quickly dry out and die. As a result, they need to be planted almost immediately. After a couple of days go by they will need to be ‘healed’ into the ground which is a temporary planting that can be done by digging a trench and burning the root balls. This is usually done on the north side of a building in the coolest area possible to prevent them from drying out or getting warm and buds begin to break. A good practice is to prep the ground for planting them prior to their arrival. This way the heavy work is completed before the stress of their arrival and planting goes much quicker.

Next week we will discuss the perfect time to plant your bare-root fruit trees.


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