Planting bare root trees and bushes

susieb

I have spent a small fortune on a family (3 variety tree) as I was after one specific apple variety and its the only way it comes now that I could find.
So besides the fact its not very MSE, its now arrived and is bare root, instructions say plant asap, but also say do not let roots get frosted. So what do i do, plant now and risk the artic blast thats meant ot be coming down the east coast this weekend, or put it in a pot in the garage till the worst of the weather has gone? or will this do more harm than good.

Farway

Given the time scales, soak roots [stand it in a bucket of water overnight], then pot up in garage, just to keep roots moist and settled really, plant out next week or ASAP once icy blasts gone

It is frost on roots that could be problem, unless you get deep penetrating frosts where you are frost is unlikely to harm roots once planted in the ground. Does you ground freeze deeply? It takes some doing

susieb

No I dont think the ground freezes deeply here, I live right next to a tidal river which I think helps warm it a little and the bank of the river also shelters us from the worst of the winds. Just with snow forecast for the weekend I dont want to damage the tree as its took alot of hunting down

relay

If it were me i'd still plant the tree anyway because you don't usually get really deep penetrating frosts this side of the winter, you can always cover the soil surface with some old sacking after you plant it.

susieb

Just planted it, I managed to call the nursery where it was from and they said plant it. Anyhow its planted well, dug 2ft deep to loosen the soil, mixed in peat free compost and a bit of bonemeal low down, and gently laid out the roots before refilling. I have covered the area with straw to help insulate it incase. The strangest bit about it all is that I think the piece of garden I have planted it in must in the past have been where some silt from the bottom of the river was dumped after it was dredged some time in the past, as we are on heavy clay soils here, but this was really fine, no stones and looked just like silt, never found a patch like it before and we have been here 18 months. So hope it will be okay, silts meant to be good for plants hence why the fens are farmed.
Time will tell if apples like silt or would have preferred the clay.

Farway

Just for interest, would you mind telling me what was the specific variety you were after?

susieb

Hi
Yes of course, the one I was after was a Jester. I must admit finding it on a family tree suits me well as it will stay smallish and no worries over pollination.

phil_51

I have some bare-rooted laurel + Forsythia arriving today (wednesday) will I be able to wait until the weekend to plant them?

Penelope_Penguin

phil_51 wrote: »

I have some bare-rooted laurel + Forsythia arriving today (wednesday) will I be able to wait until the weekend to plant them?

Yes! We received some bare root fruit bushes last week - the ground was frozen, so we left them in the paper sack in a cool, frost free place until the weekend, then put them into pots of compost until we can get onto the garden.

I'll add this to the existing thread on what to do with bare rooted plants and trees.

Penny. x

coolpran

i have a similar question..
how long can you wait before you can plant a potted fruit tree into the ground?
i have potted my stella cherry and conference pear tree for 1 week now, and will only get time to re-plant them in the garden next weekend. so they will be sitting in the pots for 2-3 weeks. is that too much time to sit in a pot?
also, the cherry tree has got buds forming now which are turning green. will it be a big shock for the tree to replant it? or is it better to leave it in the pot this year and plant it in ground next year when its dormant?

Farway

They will not have made any roots in the pots apart from what they came with, assuming you have them outside ot very cool, as they should be

The cherry I am suprised is forming buds, is it indoors? Get it out or cool sharpish

Either way do try & get them in the ground ASAP or you will be making a summer watering rod for your back