February – the season of Valentine cards and chocolates, presidential birthdays, and Girl Scout cookies.
The second month of the year may be known for its holidays and special occasions, but it’s also still a great time to plant bare root plants and trees.
Bare root plants, whether the fruit trees, berries, or flower varieties, are dormant: they’ve been taken out of the ground and are free of soil but have been kept moist. Because of this, they’re generally able to adapt to and thrive in their new soil more easily, and are also often less expensive to ship (and thus, happily for the consumer, they’re less expensive to purchase).
Don’t be intimidated by planting bare root plants if you’ve never done it before. There are just a few basic steps that will allow you to enjoy all the benefits this type of planting has to offer.
- Ready the Roots
Gently loosen and untangle the roots, trimming away any dead or broken segments. Depending on the plant, its roots will need to soak in water from one hour to overnight. Whatever the needed soak time, make sure they don’t dry out.
- Prepare the Soil
Dig a shallow, wide hole – approximately three feet in diameter – removing grass and loosening the soil all around it.
- Introduce the Plant
Arrange the roots horizontally in the hole, with the top of the plant inches above the soil. Refill the soil, so that it is firm but not too compact. Water generously.
- Nurture
Water consistently in the coming weeks, making sure to water more if you’re not getting much rain. Fertilizer and/or mulch can eventually be added at the base of the plant, but it shouldn’t touch the base of the plant (or trunk of the tree).
And if you’re still scared of taking on this job alone, contact Bayscape!