When buyingtrees and shrubs for our gardenwe often face a dilemma - choose more expensive plants in containers, or cheaper plants in containers. exposed root. What to consider when making decisions andhow to plant bare-root trees and shrubs ? Here is a photo-instruction for planting bare-root plants. See step by stephow to deal with planted trees and shrubsand how to care for them after planting!
Tree seedlings with exposed root
Open-root trees and shrubs - advantages and disadvantages of seedlings
Trees and shrubs in containersare usually easier to establish. The root ball of these plants is in better condition, the container protects it. Thanks to this, they can be planted throughout the growing season, i.e. from spring to autumn. There is less risk of damaging or drying the roots during transport. We usually choose plants in containers when we plant single plants, often very valuable, as well as evergreen plants.
However, when you need to plant more plants, for example, to create a hedge, it is tempting to have a lower priceopen-rooted seedlingsSuch seedlings can often be bought several times cheaper than plants in containers. These are plants that were grown in the ground in nurseries and transported to gardening stores after digging (hence the interchangeable name - dug from the ground). Sometimes it is worth going directly to the nursery to buy even cheaper, and at the same time have control over the treatment of plants from the moment they are dug up in the nursery until they are brought to our garden.
Trees and shrubs with uncovered roots are soldwith leaves falling for the winter. Most often they are hedge plants, fruit shrubs and trees, and roses.
When deciding to buy them, remember that they require appropriate treatment. The basic requirement isdeadline for planting bare-root trees and shrubsThese plants should be planted in a leafless state. Therefore, planting deciduous trees and shrubs is carried out in late autumn (from October to November, until there is no frost) or in early spring (March to early April). More and more often, the sale also includesconifers with an open rootAnd so in forest nurseries you can buy, for example, Norway spruce for a hedge.
Deadline for planting plants with exposed root
For most bare-root plantsthe recommended planting dateis fall. Then, before spring arrives, plants will have enough time to regenerate their root systems and will not be exposed to water shock.The downside of this term is the exposure of plants to frost during winter. Therefore, plantings must be protected against frost. For plants that are most sensitive to frost, such as apricots, peaches, and ornamental roses, it is better to choose the spring date. Then remember to water the plantings regularly.
How to buy bare-root trees and shrubs?
When buyingseedlings of trees and shrubs with uncovered rootwe must take a look at them in order to choose he althy specimens, not dry, without visible damage and fractures, as well as disease infections. They should be sold leafless - after the leaves fall in fall and before the buds open in spring.
Seedlings with open root pitted at the sales yard
If we buy them in a store, be sure to check how they are stored. They should be pitted in the soil, preferably in a shady place.This protects the roots from drying out. This problem does not occur if we buy plants directly from the nursery, where they will be dug out next to us. Then it remains to properly secure them for transport.For transport, plants must be protected against drying, sun and wind. After digging up, the root balls need to be wrapped in foil (the plants are often folded and wrapped together, for example, 20 pieces together), and after folding on the car, cover the whole with a tarpaulin. After being brought to the garden, they should be planted immediately. If it is necessary to store them for a few more days, they must be pitted in a shady part of the garden. To do this, dig a shallow trench and arrange the plants diagonally. Then we cover their roots with a thick layer of soil and water them abundantly.
Spruce seedlings in a forest nursery belonging to the Sadowniczy.pl store
Is it worth ordering plants with uncovered root online?
The basic problem withonline purchases of bare-rooted trees and shrubsis the concern about the condition of the root balls and securing them during transport. As it turns out, reputable sellers deal with it perfectly.
An example is the Sadowniczy.pl online store, which offers a wide range of fruit trees (including valuable old apple varieties) and hedge plants at extremely attractive prices. As the owner of the store - Mr. Mariusz Kwiatkowski - revealed to us - thanks to close cooperation with local plant nurseries and own plantations, most of the plants sold by Sadowniczy.pl are dug out of the ground just before shipment. After digging, the plants are tied into bunches, their roots secured with a bale containing moist sawdust and a starting dose of fertilizer (the method of securing may differ depending on the type of plants). This method allows you to maintain moisture around the root balls for up to several days. Plants protected in this way are packed in cardboard boxes and handed over to a courier who delivers them to the customer as soon as possible.
Planting trees and shrubs with exposed root
First of all, let's plant the purchasedtrees and shrubs with bare roots as soon as possible , preferably as soon as they reach us. Before planting, remove broken and dead roots, and the remaining ones, depending on the size of the plant, are trimmed to about 20 cm. It is also worth soaking the root balls in water with the addition of a fungicide (an agent preventing fungal diseases), such as Kaptan or Topsin, for a few hours.
Planting a shrub with an exposed root
Plants are planted in previously prepared wells. We dig the holes so that they are about twice the size of the root balls of the planted plants. If the soil dug out of the holes is very heavy and loose, loosen it by adding sand or gravel. If, on the other hand, it is very light and poor, before filling in the holes, it is worth fertilizing it by adding e.g.compost. It is a good idea, especially in very sunny locations, where the soil dries up quickly, to mix soil with a hydrogel. It is a substance that accumulates water and prevents the soil from drying out. As confirmed by our forum members who tested the hydrogel, it gives very good results.
Another procedure, until recently underestimated, is mycorrhization. Before planting, there is an excellent time to immerse the roots in the mycorrhizal inoculant solution. Thanks to the mycorrhiza, the roots regenerate faster and take nutrients from the soil better. As a result, the plants are he althier and often grow faster. We paid a lot of attention to the use of mycorrhiza in gardening in previous years, so I invite you to read the text mycorrhiza in the garden.Mycorrhiza is not available for every plant planted with open root. However, if a given type of mycorrhiza is available, it is worth using it.
If the plant requires staking, place the stake during planting.It must not be hammered into the soil only after the hole has been buried due to the risk of looking for roots
At the bottom of the hole it is worth to form a small mound
Water abundantly after planting the plant
Ifplants with bare roots are planted in autumn , we build mounds of soil around the trunks, which protects the plants from freezing. In spring, however, we create a depression around the plant, the so-called a bowl in which the water will be held after watering. Then water abundantly. It is also beneficial to mulch the soil around the tree or bush, which prevents it from drying out.
In the spring, right after planting (and if we planted it in the fall - next spring), the plants also need to be trimmed.Pruning the shoots compensates for losses in the root system , reduces the need for water in the initial growth period, and in the case of hedges, it will also act as a forming pruning. Mostly plants are pruned at a height of 20 cm or above 1-3 well-developed buds. Before performing this treatment, however, it is worth checking what is the recommended method of cutting for a given species, because this treatment determines whether the further development of the plant will be correct."
Pruning shrubs after planting
In conclusion, I would like to point out that despite carrying out all the above-mentioned activities with due diligence, you have to take into account a small number of so-called forays, that is, plants that will not catch on and will die. This risk exists in the case ofbare-root plantsDon&39;t worry, it&39;s our fault. Missing copies simply need to be replaced. However, if we plant several dozen plants for a hedge, and just a few are not accepted, it will still be much cheaper than if we planted plants in containers. "
