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Planting Guide
Planting
Bare Root Plants
Step 1:
Plan Ahead
Select the right plant for the right place. Consider
plant requirements such as shade, sun, etc. Be
aware of power lines, underground cables, sewer
systems, and water or sprinkler lines. Know how
big the plant is going to get when it is fully-grown
and plan accordingly.
Step 2:
Keep Roots Moist
It is critically important that roots stay moist
until planted. If you cannot plant immediately,
keep roots wrapped and place in a cool garage
or shed (protect from freezing) until you can
plant. If planting will be delayed for more than
two days, dig a hole in the garden, heel the plants
in temporarily and water well. (An entire bundle
of plants can be planted together in one hole
if desired.) Be sure that all roots are covered
so that they don't dry out.
Step 3:
Prune
Prune out all broken and damaged roots and branches.
Thin out or cut back remaining branches by about
one-third. (If this was not done for you at the
nursery.)
Step 4:
Plant
Dig your hole large enough to accommodate all
of the roots without crowding, bending or pruning
(the wider the better). Now make a firm cone of
soil in the hole. Place the plant in the hole
positioning plant at the same depth as it was
growing in the field. Spread the roots over the
cone of earth in their natural position. Fill
the hole with soil firming it with your fingers
as you fill. We do not recommend mixing peat moss
etc. with the backfill soil when planting bare
root plants unless you amend the soil in the entire
planting bed.
Step 5:
Add Save-A-Tree™
When hole is half filled with soil, add diluted
Save-A-Tree™
according to directions. Add remaining soil and
apply additional diluted Save-A-Tree™.
It is important that the Save-A-Tree™
come in contact with the plant roots.
Step 6:
Water
Soak thoroughly with water. If the plant settles,
pump it up and down while soil is saturated and
raise it to the proper level. If it is a grafted
tree, plant it just deep enough that the graft
(crook at base of trunk) is barely above ground
level. Be careful not to plant too deep. (Note:
Roses should be planted with the bud union (graft)
2” below ground level.)
Step 7:
Stake
Larger trees planted in areas of high wind should
be staked with two stakes or secured with three
guy ropes. Be sure to use non-scarring ties. Tree
should not be staked so tightly that the trunk
cannot move. Some movement of the trunk in windy
weather actually encourages stronger root growth.
Be sure to inspect the tree ties several times
each year to be sure they are not too tight and
are not scarring the bark. Except in extreme situations
it is usually best to remove the stakes after
two years.
Step 8:
Mulch
Create a slight (2") rim of earth around
the plant to create a reservoir for watering.
Add 2" of mulch (Soil Pep, or Compost). This
mulch will help keep the soil moist and retard
weed growth. It also gives the tree an attractive
finished appearance.
Step 9:
Care After Planting
Check soil moisture once a week by pushing aside
a little of the mulch and checking the surface
of the soil. If the soil is moist _” beneath
the surface, do not water. Check again the next
week. Bare root plants are generally dormant and
do not use much water until they are fully leafed
out. Be careful not to over water. Watch for signs
of insect or disease and take appropriate actions.
You may want to bring a sample to a local garden
store to have the problem diagnosed. Feed in the
fall with Save-A-Tree™.
No additional feeding should be necessary the
first year.
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