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Proper time to plant bare root shrubs?

18 years ago

I ordered some mail order plants and recieved my first one today. It is a bare root pussy willow. I was told they would arrive at the correct time for planting in my zone(5). If I plant it now and it freezes, will it die? Can I pot it temporarily and then move it outside when it is warmer? Thanks,

Jen

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Comments (8)

Embothrium
18 years ago
If local garden centers have them you can figure it is time to plant them out.
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mainegrower
18 years ago
Many references suggest planting can begin as soon as the ground can be dug. In cold zones, however, you'll be much better off potting bare root plants (and plants shipped with a soil ball) and waiting for settled weather before planting. Cold, wet soil can easily rot roots and drainage is often poor in early spring because the ground is still frozen beneath the upper thawed layer. Nothing is gained by planting too early and the risks are real. You want quick root establishment for newly planted items and this can't happen until the soil warms up.
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how low at night ... leafed or not?? either .. dampen some potting media.. and jam them all in one pot .... and put them in shade .. or the basement .. to keep them cool ... to hold them for a few days or just plant them ... shouldnt it being snowing in a week .. lol key for me .. natives ... most are run it over with the truck plants.. one of the reasons they are native.. lol .. a bit circuitous there ... if its in the 50's at night.. should be plenty of time for them to recover overnight ... if you could shade them a bit.. even better ... to lazy to look it up.. but arent they all deciduous ??? .. if so.. so what if they get hot and lose the leaves .. that are supposed to fall off in a week or two anyway??? eh?? ken
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We've got a heat wave coming in, looks like tomorrow through Sunday will be pretty hot with the hottest day being Friday. You could hold off and plant on Sunday late afternoon or Monday, or plant them now and give them shade somehow (shadecloth on stakes?) through the heat spell. I've planted bareroots at the end of June and they are alive and thriving today--you just need to watch the heat--shade them through every heat wave until they can get somewhat established. Don't drown them, but make sure they stay moist (not soggy). One I did pot up and moved into full shade during heat waves then planted it in the ground in the fall as it started to cool down. It is just fine. Keep a spray bottle full of water and mist them if the air is really dry. Mine were a little smaller that first shorter growing season but by the following year they took off.
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jencarpent
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the replies. I potted it, so we'll see how it goes.
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Embothrium
18 years ago
I would've put directly into its final position, as intended when you bought it. Now you're going to have to mother a potted plant. And when are you going to plant it out later? Summer, when it is becoming hot--a terrible time to plant?
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jencarpent
Original Author
18 years ago
I'm planning on planting it out this weekend when it is nicer. We just had a bitter cold snap and the weather will be a little nicer. There was no way I was going to be able to dig in the ground the day it arrived. I should've left it in the packaging in the first place and put it in the garage. I was just so eager to see it that I messed it up.
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Embothrium
18 years ago
No, you certainly wouldn't want to plant it out during frigid conditions.
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shrubs_n_bulbs
18 years ago
If the soil is no longer frozen then it is unlikely to freeze down to the roots and to freeze hard enough to cause damage. Wait for the soil to unfreeze right the way down, you don't want waterlogged soil sitting above a layer of frozen soil. Obviously don't plant out if the forecast is for temps in the teens, but if its nice enough to get out and plant then you should be fine.

If local trees can be dug then they can be planted. If bareroots appear while the ground is still frozen solid then they came fron the south and you should be very wary of them.
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diggingthedirt
18 years ago
I'd keep it potted, and place it outside in a sheltered spot, or inside on a cold porch if you've got one, until the ground has warmed up a bit. Check it daily to be sure it doesn't dry out. If a cold snap threatens, bring it indoors overnight.

You did the right thing by potting it, IMHO.
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