How to Plant a Bare-Root Tree

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Susan Mason

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Bare-root trees and shrubs are usually vigorous species that develop roots quickly when planted in unamended garden soil. When planting a bare-root tree (usually available in spring), soak the roots in water for several hours before planting. Then gather a ruler or measuring tape, shovel, gloves and your tree, and follow the easy steps shown in these pictures and described in their captions.

After planting, be sure to water in your new garden addition thoroughly, and take extra care of your tree during its first couple years, until it’s established. Then watch it grow and prosper as it brings beauty to your garden for years to come.

Planting Bare-Root Tree - Step 1

Get your bare-root tree off to a good start before planting: Soak it in water for 24 hours prior to digging.

Planting Bare-Root Tree - Step 2

Note the discolored point on the trunk – that marks the tree’s previous soil level. Measure the depth from that point to the center of the root-crown’s base.

Planting Bare-Root Tree - Step 3

Dig a planting hole 4-6 inches deeper than the tree’s root-crown depth and half the distance of its root spread. If the roots spread in an umbrella-like fan, create a cone-shaped mound in its center, 4-6 inches high.

Planting Bare-Root Tree - Step 4

Place the tree in the planting hole straddling the mound, and spread the roots evenly around it. Use a shovel handle across the hole to check that the tree’s depth matches that of its prior planting.

Planting Bare-Root Tree - Step 5

Enlist a helper to hold the tree securely and straight as you backfill the hole with soil and firm it around the tree’s roots.

Planting Bare-Root Tree - Step 6

Raise a 3- to 4-inch-tall moat around the outer perimeter of the planting hole to create a watering basin.

Planting Bare-Root Tree - Step 7

Thoroughly water the tree within the watering basin. Add soil if any uneven settling occurs.

Facts

A nice layer of mulch around your newly planted tree will help retain moisture and keep weeds down. (Just be sure the mulch doesn’t touch the trunk.)
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Tips

Trees and shrubs need extra care and attention until they’re fully established – usually for the first two years.
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Support very small trees with a single stake. Place the stake on the upwind side of the tree, 8 inches from the trunk. It’s a good idea to place the stake in the hole when you plant the tree – you may unintentionally damage the roots if you drive the stake in after planting. Use a soft, slightly elastic material to tie the tree to the stake in a figure-eight loop at two or more points, allowing free movement of the trunk rather than cinching it tight.
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Big or small, the best rose gardens start with the healthiest roses – and planting them right. Learn the tips to picking the finest bare-root roses at your garden center, then follow this easy guide to getting them in the ground correctly.
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